Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists – Resources

The Quality Assurance Program Handbook (Version 1-2022) provides complete information regarding the Quality Assurance Program (QAP).

At this time, the QAP is focussed on the Practice Support Program (PSP), a refinement of the previous “Continuing Education” program. The PSP emphasizes self-assessment of the registrant’s professional practice, professional development planning to assist registrants to select learning opportunities that target their practice needs, and self-reflection to ensure the continued learning is effective in improving the registrant’s practice.

The Quality Assurance Committee continues to develop the QAP in order to meet the legislated expectation that registrants’ professional performance be regularly assessed.

Friendly Reminder: Registrants whose current QA cycle began on April 2022 must complete their Self-reflective Assessment by the end of the year (2022) under the QA Policy.

Practice Standards

Practice Standards are established in order to assist registrants by setting out the minimum level of traditional Chinese medicine care and for the registrants to better understanding their professional obligations, support their professional development, and define and resolve professional practice issues.

The Practice Standards also serve as information to the public and to our patients to better understand the level of care they can expect from a registered traditional Chinese medicine professional.

• Acupuncture for Induction of Labour
• Clinical Record Keeping with Sample Form
• Communicable Diseases: Preventing Practitioner-to-Patient Transmission
• Consent to Treatment
• Resources – Consent the Treatment handbook
• Draping for Patients
• Ethical Practice and Professional Accountability
• Infection Prevention and Control
• Professional Duty of Candour
• Sexual Misconduct
• Tele-Practice During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
• Indigenous Cultural Safety, Humility, and Anti-Racism
• Registrants’ Notice & Resources 

Practice Guidance

Practice Guidance are established to provide clarity related to specific areas of professional practice, to assist with clinical decision making, and to help registrants better understand their responsibilities and the regulatory requirements set by the College.

While Practice Guidance documents may reference specific requirements for practice, they are different from Practice Standards. Practice Guidance provides registrants with practical advice to inform their decision-making and enhance quality of care, whereas Practice Standards establish the minimum requirements for practice. Practice Standards also serve the public by informing them of the care to expect from a registered traditional Chinese medicine professional.

• Consent to Treatment
• Where’s the Line
• Billing & Insurance
• Marketing & Advertising

Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for Dr. TCM

• Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for the Doctor of TCM
• Entry-Level Occupational Competencies, Performance Indicators and Assessment Blueprint for the Doctor of TCM

The Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for the Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2014 (“the Competencies”) were developed by the College over the period 2013-2014. The competencies are based on and exceeds the Entry-level Occupational Competencies for the Practice of TCM in Canada 2010 developed by the Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA) and are intended to identify the job tasks in which registrants holding the reserved title of Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr.TCM) should be proficient in order to provide a safe, effective and ethical practice.

The Table of Specifications (Blueprint) for the Dr. TCM registration examinations is based on the Competencies.

The curriculum of TCM schools in British Columbia listed in the Bylaws are based on the Competencies of the Bylaws.

The Competencies were developed by an Expert Committee under the guidance of the project consultant. The primary steps in the development process were:

• Competency development. The Expert Committee undertook 3 2-day meetings to develop proposed competencies.
• Competency validation. An online, bilingual (English-Chinese) survey available to all Dr.TCM registrants was used to validate the competencies.
• Indicator development. A sub-group of the Expert Committee worked with the consultant to develop proposed indicators.
• Indicator validation. An online survey available to all six recognized Dr.TCM education/training programs in BC was used validate the indicators.
• Preparation of the assessment blueprint. The Examination Development Team (EDT) reviewed and adjusted the indicators for the registration examination.

Special thanks are extended to participants in the surveys and the consultations for development of the Competencies. The high quality of guidance provided by the project consultant, Catalysis Consulting is recognized and appreciated by all involved in this project.

Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for TCM

• Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for the Practice of TCM in Canada 

The Entry-level Occupational Competencies for the Practice of TCM in Canada 2010 (“the Competencies”) were developed by the Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA) over the period 2008-2010. CARB-TCMPA is the national organization of provincial and territorial regulatory bodies that govern and monitor the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners, Acupuncturists and/or Herbalists.

The Competencies are intended to identify the job tasks in which registrants holding the reserved titles of Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.), Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist (R.TCM.H.) and Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.) at entry-level should be proficient in order to provide safe, effective and ethical practice.

The Table of Specifications (Blueprint) for the Pan-Canadian examinations is based on the Competencies.

