Doctoral Programs for Licensed Acupuncturists
Hybrid Format | Two Distinct Professional Tracks: D.Ac. or DAHM
Choose the program that fits your credentials and goals — herbal training required for DAHM only.
Daoist Traditions offers a rare opportunity to pursue doctoral-level study rooted in lineage and uncompromising vision. Our doctoral professional track is designed for practitioners ready to go deeper into the theory and clinical integration of Chinese Medicine, while also exploring its classical roots.
Download the Application for Admission | Apply Online
LAST CHANCE!
NOW ENROLLING FOR JULY 2025
IMPORTANT DATES:
New Cohort Begins July 2025​​
In-Person Intensives:
• October 31 – November 4, 2025
• February 13 – 16, 2026
Online Portion:
• 1–2 synchronous evening classes per week
• Ongoing asynchronous coursework
We offer two advanced professional tracks:
Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAHM)
Applicants must have completed an ACAHM-accredited master’s program in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
Doctor of Acupuncture (D.Ac)
Applicants must have completed an ACAHM-accredited master’s program in Acupuncture (herbal training not required).
Entry requirements for both programs:
• 90 semester credits of bachelor’s-level education
• Prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, and psychology
Unsure if you meet the qualifications? We're happy to guide you through the process.
Please contact our Admissions Director at 828-225-3993 or admissions@daoisttraditions.edu.
Training for the Next Chapter in Your Career
Our programs are designed for professionals ready to take their clinical understanding to the next level through the lens of Daoist-based classical Chinese medicine.
With the Daoist Traditions doctoral degree, you get more than just a degree title –
you will learn skills to advance your career and expand your practice.
The doctoral programs are open to acupuncturists who wish to further their education and earn a doctorate. Our doctoral programs include advanced competencies in collaborative care, systems-based medicine, and evidence-informed practice – important skills and knowledge for acupuncturists in today’s team-based medical model. Broaden your ability to help your patients with advanced study of commonly seen specialty areas. Experience the integration of diverse medical perspectives in collaborative care rounds. Learn from instructors who are advanced practitioners and who bring a wealth of expertise and unique insight to the classroom experiences.
Continue your clinical practice while you earn your degree.
Get the best aspects of remote learning and face-to-face instruction with the convenient hybrid program format (part online and part in-person). Complete online coursework throughout the semester in both asynchronous and synchronous formats. Attend in-person sessions only 3 to 5 days per semester. Coming together with classmates and colleagues to explore aspects of this patient-centered medicine is a bonus. Collaborate and build community with professionals from diverse backgrounds – and learn from their experiences too.
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Advance your clinical skill set and gain new insights into whole-person healthcare.
Broaden your ability to help your patients with advanced study of Orthopedics, Neurology, Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Cardiology. Understand how to look at lab work and pharmacology through a Chinese Medicine lens. Engage in unique clinical sessions that demonstrate how to effectively collaborate with other healthcare professionals – without compromising the integrity of Chinese medicine.​
Here's what our students are saying .....
The doctoral program at Daoist Traditions was everything I hoped it would be. It helped me to connect the dots between Western treatments and diagnoses with the Chinese Medicine theoretical framework that makes up classical practice. I have a much better working understanding of pharmacology, lab work, and energetics. As a professor of Chinese Medicine in my own right, this program has also given me the tools I need to better teach my own students.
– Joe, EAMP, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M
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The doctoral program helped me to get my dream job at UCLA Health. WIth over 1000 acupuncturist candidates from all over the world applying for the position and only one spot, I thought it was impossible for me - but I got it!
Thank you, Daoist Traditions. Your program helped me separate myself, especially within the research scope.
- R.T., 2023 DACM, L.Ac., AP
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DAHM/D.Ac. Professional Track Admissions
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DAHM/D.Ac. Professional Track Curriculum
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Computer/Technology Requirements
2025-2029 College Calendar​​​
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Helpful Links
Federal Student Aid Gateway
Loan Calculator
Student Budget Calculator (Interactive academic year budget calculator)
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) (Available for students to view their loan records and obtain loan holder information)
Leaving Daoist Traditions?
Complete your Loan Exit Counseling
​*The college has an application for licensure of the postsecondary degree activity pending before the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
The Daoist Traditions Doctor of Acupuncture (D.Ac.) program is not accredited or pre-accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM). This program is eligible for ACAHM accreditation and Daoist Traditions is currently in the process of seeking ACAHM candidacy/accreditation for the program. Graduates of this program are not considered to have graduated from an ACAHM accredited or candidate program and may not rely on ACAHM accreditation or candidacy for professional licensure or other purposes. Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs.
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For details about the program and course offerings, click here for our Academic Catalog.
Contact our Admissions Director at 828-225-3993 or admissions@daoisttraditions.edu.
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Still exploring your options?
Let’s talk. We’ll help you decide if this program is right for you.
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