Acupuncture Courses and Training.
There are many acupuncture courses and colleges each with its own agenda and ethos and this actually creates quite a bit of false information and confusion. I remember when I first started and how difficult it was to know what to do. This is why Im always happy to meet anyone who is considering the study of acupuncture, even if they are not necessarily going to join me. People have their own needs and expectations of a course but when you are new to acupuncture it can be difficult to know where to go in order to fulfil them.
The standard course available in the UK is a 3 year course either at an independent college or a university. These courses accredited by the BAAB qualify graduates to join the British Acupuncture Council which is an independent organisation for qualified acupuncturists, membership costs about £600pa. All the main colleges are either part of or affiliated to a university in order to offer a degree. Grants are hard to come by although it is occasionally possible but student loans are available. The cost is usually in the region of £20,000 over 3 years. If you want a degree or you feel that you will enjoy the experience of being a student and spending 3 years at college these courses will be for you. These courses are ideal for people who have no knowledge or experience as a therapist of any kind. Obviously you will get lots of time in order to learn the material but you will need it since these courses are very high in academic content with frequent exams and a research component for the degree. The courses do offer a good amount of clinical experience in the third year and they do include practical skills work like point location, needling, cupping etc. Quite a high level of Western Medicine knowledge is required and if you do not have an exemption you will need to study this as part of the course. You will find that the colleges do vary slightly in their emphasis and if this route interests you we would recommend looking at the BAcC website as a first point of call: www.acupuncture.org.uk
Doctors and other western healthcare professionals have their own acupuncture course, its very short and does not compare to the acupuncture college courses. This course is run by the BMAS.
Physiotherapists have their own AACP course which is (we think) between 6 and 12 months long.
The Healing & Acupuncture College Course.
Although it is not the only shorter course the Healing and Acupuncture College six month course is unique in its teaching style and content, it offers a genuine and professional training at an accelerated rate and at lower cost. The H.A.C. Six month course is very well suited to people who have some existing skills and experience as therapists. For example as massage therapists, nurses or councillors. The course is conducted in an informal and friendly atmosphere which is more in tune with the way acupuncture courses were 20 years ago. It is only more recently that colleges have begun to get very focussed on degree status and academia. The H.A.C. course is not overly academic but this does not mean it is unprofessional, for example the standards of point location, needling and diagnostic skills are just as good as you will find elsewhere. For more information see: Course
For more information about qualifications see here
But I've been told that it will be illegal to practice without a degree soon? See here