The curriculum of TCM schools in British Columbia listed in the Bylaws are based on the Competencies of the Bylaws.

CARB-TCMPA gratefully acknowledges the Government of Canada, under the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, for funding the Competencies project in partnership with British Columbia’s Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.

In 2018, the Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies for Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA) reviewed and updated the Entry-level Occupational Competencies for the practice of TCM in Canada.  This competency profile came into effect as of February 1, 2020.

Where’s The Line

As a provincial healthcare regulator, the College strives to ensure that registrants continually improve the quality of services they provide. Improved client outcomes and enhanced public safety are of paramount importance and the College recognizes and initiates related activities.

The Practice Support Program (PSP) supports registrants in ongoing career development by promoting professional behaviour, self-evaluation, peer mentorship and continued learning. The Practice Support Program takes a supportive approach to facilitate registrant development in all workplace settings, across career-span.

• Framework for Career-Span Competence
• Career-Span Competencies

Over the period May 22 – June 12, 2018 the College undertook an online survey to assess Registrant opinion regarding the importance of the 14 Career-Span Competencies in TCM practice. The results of the survey may be viewed by clicking the link below:

• Career-Span Competencies Validation Survey Results

The specific requirements to maintain Continuing Competency are set out in the following document:

• Continuing Competency Requirements (updated July 2023)

Compliance with the Continuing Competency Requirements Policy is required for renewing registration with the College. A minimum of 50 hours should be reported per reporting period. Registrants are required to follow the Steps of the Practice Support Program (PSP) for their QA cycle starting on or after April 1st, 2022, in order to be compliant with the Continuing Competency Requirements in the Quality Assurance Program (QAP). A minimum of 4 hours must focus on ethical practice. Registrants make declaration during annual registration renewal that they are complying with College Bylaws.

PSP (formerly Category D) helps registrants assess their practice and develop an individualized continuing learning plan of activities that can enhance the registrant’s TCM/A practice. By completing the PSP, registrants can earn 50 CE in a QA cycle to satisfy the minimum Continuing Competency Requirements.

Registrants should work on taking their continuing educational activities entirely within the PSP, using the self-reflective assessment and evaluation steps built into the PSP to design a Professional Development Plan that targets specific quality practice goals. There are no maximums for specific types of learning activities to take within PSP. Activities related to the career-span competencies 1 through 6 can be counted as “Ethical” hours.

Qualifying Learning Activities for PSP Step 3

In PSP Step 3, registrants can participate in many types of learning activities for their continuing education, such as in-person, recorded, real-time courses, conferences, webinars, self-study, and structured interactive activities with peers.

• “Direct participatory, formal programs” (formerly Category A) include live (i.e., real-time) in-person or online interactive workshops, seminars, or training when attendance is taken and monitored; or electronically-offered continuing education when attendance is taken and monitored and when there is an assessment tool for the course.
• “Self study” (formerly Category B) includes reviewing academic journals, professional publications, bylaws and standards, and taking online and distance learning courses and webinars when no attendance is taken and/or when no assessment tool is available.
• “Structured interactive activities” (formerly Category C) include regularly scheduled or routine consultations with peers or case conferences.

Registrants whose current QA cycles began before April 2022 and are still on-going, are also encouraged to participate fully in the PSP when they self-assess, plan, participate, and self-reflect on their continued learning. Please note that activities that were acceptable for reporting under Categories A-C can be reported in Category D when it is part of the Professional Learning Plan drawn up before the activity was taken. Registrants are exempted from the 6 in-person (face-to-face) hours requirement when having hours reported in PSP.

Step 1 – Assessment – Self-Reflective Assessment

Step 2 – Professional Development – Learning Objectives

Step 3 – Professional Development – Plan and Complete Activities

Step 4 – Professional Development – Evaluate Activities

Step 5 – Professional Development – QA Cycle Evaluation

Activity Logs

The purpose of the Activity Log is to facilitate ensuring whether 50 CE hours have been achieved in the reporting period.

Samples of Completed Templates and Activity Log

• Sample 1 (Registrant “Joe”)
  • Step 2
  • Step 3
  • Step 4
  • Step 5

• Sample 2 (Registrant “Shelly”)
  • Step 1
  • Step 2
  • Step 3
  • Step 4
  • Step 5

Consent To Treatment

Professional development activities, if instructor-led, must be delivered by qualified instructors/lecturers, i.e.

