What is a Doctor of Acupuncture?

Becoming an acupuncturist is a process. It starts with a three year Master’s degree program. Many acupuncture programs also include herbal medicine in their training; these programs are 4-5 years long. We take classes in Chinese medicine theory, we learn Western anatomy, physiology, pathology, and neurology. We treat our classmates with acupuncture (a lot!), observe master practitioners, and treat patients in our student clinics.

 Once school is done, we take 3-4 board exams that cover acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Western biomedicine, and herbal medicine – if we studied it in school. Exam results are sent to the state, who then can issue us a license to practice acupuncture.

This is the bare minimum of education and licensing that an acupuncturist will have. If your acupuncturist doesn’t at least have this – run the other way! However, the medical landscape is changing, and we have more options than ever for continuing education. On top of that, many acupuncture schools are now incorporating a doctorate program into their initial training.

Many acupuncture students who start school now have the option to add a year or more to their schooling so that they can graduate with a doctorate. This has led a few schools to open doctorate programs for currently practicing acupuncturists in order to fill that gap. So that we don’t end up with lots of new, young acupuncture doctors but few if any experienced practitioners with doctorates, there is now an option for us to go back to school and become a doctor.

Acupuncturists that decide to take this route end up with a DAc or a DACM after their name – either a Doctor of Acupuncture or a Doctor of Chinese Medicine – depending on whether or not they studied herbs. You may also see acupuncturists with a DAOM, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, or even a PhD – which is a research based degree as opposed to one based on clinical practice.

So, what’s the benefit of getting an acupuncture doctorate, and what do we learn that isn’t covered in the master’s program? The answer, of course, is that it depends. Each school puts its own spin on the program, but most of them revolve around working with other healthcare practitioners in an integrative environment. We learn how to do research and write research papers, how to communicate with physicians, nurses, and other health practitioners, and take classes on integrative treatments for pain and complex health conditions.

Ultimately, this is a formal way for us to continue to our education and interact with other acupuncturists. There are a certain number of continuing education credits needed to renew our license every 4 years, but there are those of us who choose to go above and beyond the minimum and obtain a doctorate and other advanced level certifications.

Are you looking for a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in Greenville, SC? At Dragonfly Acupuncture & Massage, our acupuncturist received her doctorate in Chinese medicine from Pacific College of Health and Sciences, one of the top acupuncture schools in the country, with 3 campuses. We are currently accepting new patients!

Author:
Elizabeth Willams, LAc is an acupuncturist and herbalist in Greenville, South Carolina, specializing in pain management, women’s health, and psycho-emotional issues. She’s passionate about helping people feel their best and sharing her wealth of knowledge with the community. Elizabeth is the owner of Dragonfly Acupuncture & Massage on Wade Hampton Boulevard. Appointments can be made by calling 864-451-4313 or scheduled online.