Quick Facts:

Program Location

• Denver and online

General Admissions Requirements

• A master’s (MAcCHM) or professional doctorate degree (DACM, DAcCHM) (or its equivalent) from an ACAOM-candidate or ACAOM-accredited school of acupuncture
• CSTCM will consider candidates who have MAc or DAc degrees (or their equivalent) who have completed a minimum of 45-hours / 3-credit hours of CHM education.
• For candidates who do not have the minimum 45-hours / 3-credits of CHM education they must complete the DAOM Chinese Herbal Medicine elective provided by CSTCM’s MAc program prior to enrollment or within the first two trimesters of the DAOM program. For more details, please contact the DAOM Dean.
• U.S. state licensure or licensure in the country of resident and practice.
• English fluency. For those candidates who have not completed 2 year (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) undergraduate or graduate level, English based education in US/UK/AUS/CAN/New Zealand, they need provide proof of TOEFL iBT total score – 80 or IELTS overall band score – 6.5.
• Personal laptop computer (not a tablet)

Program Length

• 2-years (24 months, 6 trimesters)
• 1215 hours:
  • 450 Didactic Hours
  • 765 Clinical Hours
• 53 credits

Enrollment and Attendance

• The 2022 cohort will be on-campus one weekend per month each trimester for a total of 18 weekend modules over 24 months
  • Trimester 1 – 3 Friday through Monday (2pm)
  • Trimester 4 – 5 Saturday through Monday (2pm)
  • Trimester 6 Saturday and Sunday (3pm)
• Weekly online courses are held each trimester

Graduation Requirements

• Completion of all didactic and clinical coursework
• Completion and presentation of the Clinical Research Project
• Fulfillment of all tuition and fees

Career Enhancement 

• Enhanced clinical outcomes
• Teaching positions in masters, professional doctorate (DACM/DAcCHM) and DAOM programs
• Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine research opportunities
• Hiring opportunities in hospital and integrative medical settings
• Writing and publication opportunities

Tuition

• $27/hour, total tuition $32,805
• Fees: $1,728
• Books & Supplies: about $1,000
• Total Cost: $35,533

Tuition Discount (only applies to tuition – not fees, books, or supplies)

• Tuition paid in-full upon admission: 5% discount

Clinical Research Project:

• The Clinical Research Project can be any of the following:
  • Theoretical analysis
  • Surveys or analysis of archival data
  • Outcomes research
  • Systematic, qualitative investigations
  • Public policy issues
  • Case studies
  • Evaluative research
  • Interpretive translation research
  • Educational research – professional and patient
• CSTCM will provide advisor to each DAOM candidate on the project
• CSTCM will provide technical support for collecting/analyzing data

FAQ:

Is the CSTCM DAOM program accredited?

At this time the CSTCM DAOM program has been approved by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal medicine (ACAHM).

Currently, CSTCM is completing the next steps required for the DAOM accreditation. CSTCM is on pace to achieve the goal of full accreditation for the DAOM program in 2024.  Achieving accreditation is an active process of CSTCM reporting to ACAHM via a comprehensive self-study report (SSR), ACAHM reviewing CSTCM’s SSR and completing an onsite institutional and program review. When all ACAHM conditions for accreditation are satisfied the DAOM program will be accredited. Until then the following disclosure is required. 

For more information: Accreditation – Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine (cstcm.edu)

The Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine program offered by Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine is approved to begin enrolling students but is not accredited or pre-accredited by ACAHM. These programs are eligible for ACAHM accreditation, and CSTCM is currently in the process of seeking ACAHM accreditation for the programs. However, CSTCM can provide no assurance that accreditation will be granted by ACAHM. Graduates of an unaccredited program are not considered to have graduated from an ACAHM-accredited or pre-accredited program and may not rely on ACAHM accreditation or pre-accreditation for professional licensure or other purposes.

Can I use financial aid to pay the DAOM tuition?\

Financial aid is not available at this time. Financial aid will be available when the program receives accreditation.

Is there a payment plan for tuition?

Yes, for 2022 DAOM candidates the payment plan available is below: (full-tuition – alumni discount will be applied to the tuition amount in column 3 which will reduce each payment due by 5%)

Payments are due:

Spring Trimester          January 5th, February 5th, and March 5th

Summer Trimester       May 5th, June 5th, and July 5th

Fall Trimester              September 5th, October 5th, and November 5th

Failure to make payments on time can result in withdrawal from the program.

Can I enroll in the DAOM program part-time?

The program is designed for full-time continuous enrollment. The courses in the program are sequential therefore are offered one time per year, with each course building on the previous semester courses.

Do I have to be a licensed Acupuncturist in Colorado to be considered for admission?

DAOM program candidates are required to hold an active Acupuncture license in the state they reside and practice

Is Chinese herbal medicine required for admission?

Ideally, DAOM candidates will have completed either a MAcCHM or DAcCHM program or their equivalent (MSOM, MSTCM etc.). CSTCM will consider candidates who have MAc or DAc degrees (or their equivalent) who have completed a minimum of 45-hours / 3-credit hours of CHM education.

For candidates who do not have the minimum 45-hours / 3-credits of CHM education they must complete the DAOM Chinese Herbal Medicine elective provided by CSTCM’s MAc program prior to enrollment or within the first two trimesters of the DAOM program. For more details, please contact the DAOM Dean.

Is housing available?

CSTCM does not provide housing for those traveling in from other states to attend a weekend module. A housing resource list is available from the Dean’s office.

Can I miss a weekend module?

It is possible to miss a weekend module however DAOM candidates need to understand the CSTCM attendance policy as follows:

CSTCM expects 100% in person participation in all courses, clinical observation, and clinical internships. Students can miss up to 3 classes per course per trimester. Missing more than 3 participations requires the student to repeat the course unless reasonable arrangements are made with the instructor.

Additionally, the DAOM program must be completed in a maximum of 6 years (72 months)

Will the DAOM degree allow me to practice in any state?

The national Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine licensing standard in the U.S. is the masters level degree. While the DAOM credentialling may be recognized nationally it is not a benchmark degree for licensure. For more information about state licensing requirements please contact the state in which you wish to practice or contact the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) at nccaom.org

Will the DAOM program credits count as CEU’s?

Yes. All coursework completed as part of the DAOM program can be submitted to the NCCAOM for PDA points. For state specific CEU requirements, please contact the licensing agency for more information.

CSTCM DAOM program Leave and Return Policy

If a DAOM candidate needs to take a break from the program, with approval by the DAOM Dean and DAOM Program Director, they can return without reapplying for admission with three academic years.

Leave and Return Policy eligibility includes:

• Physical or mental health concerns
• Family obligations
• Financial concerns
• Military service
• Academics—failed in one course and this course is not offered for upcoming term, academic struggles, or lack of direction, studying abroad, etc.
• Career opportunities

For More Information, please refer to the DAOM Catalog or contact the DAOM Dean at: daom@cstcm.edu, or fill in the inquiry form.