Welcome and course terms and conditions
Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture Course Overview
How to navigate through the course
Access to the course on your mobile
Course timetable
History of acupuncture and the five element theory
Introduction to Western medical acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine
History of acupuncture assessment
Health and safety issues in acupuncture
Needling technique and health and safety
Introduction to needling technique
Health and safety assessment
Local, segmental, and central response to acupuncture
Current understanding and mechanisms of acupuncture
Current understanding of the mechanism of acupuncture assessment
Introduction to myofacial trigger point therapy
Introduction to myofascial trigger point presentation
Types of trigger points
Assessment and treatment of trigger points
Myofascial trigger points assessment
Meridians and the principles of acupuncture point selection
Main meridians and their pathway
Meridian assessment
How to locate acupuncture points
How to locate acupuncture points
Meridians and principal of point selection assessment
The Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture is a technical-level qualification aimed at enhancing the knowledge, understanding and skills needed for a career as a medical acupuncture practitioner.
Acupuncture is still evolving with modern medicine. As theories and evidence-based mechanisms of action are being tested, acupuncture treatment is now widely available within many branches of Western medicine. Most national health services (NHS) have professionals utilising some form of acupuncture, most commonly Physiotherapists, Nurses, Midwives, Podiatrists and General Practitioners. Outside the NHS, the diversity of practitioners includes Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Sports and Massage Therapists, and Veterinarians.
Musculoskeletal disorders are by far the most common conditions treated by both traditional Chinese and Western medical acupuncturists. Several studies have shown that patients sought acupuncture most for low back, neck, shoulder and knee pain, as well as headaches and migraine. Treatment for infertility by independent acupuncturists was found to have increased fivefold in 10 years.
This course combines evidence-based Western Medical and traditional Chinese medical (TCM) concepts, thus providing evidence to support the best techniques from both methods. A look at the evidence to support an energy system within the body (qi and meridian network), and the importance of the energy source in the healing process from a Western scientific and TCM viewpoint. There is a strong emphasis on the importance of deqi, when is it required, the difference between strong and weak deqi sensation, superficial and deep needling, and point specificity based on desired treatment outcome (i.e., to reduce pain, swelling, enhance circulation, increase or reduce heart rate, enhance the healing of specific tissue, etc.) and autonomic response. A range of commonly used classical and auricular acupuncture points and myofascial trigger points primarily aimed at addressing musculoskeletal disorders are discussed. There is a strong emphasis on health and safety.
The theoretical component of the course is delivered online, allowing you the flexibility to study at your convenience. In addition, we host six practical weekend sessions in our Nottingham clinic. The practical workshops will give you the opportunity to develop your hands-on skills and experience and the chance to meet colleagues with similar interests. Furthermore, the workshops will allow you to develop confidence in the use of acupuncture to begin independent practice as a medical acupuncture practitioner. You will have the required skill set to undertake a holistic medical approach to best look after your patients’ health and wellbeing.
Unlike other acupuncture courses, our Post-graduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture is a rolling teaching programme. Therefore, you can start the online part of the course at any time. We have no start dates, so you can begin when you are ready.
Embark on a life changing experience and choose a payment plan to suit you.
Regular price
8 monthly payment
One time payment
The Post-graduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture course is ideal for healthcare professionals or equivalent in a health-related discipline looking to add acupuncture to their practice or want to change career path and train as a medical acupuncturist. You need to have a good working knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. This will include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, midwives, complementary medicine therapists, sports therapists, massage therapists, dentists and other health care professionals.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture is designed to fit your busy lifestyle. You can progress through the Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture at your own pace. There is no set time limit to completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture. However, we do encourage students to complete all work within eighteen months from the date of registration. The course consists of a minimum of 500 hours, which do not include clinical observation. There are approximately 84 hours of supervised practical face-to-face and theoretical training, which takes place via clinical settings. The remaining 416 hours involves online course work, case studies, reflective diaries, revision and clinic logbook:
Throughout each module, a range of assessment procedures have been produced to assess the learning outcomes set out in the curriculum. The assessments consist of a combination of continuous and summative assessments. The course is assessed via: 1. Ongoing practical assessments and oral questioning 2. Health and safety test (summative) 3. Practical needling assessments (summative) 4. Home study coursework (formative) 5. Acupuncture main case study (1500 words) (summative) 6. Reflective case studies (summative) 7. Clinical logbook (summative) 8. Practical needling and point location assessment and viva (summative)
All assessments need to be completed successfully by each student to pass the Diploma in Medical Acupuncture course. If a student fails an assessment, he/she will have the opportunity to retake the assessment. Following each assessment/examination, students will receive constructive feedback, and where needed, additional support and supervision will be provided by their course tutor.
Examination is by continuous assessment of the online coursework, assignments, and case studies. An assessment will be arranged to assess your clinical knowledge and understanding of acupuncture based on your submitted assignments and logbook. A Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture will be awarded once the examining board is satisfied with a student’s competence. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Acupuncture are recognised by the designatory letters Pg.Dip.Med.Ac. This indicates that you have completed the course to the required standard and obtained a certificate of competence to practice acupuncture.