• Instructors/lecturers must have at least 7 years experience OR a university degree plus 3 years experience
• Instructors must have thorough knowledge of the subject matter OR credentials recognized by the College

Only actual instructional hours should be counted.

The PSP’s Learning Resource Guide provides some suggestions of activities related to each Career-Span Competency (CSC).

The College does not endorse or guarantee the content of the listed courses, programs and activities, and takes no responsibility for the descriptions of them. Registrants are advised to use their own judgment before registering to attend the programs, especially if there is a cost to participate.

The guide and listings are provided to inform registrants about continuing education courses and professional activity opportunities which are offered from time-to-time.  Please note that registrants can source other activities that are not listed to be included in their professional development learning plan. Registrants must justify how the activity directly benefits their practice quality.

Audit

Each year the College randomly selects a number of renewing registrants, who are at the end of a reporting period, to audit the individual records of Continuing Competency Activity Log.

Registrants make declaration during annual registration renewal that they are complying with College Bylaws.

If it is your reporting year, please make sure you are fulfilling the requirements when making the declaration during registration renewal, having the forms and activity log completed, and keeping records and supporting documents of activities in the Professional Development Plan.  If a registrant is selected for the audit, they will receive a written request to send in their Continuing Competency Activity Log (as the first step).  Registrants only need to provide proof of complying with this requirement when requested by the College.

Continuing Education Courses

The information contained in this part of the website is provided by the individual, association or company that is offering each continuing education program. The College does not endorse or guarantee the content of the programs and takes no responsibility for the descriptions of them. Registrants are advised to use their own judgment before registering to attend the programs.

The information on the page is provided to assist registrants by increasing awareness of the continuing education courses which are offered from time-to-time.

Online Course Providers

ACE : Acupuncture Continuing Education

ACEU Masters

Acupro Academy

Acupuncture-et-al

AcuSharpener

Alchemist Academy

Brad Whisnant Seminars

CGICM – The Canadian Gynecology Institute of Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine Classics – Formula Family Series

Erin Moran Learning

Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling (FSN) basic training course

HealthCare Medicine Institute (HealthCMi)

Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine

Net of Knowledge

Options for Wellness

Pacific Rim College – Online

ProD Seminars

Provincial Health Services Authority LearningHub

Indigenous Cultural Safety (ICS) Online Training Program – Provincial Health Services Authority of BC

The Golden Cabinet

The Strength of TCM

Vital Principle Instutute

CE Event Listings

March 24, 2024 – Anxiety, Hypertension, & Fibromyalgia 3-24-24

April 7, 2024 – Wellness Acupuncture, COVID, & Pain Relief 4-7-24

April 20, 2024 – Channel Theory: Your Life Story Embodied

April 20, 2024 – Freehand Acupuncture Needling Technique Seminar: In-Person Only

April 21, 2024 – Acupuncture For Inflammation & Uterine Adhesions 4-21-24

April 28, 2024 – Acupuncture For Depression And Neck Pain 4-28-24

May 5, 2024 – Acupuncture For Knees, Hips, and Post-Stroke 5-5-24

May 19, 2024 – Back Pain & Carpal Tunnel Relief Acupuncture 5-19-24

May 26, 2024 – Headache & Migraine Acupuncture Treatment 5-26-24

May 31 – June 2, 2024 -Balance System Acupuncture Foundations (Levels 1+2): Single and Multiple Systems Balance Live + In-Person

June 9, 2024 – Insomnia Relief With Acupuncture 6-9-2024

Online Course – The History of Acupuncture – a nice clear overview

Online Course – Hunyuan and Classical Chinese Medicine Courses

Jurisprudence Handbook

THE JURISPRUDENCE COURSE HANDBOOK

The purpose of the Jurisprudence Handbook is to provide information on the ethical and legal framework within which TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists are expected to practice in British Columbia. It is expected that registrants will use the Handbook as a clinic reference manual, students will use the Handbook as a guide in their studies, and public health authorities and members of the public will use the Handbook as a source of information.

A significant portion of the Handbook was adapted from the Jurisprudence Course Handbook developed by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario. The College of Complementary Health Professionals of British Columbia gratefully acknowledges permission from the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario to adapt the document for use in British Columbia.

Safety Program Handbook

DOWNLOAD THE SAFETY PROGRAM HANDBOOK

The Handbook has been developed for TCM professionals to use as a clinic reference manual, for the student to use as a handbook for the Safety Examinations, remedial application for registrants not meeting accepted standards of practice, and as a source of information for public health authorities and members of the public.

