Certificate in Chinese Herbal Med (CCHM)

Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCHM)

Our Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine program is a postgraduate course for acupuncture practitioners who are seeking comprehensive training in Chinese Herbal medicine. The 24-month program teaches practitioners to safely and effectively incorporate the use of Chinese herbs into their clinical practice. Graduates of this program are qualified to sit for the NCCAOM certification exam in Chinese Herbology.

For more information about the program and course offerings, click here for our Academic Catalog.

Many states require this exam and/or herbal certification to practice herbal medicine or for state acupuncture licensure including Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont.

Our hybrid program combines the best aspects of face-to-face and online learning. The convenient, modular format reduces travel time and offers more dynamic class assignments. Students can maintain their current practices while attending school. During the first two terms, classes meet in-person three times each term. During the final term, students attend monthly sessions to complete clinical internship training and a comprehensive review of program material.

Synchronous online sessions are required for some courses. Synchronous sessions are typically scheduled Tuesday or Wednesday evenings 1-2 times per month 6-9pm ET.

Details are announced prior to the start of each term.

Students explore the unique properties of over 300 individual Chinese herbs and the composition and therapeutic functions of over 150 traditional prescriptions. The curriculum also includes the study of prepared medicines, essential oils, food therapy, and drug-herb interactions. Relevant biomedical training is included to review important skills and stay up-to-date on information and procedures that can change over time.

Clinical training consists of 210 hours of supervised clinical practice creating and modifying formulas for patients. Clinical instruction includes case review where students evaluate the effectiveness of herbal prescriptions based on patient progress and discuss how to refine treatment plans based on patient feedback.

The curriculum allows students to build their foundation of herbal knowledge before beginning to work with patients in their final term. By studying individual herbs and herbal formulas simultaneously, students learn the functions of the herbs in relation to one another along with their historical and classical context, which has proven effective in helping our students succeed.

Program Goals

The goals for the CCHM program are to:

Graduate knowledgeable, skilled Chinese herbal medicine practitioners who effectively diagnose and treat a broad range of health conditions.
Develop caring, compassionate herbal medicine practitioners by fostering a healing presence in personal and professional interactions.
Prepare graduates to pass the NCCAOM national certification examination in herbology.

Program Learning Outcomes

Building on previous Chinese medicine theory and acupuncture training, graduates of the CCHM program will be able to:

Articulate the basic theories of Chinese herbal medicine and the foundational knowledge of Chinese herbs, herbal formulations, and associated natural products.
Formulate skilled diagnoses and treatment plans using the theories of Chinese medicine.
Provide safe and effective patient care using various forms of Chinese herbal medicine.
Integrate relevant biomedical information into the practice of Chinese herbal medicine.
Demonstrate professionalism in all aspects of the program.