Master’s in Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine (MAcCHM)
ASOM’s most comprehensive graduate program, combining advanced acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and bodywork. Accredited training that prepares you for national certification and professional licensure.
Recognized by ACAHM. Eligible for the NCCAOM national certification exams in acupuncture and Chinese herbology.
Program Overview
The Master’s in Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine (MAcCHM) program is our most comprehensive path of study, combining acupuncture, herbal medicine, bodywork, and clinical practice. Students receive full training in acupuncture (MAc) and the Asian Medical Bodywork (AMB) certificate, along with extensive coursework and clinical experience in Chinese herbology.
This program provides the knowledge and skills required to:
- Sit for the NCCAOM national certifying exam in Chinese herbology
- Practice acupuncture and herbal medicine as a comprehensively trained practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Deliver integrated care, combining acupuncture, tuina, and herbal therapy for a complete treatment approach
Herbal Therapy
- Over 13,000 medicinal herbs in the Chinese Materia Medica (300–400 commonly used)
- Sources include plants (roots, stems, leaves, rhizomes), minerals, and animal products
- Herbal formulas average 4–20 herbs, working synergistically for therapeutic effect
- Traditionally prepared as decoctions (herbal teas), but now also available in pills, capsules, granules, and tinctures
- Mastery of formula development is central to safe, effective treatment and requires extensive knowledge of herbs and their interactions
Curriculum Highlights
Students will gain deep training in:
- Herbology — formulas, diagnosis, and treatment
- Zangfu system of physiology and elements
- Food therapies and their harmonizing effects within the body
- Tuina bodywork therapies and massage (through the AZ State & AOBTA-recognized AMB Certificate)
- Anatomy, physiology, and biomedicine (Western and Chinese)
- Acupuncture techniques, pressure therapies, and diagnostic skills
- Energetics and cultivation of life’s flow through practice
Clinical Training
- Integrated classroom and supervised clinical practice throughout the program
- Opportunities to apply acupuncture, herbal medicine, and bodywork in a holistic care model
- Graduates complete extensive clinical hours ensuring readiness for independent practice
Accreditation & Licensure
- Program qualifies graduates to sit for the NCCAOM national certifying examination in Chinese herbology
- Arizona Acupuncture Practice Act does not require herbology for licensure, but practitioners with this training offer comprehensive TCM care with both acupuncture and herbal medicine
Program Completion
Graduates will:
- Qualify for the NCCAOM herbology exam
- Be trained to integrate acupuncture, tuina, and herbal therapies in professional practice
- Gain advanced clinical and diagnostic expertise in both Chinese and Western medical perspectives
- Stand out as comprehensively trained practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the U.S.
Program Details
Duration:
3 years plus one 15-week term (full-time)
Schedule:
Approx. 45 weeks per year in classroom and clinic
Program Hours:
3,040
Tuition:
$64,603.00
Alternative Path:
Students with a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Acupuncture may complete the herbal training alone as a Master’s Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine
Other Programs
A 2-year, 900-hour program focused on Chinese herbology. Learn to prepare and prescribe formulas from the Materia Medica. Offered standalone or as part of the MAcCHM degree.
A 3-year, 2,575-hour program providing the foundation to become a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc). Includes the most complete tuina training in the U.S., with clinical experience from year one.
Master the art of tuina, a Chinese medicinal bodywork practice. 1,058 training hours over 15–24 months, with accreditation and lineage under Tony Della Croce, LAc.