Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Program Offers Herbal Medicine Certificate
Posted on Oct. 6, 2006
The herbal medicine certificate program now offered by the Minnesota College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine will allow acupuncture practitioners to add another dimension to the treatment of their patients, according to Mark McKenzie, MOm, LAc, dean of MCAOM.
“The majority of our students graduate with a master’s degree in Oriental medicine, which includes the study of herbal medicine,” says McKenzie. “Students or alumni who have chosen the acupuncture-only program will now be able to supplement their education through this certificate program.”
The certificate allows graduates who have earned a master’s degree in acupuncture, some of whom may already be practicing, to come back and take the classes needed to develop the skills necessary for the safe and effective practice of herbal medicine, according to McKenzie.
This fall trimester is the first trimester in which the program has been offered and there are two students enrolled, according to McKenzie.
“We anticipate four or five students per trimester,” says McKenzie.
The program is available to graduates and alumni of Northwestern’s acupuncture program, as well as any Minnesota licensed acupuncturist who meets the admission requirements. A letter will soon be sent to alumni telling them about this new program.
To be eligible to earn the herbal medicine certificate, individuals must be able to meet the department’s admission requirements and academic qualifications for the Oriental medicine program. In addition, they need to either be licensed in acupuncture in Minnesota or have completed the board exams in acupuncture.
Individuals who qualify will complete 492 didactic course hours, the same number of hours required for the master’s degree in Oriental medicine, and 240 clinic internship hours, which will consist of both herbal and acupuncture internship hours.
Individuals that are interested in this program can contact Northwestern’s admissions office at (952) 888-4777, ext. 409.