Practical – Clinic

Year 1 – Observation

Clinical training is given in the College’s onsite Acupuncture Clinic from the beginning. At first, students observe an acupuncture practitioner at work, gaining valuable experience in the many varied diagnostic skills in traditional Chinese medicine, i.e. pulse taking, tongue diagnosis, body diagnosis, interviewing, listening etc.

Year 2 – Practical Clinic

As the acupuncture student progresses through to the second year, clinical training is reinforced with the experience of Practical Days. Here a patient is seen within small groups which enables the student to put the diagnostic skills taught into practice and to gradually take on more responsibility for the treatment of a patient, all within a small supportive peer group.

Year 3 – Supervised Clinic, Trainee Clinic

Clinical training is further reinforced in the final year with our Supervised Clinics, where each student begins to treat independently, taking responsibility for a patient’s treatment under the guidance and direct supervision of a senior clinic acupuncture practitioner.

In the last semester of the third year, and on into the summer, the acupuncture student progresses into the Trainee Clinics, with full responsibility for a patient whilst at the same time still remaining within the safe environment of the College Acupuncture Clinic. Supervision is still available but solely on request of the trainee student. These Trainee Clinics are supported by Case History Discussion Days – scheduled on the timetable – to discuss the cases seen in more detail.

As can be seen in the Course Diagram the final year becomes the full integration of the preceding years of acupuncture study and practice. This year of “internship” is an essential part of the whole programme of study and experience offered by the College.

Part Time

For those intending to study the acupuncture course part-time please refer to the Course diagram to see the pathways suggested for Years 1 and 2. It is necessary to pass each year set of modules before progressing to the next year. Unfortunately it is not possible to study Year 3 on a part-time basis.