I have a healthcare background (RN, PT, prior TCM credits) — what can I get credit for?

What credit you can get for a healthcare background

You're right to ask this separately from admission requirements — it's genuinely good news, and it's worth being precise about what applies to what, because "prerequisites" and "transfer credit" are two different questions.

Your Western medicine coursework (RN/PT training) On review of your prior credentials, you may transfer part or all of the Western medicine track — including the natural science requirements (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology). These courses only need to come from a regionally accredited, degree-granting institution — your RN or PT program almost certainly qualifies. (Five Branches, published transfer policy, checked 08/2026.)

Prior TCM coursework

A few conditions apply across the board: the prior school must be nationally accredited and California Acupuncture Board–approved, your grade must be a C or better, and courses older than 5 years typically need a fresh evaluation or a challenge exam to count.

If something doesn't transfer outright — say a course was close but not quite equivalent, or you got below a C — you can usually petition for a challenge exam (one per department, Clinical Training excluded, 70% to pass, one attempt).

None of this becomes final on paper — it's always a course-by-course transcript review. But the shape of it is genuinely favorable for someone with your background, and it's worth sending transcripts in rather than assuming nothing will count.

(Source: Five Branches transfer-students page, last checked 08/2026.)

Curious how much of your specific coursework might carry over — RN or PT training, or both?