Applicants from a recognized Education Program
1. Graduation from a Recognized TCM Education Program
The education programs required to be licensed for each licence class are as follow.
- To become an R.Ac. = Acupuncturist
- To become an R.TCM.H. = TCM Herbalist
- To become an R.TCM.P. = TCM Practitioner
- To become a Dr.TCM = Dr.TCM
Please refer to the College Bylaws for a list of recognized TCMA programs.
2. Two Years of Liberal Arts or Sciences Study
All applicants are required to complete no less than two (2) years of liberal arts or sciences study (comprised of at least 60 credits) in an accredited college or chartered/approved university acceptable to the Licence Committee. Courses cannot be used to satisfy more than one requirement (e.g., for both Acupuncturist education and Two Years of Liberal Arts or Sciences Study).
3. Licence Examinations
a) Pan Canadian Examinations
The Pan Canadian Examinations are required to become a licensee as follows:
- To become an R.Ac. = Pan Canadian Acupuncturists Examination
- To become an R.TCM.H. = Pan Canadian TCM Herbalists Examination
- To become an R.TCM.P. = Pan Canadian Acupuncturists Examination* & Pan Canadian TCM Herbalists Examination*, Pan Canadian TCM Practitioners Examination*
*The Pan-Canadian Examinations for Acupuncturists and the Pan-Canadian Examinations for TCM Herbalists together is equivalent to the Pan-Canadian Examinations for TCM Practitioner.
b) Dr.TCM Examinations
The Dr.TCM Examinations are required for a current R.TCM.P with CCHPBC to become a Dr.TCM.
For more details about the Examinations including submitting applications, please refer to Examinations and Courses.
4. Other examinations and courses Required for Licence applicants
a) CCHPBC TCMA Jurisprudence Examination
b) CCHPBC TCMA Interactive Safety Course
For more details about the Examinations including submitting applications, please refer to Examinations and Courses.
Standard First Aid and CPR-C Certifications
The Quality Assurance Committee has specified the following Standard First Aid and CPR-C certifications as acceptable to fulfill this requirement:
- Heart and Stroke Foundation – Standard First Aid CPR and AED Level C
- Canadian Red Cross – Standard First Aid & CPR
- St. John Ambulance – Standard First Aid with CPR-C and AED
- Lifesaving Society – Standard First Aid (with CPR)
- Canadian Ski Patrol – Standard First Aid and CPR training in the ski patrol training program
Certifications equivalent or exceeding the certification courses listed above are acceptable.
Good character
The Licence Applicant is required to provide declaration or other information demonstrating the license Applicant is of good character and will practise Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in an ethical manner.
Professional liability Insurance
The Licence Applicant is required to provide confirmation of compliance, with requirement to have professional liability protection or liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least $5,000,000 per claim or occurrence.
English Language Proficiency
The Licence Applicant is required to provide information confirming the Licence Applicant’s English language proficiency in a form satisfactory to, or in accordance with, the English Language Proficiency policy. Details of this requirement are currently being finalized and will be published soon.
Criminal Record Check
Licence Applicants are required to download, complete and upload the CRC consent form for CCHPBC to process the criminal record check request. In case of a License Applicant who has practised a Health Profession in another jurisdiction, an authorization for a Criminal Record Check in that jurisdiction and/or a criminal record report is required.
Applicants with Extrajurisdictional Credentials
The requirements for Licence Applicants graduated from an education program outside of BC are:
1. TCM Education From outside of BC
CCHPBC assesses TCMA education programs outside of BC on an individual basis through the Equivalency Determination process. This is to ensure that those credentials are substantially equivalent to the standards of Recognized Education Programs listed under Bylaws.
2. Two Years of Liberal Arts or Sciences Study
All applicants are required to complete no less than two (2) years of liberal arts or sciences study (comprised of at least 60 credits) in an accredited college or chartered/approved university acceptable to the Licence Committee. Courses cannot be used to satisfy more than one requirement (e.g., for both Acupuncturist education and Two Years of Liberal Arts or Sciences Study)
3. Licence Examinations
a) Pan Canadian Examinations
The Pan Canadian Examinations are required to become a licensee as follows:
- To become an R.Ac. = Pan Canadian Acupuncturists Examination
- To become an R.TCM.H. = Pan Canadian TCM Herbalists Examination
- To become an R.TCM.P. = Pan Canadian Acupuncturists Examination*, Pan Canadian TCM Herbalists Examination*, Pan Canadian TCM Practitioners Examination*
*The Pan-Canadian Examinations for Acupuncturists and the Pan-Canadian Examinations for TCM Herbalists together is equivalent to the Pan-Canadian Examinations for TCM Practitioner.
b) Dr.TCM Examinations
For more details about the Examinations including submitting applications, please refer to Examinations and Courses.
