Acupuncturist education requirements

Q: How long is acupuncture school?

Acupuncture school typically lasts around three to four years. This duration is the standard length for most Master's degree programs in acupuncture, which is often the required level of education to practice as a licensed acupuncturist. The curriculum usually includes classroom instruction as well as hands-on clinical training. However, the exact duration may vary depending on the specific program, the student's pace of study, and any additional specializations or certifications.

Q: How do you learn acupuncture?

You learn acupuncture by studying it at a school that has been accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). To be eligible to attend one of ACAOM schools, you must have completed at least two years or 60 semester credits of education for a bachelor's degree. It is important to note that some ACAOM schools exceed this minimum requirement and only consider candidates that have obtained a bachelor's degree.

Q: What degree do you need to be an acupuncturist?

You need a master's degree through an accredited acupuncture or Chinese medicine program to be an acupuncturist. While the requirements to enter an accredited master's program vary, most of them will require prerequisites that focus on the human body. A good undergraduate degree that will help you in graduate school would be kinesiology, human biology, or a related field. An internship during your graduate studies could be extremely beneficial for professional development . After graduation, acupuncturists will need to be licensed in whichever state they plan on practicing in before they can begin working. It is becoming more and more common for aspiring acupuncturists to receive a doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This can be especially beneficial if you would like to pursue academic research or an advanced specialization.

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an acupuncturist. Acupuncturists usually study alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems, medicine, or psychology. 50% of acupuncturists hold a master's degree, and 36% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 1,612 real acupuncturist resumes to see exactly what acupuncturist education sections show.

The most common colleges for acupuncturists are the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.

There are also many online acupuncturist courses to help get the education required to be an acupuncturist.

There are certain acupuncturist certifications that you should consider. These acupuncturist certifications include Diplomate in Acupuncture (Dipl.Ac.) And Diplomate in Oriental Medicine.

What education do you need to become an acupuncturist?

What degree do you need to be an acupuncturist?

The most common degree for acupuncturists is master's degree, with 50% of acupuncturists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 36% and bachelor's degree degree at 7%.

Master's, 50%

Bachelor's, 36%

Doctorate, 7%

Associate, 5%

Other Degrees, 2%

What should I major in to become an acupuncturist?

You should major in alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems to become an acupuncturist. 59% of acupuncturists major in alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems. Other common majors for an acupuncturist include medicine and psychology.

Alternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical Systems, 59%

Medicine, 6%

Psychology, 6%

Nursing, 4%

Other Majors, 25%

Most common colleges for acupuncturists

Acupuncturists often get their degrees at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, South Baylo University, and Tri-State College of Acupuncture. Here are the most common colleges for acupuncturists in the US based on their resumes.

Acupuncturist common college	Percentages
Pacific College of Oriental Medicine	17.45%
South Baylo University	17.09%
Tri-State College of Acupuncture	6.55%
Southwest Acupuncture College - Boulder	6.18%
Bastyr University	5.82%

Show more common acupuncturist colleges

Best majors for acupuncturists

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Alternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical Systems	58.5%
2	Medicine	6.0%
3	Psychology	5.7%
4	Nursing	4.0%
5	Biology	3.6%

Show more common acupuncturist majors

Best colleges for acupuncturists

The best colleges for acupuncturists are Boston University, St. Catherine University, and Metropolitan State University of Denver.

An acupuncturist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for acupuncturists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become acupuncturists.

1. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

2. MCPHS University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$33,620

Enrollment

3,933

20 best online courses for acupuncturists

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Top 10 most affordable universities for acupuncturists

1. Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO • Private

In-state tuition

$7,666

Cost of attendance

21,702

2. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$14,338

Cost of attendance

26,326

10. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Fulton, MO • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

1,133

6. Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

77%

SAT average

1,281

7. Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

1,107

8. Wayne State University

Detroit, MI • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,127

9. MCPHS University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

93%

SAT average

1,144

10. Chapman University

Orange, CA • Private

Admissions rate

54%

According to our data, acupuncturists with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $76,046 annually. Acupuncturists with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $70,521.

Acupuncturist education level	Acupuncturist salary
Bachelor's Degree	$66,982
No Education	$47,521
Some College/ Associate Degree	$63,524
Master's Degree	$70,521
High School Diploma or Less	$35,776

Acupuncturist education FAQs

How long is acupuncture school?

How do you learn acupuncture?

What degree do you need to be an acupuncturist?

What is the best college for Acupuncturists?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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