Overview
The course begins with an overview of fundamental aspects of Chinese Medicine, including Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, which serve as a foundation for case diagnoses and treatment presented later in the class. A variety of acupuncture techniques are taught, including electro-acupuncture, aqua acupuncture, moxibustion, etc. in addition to conventional "dry" needling. Three track options are available: small animal, equine and mixed practice (which includes both small animals and horses). In acupoint labs, students learn acupuncture points on dogs or both dogs and horses depending on the selected track.
The course is presented in 2 online sessions and 3 hybrid sessions. Each hybrid session includes two portions: online & on-site. Online portions are comprised of lectures and case demos that students can stream at their own convenience. On-site portions give students the opportunity to learn acupuncture points on live animals in small acupoint lab groups of four to six students per instructor.
Major Topics
With a curriculum designed for students new to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), the Mixed Practice Acupuncture Program provides a comprehensive mix of both theory and practice. Students will learn:
- TCVM Foundations: Five Elements, Yin-Yang, Eight Principles, Zang-Fu Physiology and Pathology, Meridians and Channels
- The scientific basis of acupuncture
- 106 transpositional and 16 classical canine and 144 transpositional and 33 classical equine acupuncture points (hands-on, wet-lab demos)
- Acupuncture techniques including electro-acupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, moxibustion, and dry needling
- TCVM diagnostic systems, including tongue and pulse diagnosis
- How to integrate acupuncture into your practice
Additional Benefits
All Acupuncture Certification Track students receive the following benefits:
- Complimentary canine and/or equine acupoint chart
- Complimentary 30-hour Evidence-Based Veterinary Acupuncture Course
- 1-year complimentary membership with the World Association of TCVM (WATCVM)
- Free lifetime case consultation by Chi faculty
Program Features
Enjoy the convenience of online learning with 44 hours of hands-on learning in 190 total hours of hybrid courses
Learn from Dr. Xie, the master of veterinary acupuncture
Start practicing acupuncture on patients after the first on-site session
Join a limited class of 20 students for an intensive & intimate learning experience
Earn up to 25% of future master's degree credit per experiential learning
Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track
Taught in English
For veterinarians & veterinary students only
190 CE Hours
Curriculum
Session 1
Introduction to Whole Program and History of Veterinary Acupuncture
1h
What is Acupuncture?
1h
Veterinary Acupuncture: Scientific Basis
2h
Basic TCVM Theories - Yin Yang
1h
Eight Principles and Bian Zheng
1h
Five Elements
2h
Zang-Fu Physiology
2h
Channels and Meridians
2h
Top 10 Canine Acupoints and Clinical Applications (Small Animal)
1h
Top 15 Equine Acupoints and Its Clinical Applications (Equine)
1h
General Rules of Acupuncture
4h
Indications for Veterinary Acupuncture
2h
How to Start your Acupuncture Practice (Small Animal)
1h
Where Do I Start the Acupuncture Practice (Small Animal)
1h
How to Start your Acupuncture Practice: Cookbook (Equine)
1h
How to Integrate Acupuncture into your Practice (Equine)
1h
Anatomy for Acupuncturists (Small Animal)
1h
Anatomy for Acupuncturists (Equine)
1h
Session 2
Five Elements and Zang-Fu Physiology
1h
Introduction to TCVM Diagnosis
1h
Five-shu Transporting Points, Source Points, Back-shu and Front-mu Points, Influential Points
2h
Other Special Points and Clinical Application
2h
Demo -How to Treat Canine Diseases (Small Animal)
2h
How to Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders (Small Animal)
2h
How to Treat Respiratory Disorders (Small Animal)
2h
How to Treat Bi/Wei Syndromes, Osteoarthritis and IVDD(Small Animal)
2h
Demo - Canine Acupuncture Cases (Small Animal)
2h
Acupuncture Needling Techniques (Equine)
2h
Treating Equine Musculoskeletal Issues with TCVM
2h
How to Treat Equine Cases (Equine)
2h
Acupuncture for EQ Lameness (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for thoracic limb and hind limb lameness (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for cervical issues (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for Neurological Disorders (Equine)
1h
Tutoring, Real Case Demo, and Question and Answer
4h
Mix Practice Point Lab
12h
Session 3
Five Treasures: Qi, Blood, Shen, Jing, Body Fluid Physiology and Pathology
4h
TCVM Diagnosis
4h
Eight Extraordinary Channels
2h
Etiology and Pathology
2h
