A Manifesto for the Future of Asian Medicine: Acupuncture or what?

[Guest guest]

Brian and all,

 

I personally think that that if you are an MD or DC with *4200+* hours of

training (which is the base requirement) in

biomedicine, anatomy/ physiology etc. and if you can pass the NCCA test,

you should become NCCA certified.

The minimum educational hours to sit for the NCCA exam is *1490 hours* if

you matriculated on or after July 1, 2004 from a TCM college:

http://www.nccaom.org/applicants/pdfdocs/Eligibillity_Table.pdf

 

The minimum educational requirement in CA is *3000+* hours. In other

states, depending on the school, it can range from 1800 hours to 3200 hours

for the Masters of Science programs. After one takes *1200+* hours in a

DAOM program on the west coast, then that would bring the educational hours

to 4200+ hours for someone who graduated from a MS program (3000+) and a

DAOM program (1200+)

 

As it is right now, in almost all of the states, MDs and DCs can practice

regardless of their training,

or only minimal training is required.

http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/acu_info/licensure.html

Only in 4 states : Hawaii, Montana, Rhode Island and Vermont, MDs and DCs

are restricted from practicing, unless they have the requirements to sit and

pass the NCCA exam.

 

I haven't seen the board exam for medical acupuncturists:

http://www.dabma.org/requirements.asp

(MDs who become board certified in acupuncture by the American Academy of

Medical Acupuncture.)

Has anyone taken this exam?

 

*On the flip side, I think that the NCCA test must become more difficult.

Nearly everyone who graduates from a CA school passes all of the modules the

first time. That is compared to the CA state board exam, where the passing

rate was around 50% this last time.*

 

The fact is that if you understand basic yin yang, five elements, zang fu,

six layers, 4 levels diagnosis

and know the location, category and functions of 360 acu-points and you have

a firm foundation in biomedical pathology,

which you could if you have a good memory and some logic skills, you should

be able to pass the multiple choice NCCA exam.

 

Also, there is no practical NCCA or CA exam. Both MDs and DCs have to pass

a series of practical exams. This should be implemented as well, to insure

that those who take the exam can diagnose a patient (tongue, pulse,

interrogation), provide a treatment plan, construct an acupuncture

prescription, accurately locate the acupuncture point area, and demonstrate

proper needling technique.

*If there was a comprehensive didactic as well as practical exam, no one

would have the basis to argue against MDs and DCs taking the NCCA exam and

if passing, not be qualified to practice acupuncture. The fact is that

anyone passing this exam, would be qualified.*

 

I would also say that there should be an oral exam as well, where you have

to answer a few fundamental questions:

1. how does acupuncture work?

2. be able to answer questions about a case that is presented to you.

 

Every state has their own regulations and standards. California and Nevada

require passing their own tests. We need to raise the bar across the nation

and raise the educational requirements, so that licensed acupuncturists can

sit for the boards only after completing 3600 + hours, as outlined by Deke

Kendall, who compared the education of Beijing and Chengdu schools as a

" gold standard "

http://www.lhc.ca.gov/lhcdir/acupuncture/Kendall9-24-03.pdf

 

*Furthermore, we need to make it a requirement that you have a Bachelors

degree or equivalent from an accredited institution in order to be admitted

to a TCM college. MDs and DCs have this requirement. *

 

In short, the old requirements and test standards were to get acupuncture on

the scene.

The next generation's responsibility is to progress and lift the profession,

to mirror the standards that the ancients have set for us.

 

With respect,

K.

 

 

 

On Tue, Jul 15, 2008 at 6:41 PM, Brian Harasha <bharasha

wrote:

>

>

--

aka Mu bong Lim

Father of Bhakti

 

The Four Reliances:

Do not rely upon the individual, but rely upon the teaching.

As far as teachings go, do not rely upon the words alone, but rely upon the

meaning that underlies them.

Regarding the meaning, do not rely upon the provisional meaning alone, but

rely upon the definitive meaning.

And regarding the definitive meaning, do not rely upon ordinary

consciousness, but rely upon wisdom awareness.