The Best Acupuncture Schools

Acupuncture relieves pain, promotes healing and addresses a wide range of health problems for millions of people all over the world. Acupuncture, an important component of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is based on the idea of returning the body to a state of harmony or ideal functioning. Acupuncture rebalances the flow of energy (Qi) in the body. Acupuncture influences human energy through manipulating the meridians of the body, connected energetically with internal organs and systems.

The World Health Organization’s official report titled Acupuncture: Review and Analysis of Reports on Controlled Clinical Trials, specifically listed 28 diseases, symptoms or conditions which acupuncture (through clinical trials) has proved to provide effective treatment. The US National Institutes of Health issued a consensus statement proposing acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention for complimentary medicine. The American Medical Association Journal of Internal Medicine concluded acupuncture effectively reduces chronic pain with few side effects.

Because of acupuncture’s increasing popularity, the number of acupuncture schools has grown over the years. The schools, also known as Traditional Chinese Medicine schools or Traditional Oriental Medicine schools, typically teach the fundamentals and related Western medical subjects.

With numerous institutions offering acupuncture programs, it’s not easy selecting a school. Prospective students may begin their search with schools which received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine as well as the American Association of Oriental Medicine established ACAOM in 1982 as a not-for-profit organization. The U.S. Department of Education recognizes ACAOM as a “specialized and professional” accrediting agency.

ACAOM has more than 50 schools and colleges with accreditation or candidacy status. All of the schools we selected for our list have received accreditation from ACAOM.

Factors which influenced our choice of schools making this list as well as their relative order include the following:

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