How to Select Acupoints (Small Animal)
2h
Dry Lab - How to Make a TCVM Diagnosis (Small Animal)
2h
Acupuncture for Neurological Disorders (Small Animal)
2h
How to Approach Clinical Cases (Small Animal)
2h
How to Improve Acupuncture Results (Small Animal)
2h
How to Select Acupoints (Equine)
2h
Equine Acupuncture Techniques
1h
Acupuncture for Equine Lameness
2h
Acupuncture for Neck & Back Pain (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for Tendon/ligament, Shoulder, Hip, Stifle and Hock Pain (Equine)
1h
Equine Special Conditions
2h
How to Approach Clinical Cases (Equine)
1h
How to Improve Acupuncture Results (Equine)
1h
Dry Lab - Lameness and Internal Medicine Studies (Equine)
1h
Session 4
Bubble Chart Review
1h
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 3 (Small Animal)
1h
How to Treat Chronic Kidney Disease with TCVM I
1h
How to Treat CKD & UTI with TCVM II
1h
How to Treat Heart Failure (Small Animal)
1h
How to Treat Behavioral Problems
1h
Herbal Introduction (Small Animal)
2h
Acupuncture for the Liver (Small Animal)
2h
How to Treat Skin Problems (Small Animal)
2h
Acupuncture for Cancer (Small Animal)
2h
Feline Acupuncture
2h
Case Studies from Students (Small Animal)
1h
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 3 (Equine)
1h
How to Treat Urinary and Cardiovascular Disorders in Horse (Equine)
1h
How to Treat GI Disorders (Equine)
2h
How to Treat Respiratory Problems (Equine)
2h
How to Treat Bi and Wei Syndrome (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for Sports Medicine (Equine)
1h
How to Understand Herbal Medicine (Equine)
1h
How to Start Your Herbal Practice (Equine)
1h
How to Treat Cushing’s Disease (Equine)
1h
How to Treat Other Endocrine Disorders (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for Liver Diseases (Equine)
1h
Acupuncture for Skin Diseases (Equine)
1h
Avian Acupuncture (Small Animal)
1h
Exotic Animal Acupuncture (Small Animal)
1h
Tutoring, Real Case Demo, and Question and Answer
4h
Mix Point Lab
12h
Session 5
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 4
3h
How to Treat Thyroid Disorders (Small Animal)
1h
How to Treat Diabetes & Cushing’s Disease (Small Animal)
1h
Acupuncture for Immune-mediated Diseases (Small Animal)
2h
Clinical Applications of TCVM (Small Animal)
2h
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 4 (Equine)
4h
How to Treat Reproductive Disorders (Equine)
1h
Liver Physiology and Pathology
1h
Lung Physiology and Pathology
1h
Spleen Physiology and Pathology
1h
Heart Physiology and Pathology
1h
Kidney Physiology and Pathology
1h
Food Therapy Intro (Small Animal)
1h
Introduction to Tui-na (Small Animal)
1h
How to Make TCVM Profitable (Small Animal)
1h
Intro to Tui-na (Equine)
1h
Intro to Food therapy (Equine)
1h
How to Practice Equine TCVM for Profit and Pleasure (Equine)
1h
TCVM approach to Domestic Ruminants and South American Camelids (Equine)
3h
Tutoring, Real Case Demo, and Question and Answer
4h
Mix Point Lab
8h
Certification
CVA Certification
Students of the Veterinary Acupuncture program are eligible for the Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist certification endorsed by Chi University and the World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (WATCVM). The CVA certification requirements are as follows:
Complete all sessions of the program
Pass three online quizzes with scores above 70%
Pass the final written exam in the final on-site session with a score above 70%
Pass the clinical acupoint exam in the final on-site session with a score above 70%
Submit one veterinary acupuncture case report to be approved
Complete 30 hours of advanced TCVM program training or internship with a certified veterinary acupuncturist
Please note that Chi cannot issue any certification to veterinary students until their DVM or equivalent has been obtained.
Textbooks
Instructors
Huisheng Xie
DVM, PhD
Dr. Xie has 42 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience in veterinary acupuncture and TCVM. He has trained over 12,000 veterinarians to practice TCVM worldwide. Dr. Xie’s education includes advanced training in veterinary medicine, veterinary acupuncture, and human acupuncture. Dr. Xie has authored 20 books and over 100 peer-reviewed papers. His textbooks, including Xie’s Veterinary Herbology, Xie’s Veterinary Acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine-Fundamental Principles, have been used for TCVM training programs around the world. Dr. Xie continues to teach and develop educational courses and programs at Chi University, serves as a full clinical professor at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and is an honorary professor at China Agricultural University, South China Agricultural University, and China Southwest University.
