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Accreditation & Disclosure

Five Branches University Institutional and Program Accreditation

Five Branches University and its following programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):

(1) Master of Acupuncture (offered in English)

(2) Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (offered in English and Mandarin) [currently named Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine]

(3) Doctor of Acupuncture (offered in English and Mandarin)

• including a Doctor of Acupuncture degree completion track

(4) Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (offered in English and Mandarin) [currently named Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine]

• including a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization degree completion track

(5) Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (offered in English and Mandarin)

The program(s) listed above may offer courses via distance education.

ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.

Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory.

ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs
preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM is located at

500 Lake Street, Suite 204,
Excelsior, Minnesota 55331
phone 952 212-2434
https://acahm.org

Public Disclosure Statement Effective as of 30 August 2023.

National and State Approvals

Five Branches University is a private institution recognized, approved by, or is a member of the following national and state associations:

  • National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
  • Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM)
  • Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid Program, U.S. Department of Education
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security, approval for foreign students
  • Veterans Education, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • California State Acupuncture Board, California State Department of Consumer Affairs
  • California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
    – www.bppe.ca.gov

Five Branches University is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

Disclosure

Acupuncture/Chinese Herbal Medicine Licensure

Five Branches University offers several programs leading to professional licensure or certification within the state of California. The following acupuncture and/or Chinese Medicine programs may lead to a professional license or certification that is required for employment:

Program Licensure
Master of Acupuncture (MAc)  n/a
Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc)n/a
Master of  Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine  (MAcHM)Yes
Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM)Yes
DAc/DAcHM Completion Track (Bridge program)n/a
Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM)n/a

Please note the state approval is from the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)

Acupuncture/Chinese Herbal Medicine Licensure: Qualified graduates of the acupuncture programs that include a Chinese herbal medicine specialization at both Santa Cruz and San Jose campuses may apply to take the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE). Only graduates from schools approved by the California Acupuncture Board are allowed to sit for this exam. To obtain the California acupuncture licensing exam application, please contact the:

California Acupuncture Board
1625 N Market Blvd., Suite N-219
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-515-5200

https://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/.

Eligible Five Branches University DAc, DAcHM, MAc and MAcHM students may apply to take the following exams of the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM): Acupuncture with point location, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, and Biomedicine. Additionally, DAcHM and MAcHM  students are eligible to take the Chinese Herbology section of the NCCAOM exam and are eligible for Oriental Medicine and Chinese Herbology certification. The NCCAOM acupuncture exam is used by many states outside California, as a part of their licensing requirements. Specific information about state licensure requirements can be obtained at https://www.nccaom.org/state-licensure/#.

To obtain the NCCAOM board exam applications, please contact the:

NCCAOM
2001 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor North
Washington, DC 20006
888-381-1140
https://www.nccaom.org/

Licensing and certifying agencies or employers may perform background checks to determine eligibility to become licensed or employed. Applicants who have a conviction should check the regulations of the states in which they want to become licensed to consider their eligibility. Therefore, it is impossible for any institution to guarantee admission to, eligibility for, or passage of any licensing exam required by any state or national licensing or testing board. The date of graduation may affect a student’s eligibility date to sit for required exams. Students must obtain and submit their own applications to sit for any state or national exam and request in writing that Five Branches University sends academic documentation to the relevant agencies.

Relocation: States, districts and territories have varying rules, requirements and regulations that govern education leading to professional licensure or certification. Should a student relocate during the course of a program to another state, district or territory, it may negatively impact the student’s ability to remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements, and/or continue to receive financial aid funding. Prior to considering any state relocation, it is very important that you contact your program officials to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.

State Professional Licensure Disclaimer and Agencies: Please note that states, districts and territories vary in what professions they require to be licensed/certified and how licensure/certification is acquired. Many licensure boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license, such as completion of an examination(s), test(s), background check(s), internship/practicum hours, and other requirements determined by the respective state board. It is the responsibility of the student completing the licensure program to check with the respective state licensing board(s) for the most recent information, rules, and requirements. Five Branches University is not responsible and cannot be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.

students interested in programs leading to acupuncture and/or Chinese herbology licensure should review the licensure requirements for the state in which they choose to practice. Please note the following states do not issue professional licensure for acupuncture and/or Chinese herbology: Alabama, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) granted Five Branches University continuing accreditation for a period of seven (7) years, effective August 11th, 2018. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed at: https://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/
ACAHM is the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAHM is located at:

500 Lake Street, Suite 204
Excelsior, MN 55331
Phone: 952/212-2434
Fax: 952/657-7068
www.acahm.org

Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (MAcHM was MTCM) and Master of Acupuncture (MAc) Program Accreditation (English and Chinese)

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) granted Five Branches University’s Master’s programs in Acupuncture and in Oriental Medicine continuing accreditation for a period of seven (7) years, effective August 11th, 2018. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed at: https://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/

Under the new degree titles of
MAcHM (Was MTCM): Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization
MAc: MAc – Master of Acupuncture
ACAHM UPDATE: Commission Revises Program Naming Policy [1 Sep 2022]

Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (DAcHM was DTCM) and Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) Program Accreditation (English and Chinese)

The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) granted Five Branches University’s Professional Doctorate programs in Acupuncture and in Oriental Medicine initial accreditation for a period of seven (7) years, effective August 11th, 2018. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed at: https://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/

Under the new degree titles of
DAcHM (Was DTCM): Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization
DAc: DAc – Doctor of Acupuncture 
ACAHM UPDATE: Commission Revises Program Naming Policy [1 Sep 2022]

Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) Program Accreditation (English and Chinese)

The Postgraduate Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine degree program of Five Branches University, in English and Chinese, is accredited under applicable doctoral degree standards by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners.

ACAHM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55347; phone (952) 212-2434; Fax (952) 657-7068; website – https://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/

Under the new degree titles of
DAOM:  Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (Was Postgraduate Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine)
ACAHM UPDATE: Commission Revises Program Naming Policy [1 Sep 2022]

National and State Approvals

Five Branches University is a private institution recognized, approved by, or is a member of the following national and state associations:

  • National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
  • Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM)
  • Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid Program, U.S. Department of Education
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security, approval for foreign students
  • Veterans Education, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • California State Acupuncture Board, California State Department of Consumer Affairs
  • California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education – www.bppe.ca.gov

Five Branches University is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations.

Distance Education Disclosure

Five Branches University and its following programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM):

(1) Master of Acupuncture (offered in English)

(2) Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (offered in English and Mandarin) [currently named Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine]

(3) Doctor of Acupuncture (offered in English and Mandarin)

  • including a Doctor of Acupuncture degree completion track

(4) Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization (offered in English and Mandarin) [currently named Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine]

  • including a Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese herbal medicine specialization degree completion track

(5) Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (offered in English and Mandarin)

The program(s) listed above may offer courses via distance education.

ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.

Accreditation status and notes may be viewed on the ACAHM Directory.

ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture practitioners. ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, Minnesota 55331; phone 952 212-2434; https://acahm.org.

Public Disclosure Statement Effective as of 30 August 2023.