Straw Poll Survey for Program Revision Proposals

Introduction:

ACAHM is seeking stakeholder input on three draft proposals for revising accreditation standards for acupuncture education programs. Proposals seek to address stakeholder feedback and to support access to AHM education for prospective students in a climate of financial aid contracture due to regulatory changes expected to impact the profession in 2027-2028. This survey is a straw poll to gauge the level of support for each proposal and to collect constructive feedback to inform next steps; it will not directly determine final decisions. You may support ACAHM further developing one or more than one proposal, oppose development of one or more than one proposal, or indicate that you are unsure.

Please thoroughly review the companion ACAHM Program Revision Proposals materials prior to completing this survey. The brief proposal summaries below are not reflective of the full scope of information necessary to make an informed decision. When responding, consider the following criteria: quality, accessibility, licensure viability, status of the profession, federal financial aid eligibility, and feasibility.

Note “Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM)” as defined by ACAHM’s Glossary is a collective term for systems of medicine, incorporating fundamental principles, physiological concepts, theoretical foundations, diagnostic procedures, and treatment modalities, whose fundamental theory originated in China and further developed in a variety of other predominantly Asian cultures. Treatment modalities include acupuncture, herbal medicine, manual therapy, diet/lifestyle counseling, and therapeutic exercise. The Commission uses capitalization of “Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine” to differentiate the system of medicine from the individual treatment modalities.

Summary: Proposal 1 streamlines the existing professional master’s degree in acupuncture (MAc) by reducing the minimum clock hours from 1,905 to 1,590 while maintaining the three-academic-year minimum program length and all professional competency requirements in criterion 7.04. Reductions are concentrated in AHM theory, diagnosis and treatment techniques; clinical observation (with a slight increase in internship); and biomedical and clinical sciences. This proposal does not change requirements for MAcCHM or herbal medicine programs.

Summary: Proposal 2 creates a new entry-level bachelor’s degree in acupuncture with 1,590 clock hours (equivalent to the streamlined MAc in Proposal 1) and admission after 30 semester credits of general education, instead of 60. Professional competencies under criterion 7.04 remain the same as the MAc, and the program does not include required herbal medicine training. The intent is to meet licensure requirements in many states while potentially improving access to undergraduate federal financial aid and Pell Grants.

Summary: Proposal 3 creates a two-step pathway: (1) an applied bachelor’s program (not an independently licensure-qualifying degree) requiring 30 general-education credits for admission and approximately 1,200 hours focused on acupuncture theory, biomedical sciences, clinical observation, and professional skills; followed by (2) a one-academic-year master’s program that builds on the applied bachelor’s and leads to standard licensure eligibility in many states. Combined hours would be roughly equivalent to the current MAc while potentially leveraging undergraduate financial aid for part of the pathway. The applied bachelors would potentially improve access to undergraduate federal financial aid and Pell Grants. 

Among the proposals you support, please allocate a total of one hundred (100) points to indicate your level of priority for each. Assign more points to proposals that are higher priority to you. You may assign zero (0) points to proposals you do not support. Total must equal 100 points.