The Handbook was developed over a 2-year period with a team of consultants working with more than two dozen content experts and practitioners from the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. Participants from both provinces spent significant hours in research and development. The assessment tools for testing in the Safety Examinations were validated by test-writing practitioners in both provinces.

In development of the Handbook content, experts drew extensively from the mandatory safety courses developed by CTCMA-BC and the College and Association of Alberta. A significant portion of the Herbology section 5.3 was adapted from guidelines developed by the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria, Australia. CCHPBC gratefully acknowledges the contribution made by the participants.

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Application Forms

• Full Registration Application Form
• Reciprocity Registration Application Form
• Statutory Declaration (Form 1) available for Full/Reciprocity Registration
• Student Registration Application Form
• Statutory Declaration (Form 1.1) _ available for Student Registration

Address Change

• Registrant Portal: Online Address Change
• Paper Address Change Form

The College is required under the Health Professions Act (HPA) to maintain a public register. Your name, registration status and business contact information may be provided upon request to the general public. To update your information, please use the member portal or complete the form above and submit to the College. It is the registrant’s responsibility to immediately notify the Registrar of any change of address, name or any other registration information previously provided to the Registrar.

Business Name

• Business Name Application Form

Approval of Business Name can be requested by completing the Business Name Application form above. The College’s application form must be completed in accordance with the format provided, with an originally signed document provided to the College. Amendments or alterations to the Application are not accepted. A copy of the Results of Name Request from BC Registry Services as well as the processing fee of $25 must accompany all applications.

Registration Certificate

• Request for Registration Certificate (Initial)
• Request for Registration Certificate (Replacement)

Registration certificate for initial registration will be available for 1 months after registration is effective. The pickup or delivery of your certificate may be requested using the form above.

Name Change in Register

• Request for Name Change In Register

If you have legally changed your name and you would like to change your practice name registered with the College, please complete and submit this form and supporting documents by mail to CCHPBC.

Change Registration Class

• Current Full Registrant Applying for NP Registration Application Form

Current Full registrants may apply to change their registration class from Full to Non-Practising.

Student School Transfer

• School Transfer

Your student registration is portable (no transfer fee) if you transfer to a different school. You are required to submit a School Transfer form and a Confirmation Form of Education Standing with a photo to CCHPBC before you transfer to another school.  After your application is approved by CCHPBC, a new student badge will be mailed to you.

Cancellation of Registration

If registrant wish to cancel their current registrations, please fully complete and submit a “Registration Cancellation Request Form for Full or Non-Practising Registrant ” to the College. It is registrants’ responsibilities to consult the “Closing Practice / Leaving / Resignation” section of the Practice Standard – Clinical Record Keeping, page 8, and follow up responsibly notifying patients, and transferring and retaining records.

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.

• Education Program Review – NEW – Updated 2023-11-08 
• Education Program Review Application Form – NEW – Updated 2023-11
• Education Program Review – Form A – 1
• Education Program Review – Form A – 2
• Education Program Review – Form B (i)
• Education Program Review – Form B (ii)
• Education Program Review – Form B (iii)
• Education Program Review – Form B (iv)
• Education Program Review – Form C – NEW updated June 10, 2020
• Education Program Review – Guiding Review Principles for TCM Education Program with Online Learning Components _ New 2023-11-21

Other TCM/Acupuncture Regulatory Organizations in Canada

• College of Acupuncturists of Alberta
• College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario
• Order of Acupuncturists of Quebec
• College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of NL
• Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists

Other Provincial Health Regulatory Colleges in BC

• BC Health Regulators
• British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives
• British Columbia College of Oral Health Professionals
• College of Health and Care Professionals of BC
• College of Pharmacists of British Columbia
• College of Physicians & Surgeons of British Columbia
• College of Podiatric Surgeons of British Columbia

BC Public Health Agencies

• First Nations Health Authority

Resources For Internationally Trained Applicants

• Welcome BC
• Foreign Credential Recognition Loan Project

Professional Associations in BC

• List of TCM Associations

The College is governed by the Health Professions Act and the Regulations and Bylaws made under the Act. How the College conducts its operations is provided for in the Bylaws. The Bylaws and amendments to the Bylaws are approved by the BC government.

