Professional Acupuncture (Part-time)

Mode of study: weekend or weekday.

Point of entry: October (weekend or weekday) or March (weekday only).

Course description: fully accredited, professional degree course in acupuncture.

Subjects studied:

Year 1

Qi in Practice: This unit looks at how Qi is developed and used through the medium of supervised exercises and bodywork, and through the observation of class clinical sessions with experienced practitioners.

Chinese Medicine Theory 1 & 2: Unit 1 introduces the historical background and modern interpretations of the theoretical building blocks of Chinese Medicine, in the form of Yinyang theory, Five Phase/Element theory, the Five Basic Substances, Superficial Jingluo meridian pathways and the Zangfu Pathologies related to Fire and Water. Unit 2 goes on to develop a practical understanding of the modern interpretations and therapeutic usages.

Practitioner Development 1: This unit encourages students to focus on the relationship between the therapist and the patient, using observation in the Teaching Clinic as a context, and with class sessions interspersed to consider the theoretical aspects.

Anatomy: This unit introduces the study of human anatomy, with an emphasis on the practical skills of surface anatomy, and on the terminology needed for an understanding of and communication in the subject.

Year 2

Point Location 1: This unit introduces the study and practice of point location and provides the student with awareness and understanding of qi in its practical and theoretical manifestations.

Chinese Medicine Theory 3 & 4: Setting out from the theoretical building blocks established in CMT1 and CMT2, unit 3 introduces the differentiation of patterns, including their relationship with the disease categories of conventional medicine. Unit 4 goes on to develop the theories and skills explored in unit CMT3 and prepares the student for clinical practice, working to gain deep learning in the topic.

Physiology and Pathology 1 & 2: These units look at the study of the biological function and the relationship between cells, tissues, organs and systems making up the body as a whole, looking also at the disease process and its effects upon normal physiological processes.

Year 3

Point Location 2: This unit develops the study and practice of point location, to increase the student’s awareness and understanding of practical skills and qi.

Chinese Medicine Theory 3 & 4: Setting out from the theoretical building blocks established in CMT1 and CMT2, unit 3 introduces the differentiation of patterns, including their relationship with the disease categories of conventional medicine. Unit 4 goes on to develop the theories and skills explored in unit CMT3 and prepares the student for clinical practice, working to gain deep learning in the topic.

Practitioner Development 2: This unit reinforces the work of PD1 to develop and support the student’s increasing professional maturity particularly with reference to experiences derived from clinical assistance.

Integrative Practice: This unit acts as a link between Western and Chinese medical units. It aids cohesion of the course by enhancing students’ clinical ability to utilise allopathic modalities within the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Enquiry Skills: This unit provides for academic/professional destinations (case studies, etc) in which Chinese medicine knowledge and related skills acquired or developed during the course are applied to the presentation of a research assignment.

Year 4

Acupuncture Clinic: This unit applies existing theoretical knowledge, reflective practice and practical skills acquired throughout the Programme in the context of supervised clinical practice with patients in the Teaching Clinic.

Practitioner Development 3: This unit helps students to formulate a plan for their practice once they qualify and, during the Pre-Qualifying Practice phase, enables them to start their own practice, bringing case notes back to College for supervision and guidance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science degree with Honours (BSc(Hons)), awarded by the University of Portsmouth
• Licentiate Diploma in Acupuncture (LicAc)
• Eligible to apply for membership of the British Acupuncture Council

A non-refundable application fee of £50 is payable when you apply for a course at LCTA. A deposit of £500 is payable to secure your place when you receive an offer. Please note, your deposit is non-refundable and if you decide to defer or cancel your place on the course within four weeks of the start of term it will be lost. The application fee and deposit are both offset against your first year’s course fees, with the remainder of fees are due two weeks before the start of term. Payment plans can be arranged on occasion but a 5% charge will be made. This can be discussed further at interview.

As a University Award this fee includes validation, quality assurance and award of the degree by the University of Portsmouth.

All classes run for a full day from 9.30am to 5pm with lunch and tea breaks. The College is closed over the Christmas and Easter breaks. Timetables detailing exact dates of each class are usually available on enrolment but can also normally be given earlier on request. If your existing qualifications do not meet the entrance requirements for these courses you may be able to take the relevant units on a stand-alone basis at LCTA either prior to or concurrently with the course.

We also run regular study trips to China for final year students, graduates and practitioners to work in a Chinese TCM hospital in Hangzhou.