My English isn't that strong — can I still apply?
Yes — this worry comes up a lot, and it usually turns out to be smaller than people fear, because Five Branches actually runs two real tracks side by side: an English track and a bilingual/Chinese-language track, not just one English-only door.
Can I apply if my English isn't strong?
Yes — this worry comes up a lot, and it usually turns out to be smaller than people fear, because Five Branches actually runs two real tracks side by side: an English track and a bilingual/Chinese-language track, not just one English-only door.
If you're weighing whether English proficiency will block you, it depends on your background:
| Situation | What's required |
|---|---|
| Completed 2+ years of university study taught in English (or at a U.S.-accredited school) | English test not required |
| Native language isn't English, no qualifying prior study | Must submit ONE proficiency test (see below) |
| Chinese-language track applicant | May qualify via Chinese as primary language, prior education in Chinese, or an FBU language/writing assessment — no TOEFL/IELTS needed |
If a test is needed, here are the accepted minimums (school's international-applicants page, checked 08/2026):
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 61 |
| IELTS Academic | Band 6 |
| Duolingo English Test | 90 |
| CEFR | B2 |
| PTE Academic | 45 |
One honest thing worth knowing ahead of time, not to discourage you but so you can plan: clinical training itself is conducted entirely in English, even for Chinese-language-track students — the reasoning is that the patients you'll see are the general public, so the training environment matches the one you'll actually practice in. There's no interpreter in the clinic, so it's worth building English confidence over your program years, not just clearing an admissions bar.
And a separate piece of good news if California licensure is your goal: the CALE licensing exam itself is offered in Mandarin, Korean, and English — so studying in Chinese doesn't shut you out of licensure here (it does mean staying California-focused, since most other states' exam is English-only).
What's your first language, and are you thinking English track or the Chinese-language track?
Sources
- California Acupuncture Board checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Global Opportunity checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — International Applicants checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Tcm Clinical Training checked 2026-08
- The school's own published catalog and website checked 2026-07
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