Traditional Chinese Medicine Program

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Kootenay Columbia College of Integrative Health Sciences currently offers four diploma programs in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and an introductory distance learning course. These are:

5-year Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Program – 4,185 hours (completed within 4 1/2 years)
4-year Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Program – 3,465 hours
3-Year Acupuncturist Program – 2,445 hours
3-year Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist Program – 2,520 hours per the 2019 course synopsis
Online course – Introduction to Chinese Herbology – 15 hours

With a written history of over 2500 years, Chinese medicine encompasses a truly vast field of knowledge. Those individuals who choose to study Chinese medicine will find that their study will last an entire lifetime and, even then, seems not yet fully complete.

The Chinese medicine program of study has been designed, to as large a degree as possible, to match similar programs of study at Chinese medicine universities in the People’s Republic of China. These PRC university programs are generally 5 or 6 years in length and extremely comprehensive, encompassing not only all modalities of Chinese medicine: acupuncture, Chinese herbs, tui-na massage, qi-gong therapy, diet therapy, but also related Western medicine topics.

In tailoring such programs to suit the North American post-secondary education system, a major obstacle has obviously been condensing a large amount of teaching into an appropriate program length. In remaining true to our commitment to the fidelity of Chinese medicine in its tradition, KCCIHS determined that in order to maintain a program length equivalent to other North American colleges of Chinese medicine, it was necessary to include a total number of teaching hours far in excess of those offered at most of these North American schools.

We feel it is a grave error to compromise the tradition of Chinese medicine in the name of economy: either financial economy or economy of effort. Our program is comprehensive, rigorous and challenging. Our goal is to produce TCM doctors of worth. As such, we require the student who not only seeks excellence, but also is serious, committed and diligent.

GOALS OF THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE PROGRAMS

To present comprehensive three, four and five year programs that encompass the five modalities of traditional Chinese medicine, including the requisite Western Biomedical Sciences as well as other required subjects.
To assist students in attaining an understanding of the principles of Chinese medicine and see the function of the paradigm in everyday life.
To prepare students to meet all of the qualifying examinations and regulations concerning acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, as such regulations and licensing come into force.
To prepare students to become responsible health care providers and able practitioners.
To offer a curriculum that meets or exceeds all academic and clinical requirements, as required by the profession’s regulating bodies

The KCCIHS Difference

At KCCIHS we believe that the aim of TCM studies is not simply to be a well-rounded TCM doctor, but a healer; one who assists in making whole. TCM provides the framework for our holistic approach to developing the highest caliber healers.

TCM is an ancient medicine.
TCM is a self-reflective medicine.
TCM is practical medicine.
TCM is traditional medicine.
TCM is natural medicine.

Why study Chinese medicine and Acupuncture at KCCIHS?

Study at an accredited, well-established school of Chinese medicine
Study at a school that offers a comprehensive and in depth curriculum taught by passionate instructors
Study where graduates are consistently successful in passing their licensing exams in British Columbia, Ontario, and the United States
Study with passionate and dedicated fellow students from around the world – past students have hailed from across Canada, and countries including Mexico, Argentina, the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Norway and Japan.

Doctor of TCM

TCM Herbalist

TCM Practitioner

Acupuncturist

Intro to Chinese Herbology

Get the knowledge and skills you need for a new job or career transition!

Testimonials

I chose Chinese Medicine because this medical system has been honed in over thousands of years. It deeply honours the holistic nature of who we are as humans, our connectedness to each other, this planet, our elders, our ancestors and all the beings that we share this planet with. It is safe, accessible and undeniably effective. After much research and analysis- I chose Kootenay Columbia College Of Integrative Health Sciences because of the reviews from students, the dedication of the instructors and the clinical excellence of those that had graduated from this program. In my research I had also discovered that KCCIHS had achieved a perfect accreditation score - I knew that this was a challenging marker to achieve and this helped confirm my decision to pack up our home, move to the Kootenays and embark on a 5 year path with KCCIHS. After enrolling and beginning my studies here I can say that the knowledge, passion and skillset of the instructors at the KCCIHS sets a high standard of theoretical and clinical excellence. It is an immensely rigorous and challenging undertaking but one that is highly rewarding and valuable. I’m so grateful that to have found KCCIHS and excited to continue learning Chinese medicine in the remarkably beautiful Kootenays.