Doctor of Acupuncture Completion Track

Quick Facts

Program Start Date

Spring and Fall start dates.

Location

Kenmore, Washington campus

General Requirements

GPA 3.0 in master’s degree from an ACAHM accredited or pre-accredited program
Prerequisites for the DAc Program: A bachelor’s degree and the required prerequisite coursework (minimum GPA 2.75). If without a bachelor’s degree, then must complete the required prerequisite coursework in addition to specific general education requirements, which total a minimum of 135 quarter credits.

Intermediate Algebra	1 course
General Chemistry (allied-health-level with lab)1,2	1 course
General Biology (allied-health-level with lab)2	1 course
General Psychology	1 course
General Physics	1 course

Note: All students must complete a CPR Basic Life Support course or equivalent prior to entering clinic.
One survey-level class that covers inorganic chemistry and includes a lab component. Intended for students in allied-health majors.
Two science classes must have been taken within seven years of entering the program. If not, additional coursework may be required after the Admissions Committee review.

Length of Program

1 year (2 quarters): Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 Start

Training

The DAc completion track is a 28.5 credit/407 clock hour program.

Applicants may need to take certain additional master’s level courses in order to meet the competencies of MAc/MAcCHM program of Bastyr University.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Career Opportunities

Licensed acupuncturist (LAc) in private practice, collaborative patient care with other private practice practitioners or within an integrative clinic or collaborative clinic.

Licensure

For the latest licensure information, please consult the NCCAOM website.

Summary

The Doctorate in Acupuncture Completion Track is designed for those who have previously graduated from an ACAOM-accredited master’s program and want to obtain a higher skill level in advanced diagnostic studies, collaborative and integrative care, and professional development.

Accreditation

The following programs offered by Bastyr University are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):

Master of Acupuncture
Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (currently named Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)
Doctor of Acupuncture
Including a Doctor of Acupuncture degree completion track
Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine
Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory. ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level. ACAHM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone 952/212-2434; www.acahm.org

Expected Learning Outcomes

The Doctor of Acupuncture graduates are trained to be the following:
Safe and effective in the care of patients by demonstrating in-depth ability in the following areas:
- Knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic strategies and their application to individual cases
- Skill in the traditional methods of assessing patients, including interviewing, palpation, and observation
- Competence in selecting the appropriate treatment modalities and plans for a patient utilizing acupuncture, tui na, Chinese herbs (relevant to the MAcCHM), lifestyle and dietary counseling, and other modalities within the scope of practice
- Skill in the application of acupuncture techniques in an appropriate and safe fashion for each patient
- Competence in physical examination, orthopedic and neurological assessment, and pain management
- Critical thinking using cognitive skills to increase the expected patient outcomes and the development of professional judgment
- Ability to incorporate findings from imaging, laboratory, and diagnostic studies in patient care
- Able to integrate Eastern and Western paradigms of medicine for the purposes of informing the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, communicating with other health care professionals and patients, and making appropriate medical referrals when necessary
Proficient in their approach in setting up and maintaining a private practice, collaborating with other health care professionals, working in an integrated health care setting and providing leadership within the Acupuncture and traditional Asian medicine field
Capable of accessing research information and critically assessing the value of published clinical research in the field
Able to provide health promotion and disease prevention measures based on traditional Chinese medicine theory (such as tai chi, qigong, and therapeutic nutrition) to support the well-being of their patients and themselves
Qualified to pass national and state acupuncture and/or herbal exams
Able to assess personal and professional strengths and weaknesses, and implement a professional development plan
Able to practice a collaborative model in an interdisciplinary setting

Prerequisites

General Chemistry with lab (survey level)	1 course
General Biology with lab (survey level)	1 course
Physics	1 course
General Psychology	1 course
Intermediate Algebra*	1 course

*Intermediate Algebra is not college level, and credits will not transfer towards undergraduate degree completion.

Undergraduate Entry Option

In addition to the detailed prerequisites listed above, applicants who plan to start the program without an awarded bachelor’s degree must also complete the following General Education Requirements:

English Literature and Composition	9 quarter credits
Speech Communication or Public Speaking	3 quarter credits
Natural Sciences and Mathematics	9 quarter credits
Arts and Humanities	15 quarter credits
Social Sciences	15 quarter credits
Electives	70 quarter credits

Recommended Elective Courses

For students entering the program without a bachelor's degree, the following are strongly recommended courses to take while completing your general education requirements:

Anatomy	Chinese Language (Mandarin)
Physiology	Chinese History/Culture/Philosophy
Organic Chemistry	Microbiology
Biochemistry	Business
Cellular Biology	Marketing

Want to know which classes fulfill these prerequisites? Check these lists:

Course equivalency guides
General Education Requirements breakdown

Interested in completing some prerequisite courses online? Learn more about which lower-division courses can be fulfilled through the Alternative Credit Project.

Clinical Training

In this DAc-completion track program, students work at Bastyr Center for Natural Health with close mentoring and instruction by experienced faculty members from the University in a variety of patient-care settings. There is opportunity to participate in clinical rounds at Harborview Medical Center for qualified students.

Consistency and Quality in Training

The DAc clinical program focus the majority of your clinic shifts in the University's Seattle teaching clinic, Bastyr Center for Natural Health.

Bastyr's Acupuncture and Oriental medicine program is science-based, led by highly qualified and experienced faculty, many of whom have been in practice more than 20 years in the United States and China.

Curriculum

The curriculum table lists the tentative schedule of courses each quarter. Next to each course are the number of credits per course (Crdt.), the lecture hours each week (Lec.).

Clinical Training

In this DAc-completion track program, students work side by side with students from other disciplines with close mentoring and instruction by experienced faculty members in a variety of patient-care settings.