I work full time — can the schedule actually work?
It's a fair thing to worry about — juggling a job, maybe a family, against a rigorous professional program is a real math problem, not a small one. Here's how the pacing actually breaks down: The honest caveat: the entry-level MAcHM/DAcHM/DAc/MAc classes themselves are held on weekday daytimes — going part-time changes how much you're taking per trimester, not when class meets.
Short answer: yes, plenty of students here already work full time — but which path makes it work depends on which program you're aiming for.
It's a fair thing to worry about — juggling a job, maybe a family, against a rigorous professional program is a real math problem, not a small one. Here's how the pacing actually breaks down:
| Path | How the schedule is built | Fits best if... |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time pacing (MAcHM/DAcHM/DAc/MAc) | Same weekday daytime class times, just fewer units per trimester spread across more trimesters | You can free up daytime hours on the days you're in class |
| NDS — try one course first | As little as one course per trimester, for up to three trimesters, before deciding | You want to test the fit without touching your job schedule yet |
| DAOM (advanced doctorate, for those who already hold a TCM or Oriental Medicine master's degree) | Monthly 3–4 day weekend intensives, roughly 49% delivered online | You're already practicing/working and need a format literally built around keeping that going |
| Bridge / Completion (master's-holders upgrading to the doctorate) | 100% online | You want the doctorate title with zero commute at all |
The honest caveat: the entry-level MAcHM/DAcHM/DAc/MAc classes themselves are held on weekday daytimes — going part-time changes how much you're taking per trimester, not when class meets. So if your job is a strict 9-to-5, the DAOM or Bridge routes (open only once you already hold a master's) are the ones truly built around a working schedule; if you're starting fresh, part-time pacing plus NDS as a low-stakes first step is the realistic combination. (DAOM format per the school's own catalog, last checked 07/2026 — worth confirming current details before enrolling.)
One more thing worth knowing if money is part of what's driving the "can I actually do this" question: NDS students aren't eligible for federal financial aid, even though tuition itself is billed per term either way.
What does your work schedule actually look like day to day — fixed hours, or something with more give in it?
Sources
- Five Branches University — Applying To Five Branches checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Educational Requirements checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — DAOM Program, FBU DAOM-Catalog-2026-Jan-1 2026-1, pp. 28-41 (of 68 checked 2026-07
- Five Branches University, DAcHM-MAcHM-DAc-MAc-Catalog-2026-1, pp. 27-30 (Program Description (www.fivebranches.edu) checked 2026-07
- The school's own published catalog and website checked 2026-07
- Five Branches University — Tuition Fee checked 2026-08
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