Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine

Chinese herbal medicine is the largest organized herbal system in existence. In China, it is considered a very powerful form of therapy that is used to treat most conditions. Chinese herbs includes roots, flowers, seeds, leaves, stems and branches and other substances. Chinese herbs usually are used in combination. Some herbs reinforce each other and some eliminate adverse effects of other herbs.

The Chinese herbal medicine certificate program is designed for those seeking comprehensive training in the field of Chinese herbal medicine. This program is a postgraduate course for acupuncturists.

The CCHM curriculum enables students to gain skills and knowledge in the principles of Chinese herbology, including materia medica, formulations, prepared medicines, dispensary, herbal therapeutics and clinical training at the Chinese herbal medicine teaching clinic. The CCHM curriculum covers a minimum of 300 herbs and other therapeutic substances and a minimum of 150 herbal formulas. Case studies are presented to enhance the learning process. Students also gain skills in understanding drug/herb interactions — a very relevant topic for today’s practitioners. At the conclusion of the certificate program, graduates have enhanced their academic skills through clinical training and have gained the traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic skills to assess and diagnose syndromes relevant to traditional Chinese medicine. They also are prepared to determine and use appropriate Chinese herbal therapies within the appropriate professional scope of practice.   

Expected Learning Outcomes

The Chinese Herbal Medicine Certificate trains graduates to be the following:

  1. Safe and effective in the care of patients by demonstrating in-depth ability in the following areas:
    1. Knowledgeable of traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic strategies and their application to individual cases
    2. Skilled in the traditional methods of assessment of patients, including observation and palpation
    3. Competence in selecting the appropriate treatment modalities and plans for a patient utilizing Chinese herbs and lifestyle and dietary counseling
    4. Skill in the application of herbs and Chinese herbal formulas in an appropriate and safe fashion for each patient
    5. Critical thinking using cognitive skills to increase expected patient outcomes and the development of professional judgment
  2. Able to integrate Eastern and Western paradigms of medicine for the purposes of informing the practice of traditional Chinese medicine, communicating with other health care professionals and patients, and making appropriate medical referrals when necessary
  3. Qualified to pass national and state herbal exams

Prerequisites

The CCHM is a postgraduate course of study that includes both didactic and clinical training. The minimum requirement for the CCHM is either a master’s degree in acupuncture from an ACAOM accredited insitution or a certificate in acupuncture with 10 years of documented clinical experience. Applicants need to have completed or be in the process of completing the following coursework:

Intermediate Algebra 1 course
General Psychology 1 course
General Chemistry (allied-health level with lab) 1 course

General Biology (allied-health level with lab)

1 course

General Physics (allied-health level) 1 course

The following classes are corequisites and may be completed while taking CCHM classes: Survey of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology.

CCHM applicants must have a background in the basic sciences that is comparable to Bastyr University’s master’s curriculum. Upon review of past coursework, applicants may be asked to take a higher-level science course or complete a competency exam.

California Licensure Requirements

The CCHM curriculum is designed to meet the current Chinese herbal medicine requirement portion for California acupuncture licensure. (The California licensing exam requires comprehensive training in acupuncture as well as CHM.) Those interested in California licensure should complete the MSAOM program or complete the MSA and return to the CCHM program as a postgraduate student.   

Case/Herbal Studies in China

Students in the CHM certificate program may also choose to study in China. (Please see the China Studies section in the AOM master’s program description.) CCHM students may apply for an advanced preceptorship as part of the China study.

The curriculum tables that follow list the tentative schedule of courses each quarter.

CCHM YEAR I

Summer

CH5100Introduction to Chinese Herbs 1

1.5

CH5101Introduction to Chinese Herbs 2

1.5

CH5401Chinese Materia Medica 1

3

CH6100CHM Dispensary 1

2

Total Credit Hours:8.0

Fall

CH6400Chinese Materia Medica 2

3

CH7100CHM Dispensary 2

2

Total Credit Hours:5

Winter

CH6401Chinese Materia Medica 3

3

Total Credit Hours:3

Spring

CH6402CHM Formulations 1

4

CH6101Chinese Herbal Preparations

1

Total Credit Hours:5

Summer

CH6403CHM Formulations 2

4

CH7800CHM Clinic 1

2

Total Credit Hours:6

CCHM Year II

Fall

CH7104Pharmacology of AOM and Drug Interactions

2

CH7401Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 1

2

CH7101Jia Jian/Formula Families

2

CH7801CHM Clinic 2

2

Total Credit Hours:8

Winter

CH7402Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 2

2

CH7403Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 3

2

CH7802CHM Clinic 3

2

Total Credit Hours:6

Spring

CH7404Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 4

2

CH7405Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 5

2

CH7803CHM Clinic 4

2

Total Credit Hours:6

Summer

CH7406Chinese Herbal Therapeutics 6

2

CH7407Chinese Herbal Review

2

CH7804CHM Clinic V

2

Total Credit Hours:6

Total Requirements

Total Core Course Credits 43
Total Elective Credits
  2
Total Clinic Credits 10
Total Requirements  55

Note: the CCHM program is 55 credits total. To earn the certificate, 41 credits must be completed in residence. 

Curriculum and course changes in the 2019-2020 Bastyr University Catalog are applicable to students entering during the 2019-2020 academic year. Please refer to the appropriate catalog if interested in curriculum and courses required for any other entering year.

Academic Status and Graduation Requirements

The CCHM program is 55 credits total. To earn the certificate, 37 credits, including all clinical credits must be completed in residence. Students in the CCHM program are required to have a minimum 100 patient contacts to fulfill the clinical training requirements.

The CCHM is a graduate course of study and, as such, follows the grading policies of the department of AEAM degree programs.

Students entering the certificate in Chinese herbal medicine (CCHM) must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be in good academic standing. Grades below a 72.9 percent indicate failure to meet the minimum level of competency for learning objectives or core competencies. A student who receives a failure in a required course, lab or clinic shift must repeat that course, lab, or clinic. Academic sanctions occur when the quarterly or cumulative GPA drops below the minimum level or when a student receives PC or F grades. Students with a quarterly GPA below the minimum will be placed on academic warning status. Students who receive a PC or F in any one quarter, regardless of GPA, may be placed on probation status. Academic tutoring and support are available to assist students to return to good academic standing.