Which degree do I actually need?
If you're a brand-new student wanting to become a licensed acupuncturist in California, only two of the entry-level options actually qualify you to sit the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE) — the rest exist for different situations: So the short version: MAcHM or DAcHM is the path if you want to practice with a California license.
Which degree you need comes down to one question: are you starting from zero, or do you already hold a related credential? That's the worry hiding under "which degree" — nobody wants to spend a year in the wrong track. Here's how it actually breaks down, per Five Branches' own DAcHM Catalog (checked 07/2026).
If you're a brand-new student wanting to become a licensed acupuncturist in California, only two of the entry-level options actually qualify you to sit the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE) — the rest exist for different situations:
| Program | Who it fits | What it qualifies you for |
|---|---|---|
| MAcHM (Master's) | New students | CALE + national certification (NCBAHM, formerly NCCAOM) |
| DAcHM (dual-degree with MAcHM) | New students who want the doctorate title alongside the same license | Same as above, plus DAcHM doctorate |
| DAc/MAc (acupuncture only, no Chinese herbs) | New students planning to practice outside CA, or MDs/licensed Western-medicine providers already authorized to needle in CA | NCBAHM certification only — not CALE |
| Bridge/Completion (100% online) | Already hold a field master's (MAcHM/MTCM/MAc) | Upgrades your title to the DAcHM/DAc doctorate |
| DAOM or PhD (advanced doctorates) | Already hold a master's or license, want to go further | Direct admission, no bridge needed first |
| NDS (non-degree) | Licensed practitioners, MDs, or the "try one course first" crowd | No degree/license change — just coursework |
So the short version: MAcHM or DAcHM is the path if you want to practice with a California license. DAc/MAc is a real degree, just aimed at a narrower situation (outside-CA practice, or MDs already permitted to needle here). None of the doctorate options are required for licensure — they're for people who want the deeper title, research path, or already have their license and are building on it.
Are you coming into this fresh, or do you already hold a related degree or license somewhere?
Sources
- Five Branches University — 入學要求 checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Academic Calendar Cdaom checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Accreditation Degrees Programs checked 2026-08
- California Acupuncture Board checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Dac Mac Dual Degree Program checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Dtcm Mtcm Program checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Educational Requirements checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — How To Apply checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — Programs Degrees checked 2026-08
- The school's own published catalog and website checked 2026-07
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