• Health Professions Act
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists Regulation
• Ministry of Health BC Professional Regulation

Privacy Legislation

• Access to Information Act of Canada
• British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
• Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner
• Freedom of Information and Protection Act (FOIPPA)
• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act of Canada
• Privacy Act of Canada

Other Enactments and Regulations

• Health Care (Consent) and Facilities (Admissions) Act
• Infants Act
• Health Legislation and Professional Regulation
• Limitation Act
• Medicare Protection Act and Regulations

All applicants seeking to register with the College must complete the registration examinations.  The registration examinations measure the competencies required of entry-level traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for safe, ethical and effective practice.  For more information on registration requirements, please refer to the Application section of the website.

The College offers the following examinations:

• Doctor of TCM Written and Clinical Examinations
• Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-study Examinations for Acupuncturists, TCM Herbalists and TCM Practitioners
• Safety Competency
• Jurisprudence Examination

Important Announcement

Beginning February 1, 2023, the procedure to take the Online Jurisprudence Exam through remote proctoring will be updated to 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:

• Updated Guardian Help Articles

Resources for taking Online proctored exam with Meazure Learning:

• Meazure Online Proctoring FAQ Page
• What to Expect Video

All applicants applying for registration 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 Yardstick to officially launch the Online Jurisprudence Examination with Remote Examination Proctoring in August 2020.

Application Procedure

The College contracted with Yardstick to administer the Jurisprudence Examination. Please follow the procedures below to apply to 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.  A Booking Instructions email 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 information email handy as you may need the information when having trouble booking online exam session, confirming setup preparedness, and/or experiencing 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 Examination Candidate Handbook

Jurisprudence Course Handbook

The Jurisprudence Examination is based on the:

• Jurisprudence Course Handbook

Jurisprudence Examination Accommodation

Candidates with a disability who requires examination accommodations 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.

• Jurisprudence Examination Accommodation for Special Needs Form

All applicants except those who qualify for registration through reciprocity registration, applying for registration as a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.), Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist (R.TCM.H.), or Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P.) with the College must successfully complete the Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-study Examinations in respect to the title of registration applying for.

Announcements

• All exam application enquiries can be sent to: ac.cbphcc@snoitanimaxe

Examination Schedule

The examination schedule for April 2024 Pan-Canadian Examinations is as below. Please note that to avoid delays in ordering official transcripts and/or credential evaluation reports during the holiday season, we would recommend the applicants interested in writing the April 2024 Pan-Canadian Examinations to start to collect information as early as possible.

We accept PCE applications by either mail or via Uploading to April 2024 PCE application Upload Site.  Please check Page 9 of the Application Guide for details.

APRIL 2024 – PAN-CANADIAN EXAMINATIONS SCHEDULE

Application Starts:

• Monday, December 11, 2023 (8:30 AM Vancouver Local Time)

Application Deadline:

• Monday, January 15, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)

Deadline for Special Accommodation Request:

• Monday, January 15, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)

Application Fee Due Date:

• 48 hours after the payment link sent from CCHPBC

SUBJECT TO FURTHER REVISION – Examination Fee Due Date:

• February 15, 2024 (the payment link will be sent to those approved candidates by February 9, 2024)

SUBJECT TO FURTHER REVISION – Deadline** for Withdrawal of Applications

• February 15, 2024 (application fee is non-refundable)

Date of TCM Herbalists Examination – HER

• Offered in English in April 2024 – April 2 & 3, 2024

Date of TCM Practitioners Examination – PRA

• Offered in both English and Chinese in April 2024 – April 4 & 5, 2024

Date of Acupuncturists Examination – ACU

• Offered in both English and Chinese in April 2024 – April 24 & 25, 2024

Important Notes:

1. A.  The computer-based April 2024 Pan-Canadian Examinations will be delivered IN-PERSON at TESTING CENTERS across Canada. For the latest available testing center locations across Canada, please refer to the CARB-TCMPA website HERE.
2. B.  Please refer to the CARB-TCMPA website for future exam dates HERE.

Examination Requirements and Forms

Education Requirements

Applicants are required to meet the education requirements (both TCM and two years liberal arts/sciences study) for registration in respect to the title of registration applying for.  Please refer to the Registration section of the website for further information.

Application Forms and Fees

Please use the forms below to submit your application to register.

• 2024 April Pan-Canadian Entry-Level Examination – Application Form

If you plan to take the Registration 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 Form for Refresher Program/Course (NEW)

If you request accommodation for special needs, you are required to complete the following two forms and submit to gro.apmct-brac@snoitadommocca directly.  Please note that an Accommodation Request form is required for each specific examination administration, and the request when approved by CARB-TCMPA, will only apply to the current examination administration.