4. Other examinations and courses Required for Licence applicants
a) CCHPBC TCMA Jurisprudence Examination
b) CCHPBC TCMA Interactive Safety Course
For more details about the Examinations including submitting applications, please refer to Examinations and Courses.
Standard First Aid and CPR-C Certifications
The Quality Assurance Committee has specified the following Standard First Aid and CPR-C certifications as acceptable to fulfill this requirement:
- Heart and Stroke Foundation – Standard First Aid CPR and AED Level C
- Canadian Red Cross – Standard First Aid & CPR
- St. John Ambulance – Standard First Aid with CPR-C and AED
- Lifesaving Society – Standard First Aid (with CPR)
- Canadian Ski Patrol – Standard First Aid and CPR training in the ski patrol training program
Certifications equivalent or exceeding the certification courses listed above are acceptable.
Criminal Record Check
Before you submit your registration application, you are responsible for completing a Criminal Record Check (CRC) conducted by the Criminal Records Review Program (CRRP). For further details and instructions, please refer to the Criminal Record Check section.
Good character
The Licence Applicant is required to provide declaration or other information demonstrating the License Applicant is of good character and will practise Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in an ethical manner
Professional liability insurance
The Licence Applicant is required to provide confirmation of compliance, with requirement to have professional liability protection or liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least $5,000,000 per claim or occurrence.
English language proficiency
The Licence Applicant is required to provide information confirming the Licence Applicant’s English language proficiency in a form satisfactory to, or in accordance with, the English Language Proficiency policy. Details of this requirement are currently being finalized and will be published soon.
Criminal Record Check
License Applicants are required to download, complete and upload the CRC consent form for CCHPBC to process the criminal record check request.
In case of a License Applicant who has practised a Health Profession in another jurisdiction, an authorization for a Criminal Record Check in that jurisdiction and/or a criminal record report is required.
Current TCM/A licensee in another regulated Canadian Jurisdiction
Practitioners holding a licence in another Canadian jurisdiction * as the equivalent of a licensee in good standing
may be eligible to apply for full licence through reciprocity.
*Canadian registration / licensing authorities include:
The requirements for licensing through reciprocity application are:
confirmation form for equivalent licensure in other canadian jurisdictions
All applicants applying through reciprocity are required to submit a Confirmation Form from the originating regulatory body. The Reference Form for Reciprocity Application must be mailed directly to the College from the originating regulatory body. Please use the form below for this purpose.
CCHPBC Jurisprudence Examination
All applicants are required to complete the Jurisprudence Examination . For more details about the Examinations including submitting applications, please refer to Examination and Courses.
Standard First Aid and CPR-C Certifications
The Quality Assurance Committee has specified the following Standard First Aid and CPR-C certifications as acceptable to fulfill this requirement:
- Heart and Stroke Foundation – Standard First Aid CPR and AED Level C
- Canadian Red Cross – Standard First Aid & CPR
- St. John Ambulance – Standard First Aid with CPR-C and AED
- Lifesaving Society – Standard First Aid (with CPR)
- Canadian Ski Patrol – Standard First Aid and CPR training in the ski patrol training program
Certifications equivalent or exceeding the certification courses listed above are acceptable.
Good character
The Licence Applicant is required to provide declaration or other information demonstrating the License Applicant is of good character and will practise Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture in an ethical manner.
Professional liability insurance
The Licence Applicant is required to provide confirmation of compliance, with requirement to have professional liability protection or liability insurance coverage in an amount of at least $5,000,000 per claim or occurrence.
English language proficiency
The Licence Applicant is required to provide information confirming the Licence Applicant’s English language proficiency in a form satisfactory to, or in accordance with, the English Language Proficiency policy. Details of this requirement are currently being finalized and will be published soon.
Criminal Record Check
License Applicants are required to download, complete and upload the CRC consent form for CCHPBC to process the criminal record check request. In case of a License Applicant who has practised a Health Profession in another jurisdiction, an authorization for a Criminal Record Check in that jurisdiction and/or a criminal record report is required.
