Do I have to finish all the prerequisites before I can apply?
No — you don't have to have them all finished before you apply. This is one of the most common worries, and it's a reasonable one to have, but Five Branches' own admissions policy is actually built around flexibility here.
The three required natural science courses — General Biology, Chemistry and Physics, each a minimum of three semester credits — plus General Psychology, which is part of the general-education requirement rather than a natural science, must come from a regionally accredited institution. These sciences may be taken concurrently with your TCM coursework within the first two years of study, though completing them before you enroll is highly recommended. Human Anatomy and Human Physiology are not admission prerequisites — you'll encounter them as courses taught inside the program itself.
| What matters | Detail |
|---|---|
| Must everything be done before applying? | No — the sciences may be completed concurrently within the first two years; finishing beforehand is recommended |
| Where they must come from | A regionally (or institutionally) accredited school |
| Can they be taken online? | Yes — accreditation is the rule, not delivery format |
| Prior coursework at an accredited school | May transfer — submit transcripts for evaluation |
This is the school's own published admissions policy (Five Branches Educational Requirements page, revised 09/2026) — your exact plan (which courses you're missing, and how to sequence them alongside your first term) is worth confirming directly with Admissions once you're ready, since they'll map it to your specific transcript.
Is there a particular prerequisite among these you're wondering about — maybe one you're not sure you've already covered?
Sources
- Five Branches University — Educational Requirements checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — published materials checked 2026-07
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