A Career Guide to Becoming An Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Practitioner

Integration: Look for a school that gives you experience in “integrative medicine.” This means a program where acupuncture and herbal medicine practitioners train to work in cooperation with other health professionals, such as MDs, DCs, NDs, etc.

What we offer: National University prepares graduates for the future of health care by offering a campus dedicated to integrative medicine. You’ll study and work side-by-side with students and faculty from its chiropractic and naturopathic medicine programs. This experience prepares you to understand and speak with a wider range of medical professionals when you graduate.

Additionally, as one of only two schools in the U.S. to offer programs in chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, oriental medicine, and massage therapy all on one campus, our students have a rare opportunity to earn multiple degrees and save both time and money while expanding their skills and earning potential.

Geography: Consider a school located in a thriving health care job market which results in greater employment opportunities after graduation. Look for other universities, hospitals, veterans’ clinics, science and health industries nearby as well as convenient public transportation (airports, trains, buses).

Clinic Opportunities: Consider the clinical phase of the program. You should spend ample time observing and treating actual patients under the supervision of clinical faculty, learning how to write and maintain medical records, and gain the confidence and skills to succeed when you start your own practice.

What we offer: National University is conveniently located 15 miles from the city of Chicago and its diverse neighborhoods, including the bustling Chinatown area with its rich tradition of herbal medicine shops and practitioners.

The on-campus Whole Health Center affords students the opportunity to work with a variety of patients in a diverse clinic setting that includes outstanding facilities such as private treatment rooms and a large herbal dispensary.

Prior to graduation, NUHS students also have the opportunity to work with specific populations.

Our acupuncture and oriental medicine students also get real on-the-job experience in a medical environment, working together with MDs to reduce pain for patients at one of the nation’s busiest urban hospitals — Cook County's John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital.

Basic Sciences: Any program which combines western and eastern science in its curriculum, should include basic science courses such as anatomy, pathology, neurology, etc.

Clinical Sciences: Review the clinical science coursework and practical training in the program. This part of an AOM degree teaches students important skills in diagnosing patient conditions, performing physical exams, and utilizing acupuncture and other oriental medicine techniques. Students learn through practical training how to build successful doctor-patient relationships.

What we offer: At National University, eastern traditional medicine meets modern western science. AOM students learn fundamental biomedical science and modern medical diagnostics including coursework in radiology, pathology, physiology, microbiology, and public health. NUHS offers one of few acupuncture and oriental medicine programs in the world that incorporates the dissection of cadavers for acupuncture point and meridian studies as part of anatomy coursework.

Evidence-based: Understand the technique instruction, to be sure that the acupuncture and oriental medicine techniques taught are backed by research proving their effectiveness. Look for a school that offers evidence-based instruction and technique.

Hands-On: Understand how AOM techniques are taught. You want a school that will give you the opportunity for hands-on learning from the first year of your acupuncture/oriental medicine education. And you want a school that provides master teachers who are leaders in their field.

What we offer: At National University, students get a full immersion in eastern medicine. You’ll study the complete range of traditional diagnostic techniques such as tongue and pulse analysis. You’ll learn point location and correct needle techniques and get rich exposure to oriental healing arts such as tui na, qi gong, moxibustion, and cupping.

It is important to choose a school that invests in the success of their students and prepares them to confidently enter the health care industry.

What we offer: National University prides itself on providing a campus that helps students excel. Our facilities include:

• On-campus Whole Health Center clinic provides students the opportunity to work collaboratively with other health care students and practitioners in this integrative setting.
• Large and well-stocked herbal dispensary where students learn how to correctly choose and prepare effective herbal prescriptions, granular preparations, etc.
• Top of the line gross anatomy lab where oriental medicine and acupuncture students learn western anatomy and eastern meridian theory through hands-on dissection of a human cadaver.
• Life-size 3-D interactive Anatomage Table offers students, faculty, and clinicians access to an advanced digital visualization system to augment anatomy education.
• Training and Assessment Center (TAC) where students are able to learn, practice and be assessed on their diagnosis and patient interaction skills.
• A comprehensive Learning Resource Center, one of the largest medical libraries in the area that houses a huge collection of books, print and electronic journals, ebooks, bibliographic databases, and more.

Tutoring and Academic Support: Check if the professors teach classes directly or use assistants. Ask if the school offers free peer tutoring (where senior students provide help in specific topics).

Business Classes: Discover what business classes are included in the curriculum. When you graduate, you’ll most likely be starting your own business, and you’ll also need to understand insurance, billing, marketing, and business management procedures. Be sure the school you pick offers classes that give you these skills.

Additional Education: Consider what extra courses are available to students on the weekend or online, that could augment your primary degree. Is continuing education reserved primarily for practicing physicians, or is it also available to AOM students? Does the institution offer an opportunity to enroll in dual-degrees or multiple programs so that you can earn more credentials with less time and money?

Strong Alumni Network: Look for a school where alumni are involved, communicate with each other and current students, and where you can reach out to them for mentoring and career support.

Accreditation: Look for a school that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). That way, you can be certain that you’ll be able to sit for a licensing exam conducted by National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

What we offer: In addition to opportunities to earn multiple degrees on one campus, National University offers an array of student support services that contribute to a successful educational experience. These include academic advising, peer tutoring, flexible tracks, various student clubs, and more.