• CARB-TCMPA PCE Accommodations Request Form; and
• CARB-TCMPA PCE Accommodations Verification Form

Pan-Canadian Examinations Fee Chart:

PCE Acupuncturists Examination – ACU

• Non-refundable $200
• Examination $915

PCE TCM Herbalists Examination – HER

• Non-refundable $200
• Examination $915

PCE TCM Practitioners Examination – PRA

• Non-refundable $300
• Examination $1258

(plus applicable tax)

Examination Resources

Past PCE Examinations Results and Future Dates

Application Guide

The Application Guide is designed to provide candidates with information on the application process, policies, and instructions for the Pan-Canadian Examinations.

• 2024 April Pan-Canadian Examination Application Guide

Blueprint

The Blueprint documents outline the content tested on the Pan-Canadian exam. For the Pan-Canadian Registration Examination for Acupuncturists, TCM Herbalists and/or TCM Practitioners, the content consists of the competencies that an entry-level practitioner is required to possess in order to practise safely, effectively and ethically. Please refer to the Examination Blueprint Table(s) on Page 12 and 14 of the Pan-Canadian Examination Candidate Handbook – Updated November 26, 2023.

Entry-Level Competencies for TCM practitioners

For more information on the Entry-Level Competencies for TCM practitioners, please refer to the Entry-Level Competencies page.

Pan-Canadian Examinations Candidate Handbook

The Examination Guide is designed by the Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA) to familiarize candidates with the format of the actual examination and to provide information on the content of the examination. More information is available at CARB-TCMPA.

Pan-Canadian Examination candidate Handbook – updated November 26, 2023

Important Note:

Applications are closed at this time and the information below is kept for reference only.

All applicants applying for registration 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 delivery format and the dates for the 2024 Dr.TCM Clinical Retaking Examination might be revised to reflect the public health directive of physical distancing in Winter 2024. Candidates will be updated via email and website announcement when it is close to the examination dates, if necessary.

2024 Dr.TCM Clinical Retaking Examination

Application Starts:

• Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (8:30 AM Vancouver Local Time)

Application Deadline:

• Thursday, February 8, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)

Deadline for Special Accommodation Request:

• Thursday, February 8, 2024 (4:30PM Vancouver Local Time)

Application Fee Due :

• 48 hours after the payment link sent from CCHPBC via email

Examination Fee Due:

• Noon of Monday, February 26, 2024 (Vancouver Local Time) (payment link of the examination fee will be sent to those approved candidates by February 21, 2024)

Deadline for Withdrawal of Application:

• Noon of Monday, February 26, 2024 (Vancouver Local Time) (Application fee is non-refundable)

Date of Dr.TCM Clinical Examination:

• Saturday, March 9, 2024

Examination Requirements and Forms

Education Requirements

Applicants must meet the education requirements* for both TCM and the two years liberal arts/sciences study to successfully register as a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Dr. TCM).

Please refer to the Registration section of the website for further information.

*Applicants applying to write this examination must already be registered as R.TCM.P. or be eligible to apply for R.TCM.P. registration.

Application Forms and Fees

Please use the forms below to submit your application to register.

• 2024 Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Application Form

If you request accommodation for special needs, you are required to complete the following two forms and submit to CCHPBC by the application deadline

• 2024 Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Special Accommodation – Candidate Form
• 2024 Dr. TCM Clinical Examination Special Accommodation – Verification Form

If you plan to take the Registration 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 Form for Refresher Program/Course (NEW) 

Application and registration fees are available under the College Bylaws and also in the application form.                                                                  

Dr.TCM Written and Clinical Examinations

• Application (Non-refundable) $- 200
• Written Examination – $700
• Clinical Examination – $700

Dr.TCM Clinical Examination only (* For Retake Applicants with Eligible Status)

• Application (Non-refundable) – $100
• Written Examination – nil
• Clinical Examination – $700

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:

• Dr. TCM Examination Candidate Handbook – 2024 – New with document submission requirements on Page 8

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.

All applicants applying for registration with the College must successfully complete the Interactive Safety Course. Please refer to the Registration section of the website for the examination required to register for each registration title.

To learn more about the 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

• Interactive Safety Course Application Guide

The Interactive Safety Course is based on the:

• Safety Program Handbook. 

Interactive Safety Course – Modules

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