Examinations and Courses
All applicants seeking to be licensed with the College must complete the licence examinations. The licence examinations measure the competencies required of entry-level traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for safe, ethical and effective practice.
The College offers the following examinations/courses:
- Doctor of TCM Written and Clinical Examinations
- Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-study Examinations for Acupuncturists, TCM Herbalists and TCM Practitioners
- Interactive Safety Course Safety Competency
- Jurisprudence Examination
Jurisprudence Examination
Important Announcement
All applicants applying for licence with the College must successfully complete the Jurisprudence Examination.
In order to enhance the candidate experience with the Jurisprudence Examination administration, CCHPBC has collaborated with Meazure Learning to officially launch the Online Jurisprudence Examination with Remote Examination Proctoring in August 2020.
The procedure to take the Online Jurisprudence Exam through remote proctoring will include using the Guardian Secure Browser (GSB) developed by Meazure Learning. Downloading the Guardian Browser will be one of the first steps to begin a proctored exam session.
For detailed information about preparing and using the Guardian Secure Browser (GSB) to launch a proctored exam session, please check:
Resources for taking Online proctored exam with Meazure Learning:
- Meazure Online Proctoring FAQ Page
Application Procedure
The College contracted with Meazure Learning to administer the Jurisprudence Examination. Please follow the procedures below to apply and write the Jurisprudence Examination:
1. Go to the Jurisprudence Examination Site.
2. Click the ‘sign up’ button to create an account (if this is your first application to write the Jurisprudence Examination).
3. Complete the required information in order to proceed with the application.
4. Click on the ‘products’ tab and purchase the Jurisprudence Examination. Purchases are made online using a credit card only (no other form of payment is accepted). A Purchase Receipt Email is sent right after the exam is purchased. An email with booking instructions will be sent to you with information of the steps to book an online session and support information for Remote Proctoring from ProctorU.
Please keep the email booking instructions readily available as you may need to consult it if you have difficulty booking online exams, setting up and/or experience technical difficulties on Exam Day.
Examination Resources
Jurisprudence Examination Candidate Handbook
The Jurisprudence Examination Candidate Handbook contains detailed information about the policies, procedures for the Examination, including examination format, scoring, passing grades, and application process.
Jurisprudence Course Handbook
The Jurisprudence Examination is based on the:
Jurisprudence Examination Accommodation
Candidates with a disability who require an examination accommodation must submit a request for consideration (in writing, signed, dated, and enclosed with supporting documentation) to the College at least twenty (20) business days prior to their anticipated examination write date.
Pan-Canadian Examinations
Except for those applying through reciprocity, all applicants seeking licensure as Registered Acupuncturists (R.Ac.), Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalists (R.TCM.H.), or Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (R.TCM.P.) must successfully complete the Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-study Examinations in respect to the title of licence applying for.
For the most current and accurate information regarding the Pan-Canadian Examinations (i.e. candidate handbook), candidates should refer directly to the CARB-TCMPA website and communicate with CARB-TCMPA for any inquiries including accommodation and appeal.
Examination Schedule
The schedule for the April/May 2026 Pan-Canadian Examinations is posted below. To avoid delays with requesting official transcripts and/or credential evaluation reports during the busy application season, we recommend that applicants interested in writing the April/May 2026 Pan-Canadian Examinations start preparing their application as early as possible.
PCE applications can be mailed or uploaded to the April/May 2026 PCE application site. Please check Page 9 of the Application Guide for more details.
April/May 2026 – PAN-CANADIAN EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULE
Registration Opens: Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (8:30 AM Vancouver Local Time)
Note: A Refresher course might be required to take or re-take an examination (see “Application Forms & Fees” below). This course must be completed anytime prior to the examination registration deadline
Registration Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2026 (1:00 PM Vancouver Local Time)
Application Fee Due Date: 48 hours after the payment link is emailed by CCHPBC
Date of TCM Herbalists Examination – HER: Not offered for April/May 2026 administration
Date of TCM Practitioners Examination – PRA: April 27 & 28, 2026
Date of Acupuncturists Examination – ACU: April 30 & May 1, 2026
Examination Requirements and Forms
Education Requirements for licenceto Practice in BC
Applicants are required to meet the education requirements (both TCM and two years liberal arts/sciences study) for the title of registration they are applying for. Inquiries regarding the examination requirements can be sent to applications@cchpbc.ca
Application Forms
Please use the forms below to submit your examination application:
- Application is now closed.
