ACOS: About: Quick Facts

The Academy has been in operation for 10 years in Nelson British Columbia. Located at the Old Jam Factory Building, a designated heritage site, the Academy campus is the perfect venue for quiet study.
The Academy offers four rigourous programs: the five year program of advanced studies in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which provides 3,990 hours of training; our popular four-year TCM program which provides 3,375 hours of training; our three-year acupuncture program (2,445 hours) and three year Chinese herbology program (2,437.5 hours). All of our programs meet the current requirements of College of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC (CTCMA) and are eligible for Canada Student Loans.
The Academy and Selkirk College have partnered to create a new Associate of Arts Degree – Entry to Traditional Chinese Medicine. This 2-year degree will provide prospective TCM and holistic health students with the solid background in biology, chemistry, psychology and the humanities relevant to further studies in TCM.
The Academy currently has 50 full and part time students who come from many parts of the North America and the world to study Chinese medicine.
The 13 faculty members at the Academy are among the most committed and highest qualified in their field of expertise.
All programs at the Academy are renowned for their comprehensiveness. Our TCM programs provide instruction in all aspects of Chinese medicine including acupuncture, Chinese herbs, Chinese dietary therapy, Chinese theory of emotion, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Tuina (Chinese massage) and Counselling Skills. As well, there is a Western Medicine component to the programs.
Academy students come from all over to attend our programs: 7 provinces, 14 States and 9 countries, including Mexico , Argentina , France , Germany , Australia , Norway and Japan.
One of the unique features of our programs is the integration of Chinese language (Mandarin) into the daily experience of the students.
Our Business Management course provides students with the necessary business skills required to set up a successful practice in Chinese medicine.
The Academy has 109 graduates from the 3-year, 4-year and 5-year programs.
Graduates of the Academy are consistently successful in passing their licensing exams in British Columbia and in the United States. We have graduates practising in 5 countries, 6 provinces, 6 States, and over 43 cities.
The busy Academy Outpatient Clinic, located on campus, provides students with the opportunity to observe TCM Doctors diagnose and treat patients.
Students, in their final year of studies, treat patients in the Academy Student Clinic. The Student Clinic offers the community affordable treatments in all modalities of Chinese medicine including acupuncture, Chinese massage and Chinese herbal and diet therapy. Appointments or walk-ins available. For more information please call (250) 354-1984.
In their final year, students undergo an intensive practicum, which provides students with additional hands-on experience with highly qualified practitioners throughout Canada. Students may also have an opportunity to study in China.
The Academy Bookstore and Herbal Dispensary, located on campus, offers many health related titles and an interesting selection of Oriental giftware. Our Herbal Dispensary carries well over 400 raw herbs and a full complement of Chinese patent medicines. For more information please call (250) 354-1995.
In January 2005, Global TV chose the Academy as the TCM school in Canada to feature a special segment on Chinese medicine. In February 2005, the half hour show aired on the well-known informative health show, Body + Health.
Please call us at (250) 352-5887 (toll-free in North America 1-888-333-8868) for more information. Please contact us if you would like to visit our campus.

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…70% of the population in Canada has used complementary medicine at least once

…in the United States, 158 million of the adult population use complementary medicines and according to the USA Commission for Alternative and Complementary medicines, US$17 billion was spent on traditional remedies in 2000

…in the United Kingdom , annual expenditure on alternative medicine is US$230 million

…the global market for herbal medicines currently stands at over US$60 billion annually and is growing steadily

…TCM stands for traditional Chinese medicine. TCM includes acupuncture, herbology, diet therapy, tui na (massage) and medical qi gong.

…Doctors of TCM have an equivalent level of education as Chiropractors, Naturopathic physicians, Homeopathic physicians - a minimum of seven years of education.

…licensing is different across Canada . Only 3 provinces have licensing requirements for Acupuncture & TCM practitioners: BC, Alberta & Quebec .

…The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of BC (CTCMA) is the self-governing body for practise in British Columbia . They administer the TCM & Acupuncturists Bylaws established under the Health Professions Act of BC.

…in order to practise Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in British Columbia applicants must pass written and practical CTCMA examinations in each area of practise. Doctors of TCM in BC have successfully completed three sets of examinations (six exams in total).

…there are four different designations of practise in BC:

• Registered Acupuncturist R.Ac (3-yrs of specialized education)

• Registered TCM Herbalist R.TCMH (3-yrs of specialized education)

• Registered TCM Practitioner R.TCMP (4-yrs of specialized education)

• Doctor of TCM Dr.TCM (5-yrs of specialized education)

…licensing varies in the USA from state-to-state. Overall it is regulated by NCCAOM & ACAOM

…there are hundreds of registered Acupuncturists, TCM Herbalists, Practitioners and Doctors in British Columbia. The West Kootenay area is home to over 30 practitioners.

…Nelson has a free Acupuncture Addictions Clinic. Funded by the Interior Health Authority (IHA), it provides an alternate treatment method for people with smoking, drugs, alcohol & food addictions. It is located at 333 Victoria Street and is staffed by a licensed practitioner and 3rd year ACOS students on Thursdays from 1:30 – 3:30pm .

…ACOS students complete a higher number of hands-on clinical training hours than students at other British Columbian TCM schools: 600-700 in the 3-year programs; 1075 in the 4-Year program; and 1240 hours in the 5-year program

…ACOS students learn clinical skills in the ACOS Outpatient Clinic; the ACOS Student Clinic; the ACOS Herbal Dispensary; the Nelson Acupuncture Addictions Clinic; and through 6, 12, & 14-week practicum placements.

…ACOS worked in partnership to develop the Pre-Entry TCM Associate Arts Degree at Selkirk College . This 2-year program provides a solid academic foundation for students wishing to enter the programs at ACOS.

…ACOS & Selkirk College work together to benefit students in our community. ACOS students have partnered with Selkirk students in the Human Service Program to mutually hone their counseling skills; have utilized the Selkirk - Castlegar science labs; and have accessed Selkirk computer labs to conduct research for their upper-level research papers.

…The World Health Organization has publicly announced that acupuncture is suitable for treating:

ear, nose & throat disorders: toothaches, gingivitis, acute or chronic otitis, acute sinusitis, acute rhinitis, nasal catarrh and acute tonsillitis

respiratory disorders: asthma, bronchitis, coughs, colds & allergies

gastrointestinal disorders: esophageal& cardio spasm, hiccup, gastroptosis, acute or chronic gastritis, sour stomach, chronic duodenal ulcers, acute or chronic colonitis, acute bacillary dysentery, constipation, diarrhea and paralytic ileus

eye disorders: acture conjunctivitis, central retinitis, near-sightedness (in children) & cataracts without complications

neurological & muscular disorders: headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuraligia, post-stroke paresis, peripheral neuritis, neurological bladder sysfunction, bed-wetting, intercostals neuralgia, cervical syndrome, frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, sciatica, low back pain & osteoarthritis

Acupuncture has been used for centuries in China to treat a host of other problems such as joint pain, sprains & strains, stress, skin problems, infertility, sexual dysfunction, PMS and most gynecological complaints