Read moreLorena LLoret Nadal
DVM, CVA, CVTP, CVFT, CVCH, CVBMA
Dr. LLoret received her DVM from Murcia University in Spain in June 2002. She earned her veterinary acupuncture certification from Chi University-Thailand in 2005. The following year, Dr. LLoret completed the acupuncture internship program at the University of Florida with Dr. Xie. She served as Chief of TCVM Services of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University Alfonso X in Madrid, Spain from 2014-2021. Dr. LLoret is the translator and editor-in-chief of the Spanish edition of TCVM: Fundamental Principles by Dr. Xie. She is currently the director of Chi-Europe, Chi-Spain and Chi-Ireland and serves as a primary instructor for Chi CVA courses throughout Europe. Dr. LLoret TCVM specialty in both small animal and horses , offering clinics in Ireland.
Roger Clemmons
DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology and Neurosurgery), CVA, CVFT
Dr. Clemmons graduated with his DVM from Washington State University. There, he also was granted a PhD in veterinary science (emphasis in neurophysiology and clinical neurology). Dr. Clemmons then took a faculty position at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he practiced neurology and neurosurgery for 35 years before joining the private Veterinary Specialty Hospitals in Florida. Dr. Clemmons, a board-certified specialist in Neurology, has published over 100 peer-reviewed original studies, reviews, papers and abstracts and given numerous presentations, both in the US and abroad. At UF, he has had an active research program and is known for his work on platelet physiology and in the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as degenerative myelopathy. He has developed a number of innovative neurosurgical techniques including fixation of atlantoaxial subluxation and Wobbler’s syndrome. Dr. Clemmons taught veterinary and graduate students at the University of Florida for 35 years. Dr. Clemmons became a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) at Chi in 2000. He was certified in TCVM Food therapy (CVFT) from Chi in 2009. He integrates Veterinary Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and nutrition into his practice. He is a national and international speaker in the field of neurology and the science of veterinary acupuncture.
Silvia De Lucchi
DVM, CVA, CVBMA
Dr. Silvia De Lucchi graduated from the University of Parma, Italy, in 2006 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, she began practicing small animal medicine, focusing primarily on internal medicine and surgery.
Her interest in rehabilitation led her to attend the Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) program at the University of Tennessee in 2012.
In 2013, Dr. De Lucchi earned her Veterinary Acupuncture Certification at Chi Spain, marking the beginning of her journey into Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM). She has completed advanced acupuncture training, studied Japanese acupuncture and is certified in Balance Method acupuncture. Her commitment to ongoing learning is evident as she is currently pursuing advanced training in Chinese herbal medicine and Tui-na.
Dr. De Lucchi offers a comprehensive and integrative clinical approach at her specialized rehabilitation clinic in Vicenza. She primarily treats small animals, combining acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, and food therapy. Dr. De Lucchi is currently the Director of Chi University Italy and is an instructor for the Small Animal Acupuncture Program. She also organizes advanced TCVM courses to spread awareness and knowledge of this ancient medical tradition within the veterinary community.
Enrollment Options
Semester
2026
Schedule & Tuition
Access to all sessions will end at the conclusion of the final session.
Session 1
Online
Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2026
€1,050.00
Session 2
Online Portion
Mar 1 - May 17, 2026
On-site Portion in Giavera del Montello, Italy
May 16 - 17, 2026
€1,450.00
Session 3
Online
May 18 - Jul 19, 2026
€950.00
Session 4
Online Portion
Jul 20 - Sep 20, 2026
On-site Portion in Giavera del Montello, Italy
Sep 12 - 13, 2026
€1,450.00
Session 5
Online Portion
Sep 21 - Dec 13, 2026
On-site Portion in Giavera del Montello, Italy
Dec 11 - 13, 2026
Includes the CVA Certification
€1,550.00
Payment Information
A €200.00 non-refundable course deposit is charged upon enrollment to reserve your seat.
Payment is due 30 days before the start date of each session, course, or event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to take acupuncture classes in a prescribed order or can I start at any time?
You must start at session one and continue along in order. If you have mitigating circumstances, you will have to defer all following sessions until the next semester.