You are required to complete a Refresher Program/Course prior to the examination application deadline if you have graduated from a TCM/A education program more than 3 years ago OR if you are attempting the licence examination for the 2nd or 3rd time. The Refresher Program/Course must be pre-approved by CCHPBC and it must be completed before the examination application deadline. Please use the following form to apply for Refresher Program/Course pre-approval and attach the course outline to complete your application:
Application Fees
Application fees are available under College Bylaws and in the “fees” section of the College website.
Application Guide
The Application Guide is designed to provide candidates with information on the application process, policies, and instructions for the Pan-Canadian Examinations.
Doctor of TCM Examination
Important Note:
All applicants applying for licence as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr. TCM) must successfully complete the Doctor of TCM Written and Clinical Examinations.
Examination Schedule
Important Note: The 2026 Dr. TCM Clinical Retaking Examination will be delivered in-person in the city of Vancouver.
2026 Doctor of TCM Clinical Retaking Examination
Registration Opens: Monday, March 16, 2026
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (1:00 PM Pacific Standard Time)
Deadline for Special Accommodation Request: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (1:00 PM Pacific Standard Time)
Application Fee Deadline: 48 hours after the payment link is emailed by CCHPBC
Deadline for Withdrawal of Application: Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at noon (Pacific Standard Time). Please note that the application fee is non-refundable.
Clinical Examination Fee Deadline: TBD
Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Dates: Friday, June 26, 2026
Examination Requirements and Forms
Education Requirements
Applicants for Dr. TCM examination must hold licence as R.TCM.P with the college and meet the education requirements.
*Applicants applying to write this examination must already be licensed as R.TCM.P.
Application Forms and Fees
Please use the forms below to submit your application to register.
- 2026 Dr.TCM Clinical Retaking Examination – Application Form– application closed.
If you request accommodation for special needs, you are required to complete the following two forms and submit to CCHPBC by the application deadline
- 2026 Dr. TCM Clinical Retaking Examination Special Accommodation – Candidate Form– application closed.
- 2026 Dr. TCM Clinical Retaking Examination Special Accommodation – Verification Form – application closed.
If you plan to take the Licence Examination and graduated from a TCM/A education program for more than 3 years ago OR failed an examination and will apply for the 2nd or 3rd attempt, you are required to complete a Refresher Program/Course that is pre-approved by CCHPBC. The Refresher Program/Course must be pre-approved by CCHPBC before you start it and completed before the examination application deadline. Please use the following form to apply for the pre-approval from the college:
Application and licence fees are available under the College Bylaws and in the “fees” section of the College website.
Examination Resources
Examination Candidate Handbook
Detailed information about the policies and procedures for the examinations, including examination format, scoring, passing grades, and application process can be found in the:
Entry-Level Competencies for Doctor of TCM
For more information on the Entry-Level Competencies for Doctor of TCM, please refer to the Entry-Level Competencies page.
Interactive Safety Course
All applicants applying for licence with the College must successfully complete the Interactive Safety Course.
The Interactive Safety Course modules required to register for each licence title are as follow.
To become R.Ac.
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
3 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Acupuncture
To become R.TCM.H.
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
4 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Herbology
To become R.TCM.P. ***
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
3 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Acupuncture
4 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Herbology
To become Dr.TCM ***
1 – Infection and Prevention Control
2 – Risk Management of TCM Practice
3 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Acupuncture
4 – Safe Procedures and Practices – Herbology
*** Required modules for R.TCM.P and Dr.TCM are the same. If the Course taker has completed the Course when applying for R.TCM.P, then they don’t need to repeat the Course when applying for Dr.TCM later.
You may find more information at Application Procedure and Extension Procedure.
Course Resources
Interactive Safety Course Application Guide
The Interactive Safety Course Application Guide contains detailed information about the course overview, policies, procedures for the Course, including course format, technical specifications, application process, and what a candidate needs to do to complete the course after enrollment is granted
The Interactive Safety Course is based on the:
Recognized Education Programs
Schools offering Traditional Chinese Medicine education programs in British Columbia that meet the College’s requirements will be recognized by listing under the College Bylaws. Below is the application package for the Education Program Review (EPR), which schools may use to apply for recognition.
Change of Licence Title / Class
If you currently hold full licence (R.Ac./R.TCM.H./R.TCM.P.) with the College and wish to apply for another licence class, please follow the instructions applicable to your situation: