How do I handle the Anatomy and Physiology labs online?
This is one of the most common snags people run into with prerequisites — and it's a fair worry, because "online" and "lab science" don't sound like they belong together. The good news is schools have built real solutions for this; you just have to confirm the lab format course-by-course rather than assume.
Handling the lab components of Anatomy & Physiology when you take them online
This is one of the most common snags people run into with prerequisites — and it's a fair worry, because "online" and "lab science" don't sound like they belong together. The good news is schools have built real solutions for this; you just have to confirm the lab format course-by-course rather than assume.
Five Branches accepts online Anatomy and Physiology courses as long as they come from a regionally or institutionally accredited college — accreditation, not delivery format, is what decides whether a course transfers (school's prerequisite page, checked 07/2026). Labs are handled a few different ways depending on the provider:
| Provider | Lab format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| University of New England Online | At-home lab kit (extra cost) | Covers all six prerequisites, ~$475/credit |
| Portage Learning | Integrated at-home labs | Credit issued via Geneva College transcript |
| Doane University Open Learning | At-home kits + virtual labs | Strong documented lab support |
| UC San Diego Extension | Confirm inclusion | Offers A&P as two separate 3-unit courses |
| UC Berkeley / UCLA Extension | Often in-person | Some labs not fully online — verify |
| California community colleges (via cvc.edu) | Varies by campus | Often cheapest, all regionally accredited |
(Provider details as checked on each site in 07/2026 — confirm current specifics before enrolling.)
A couple of things worth knowing regardless of which provider you pick:
- You don't need to finish Anatomy & Physiology before starting at Five Branches — these can be taken concurrently with your TCM coursework.
- Once you've registered for a specific course, it's worth sending Admissions the syllabus so they can confirm the lab format satisfies the requirement before you pay for it — that avoids any surprise later.
Are you looking at this as someone who already has some science background, or starting the prerequisites from scratch?
Sources
- Five Branches University — published materials checked 2026-07
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