Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track

Learn all the tools you need to fully integrate acupuncture into your practice

Italy
Mixed Practice
English
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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.

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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
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Additional Benefits

All Acupuncture Certification Track students receive the following benefits:

  • Complimentary canine and/or equine acupoint chart
  • Complimentary 32-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 182 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

182 CE Hours

Curriculum

Course Introduction and History of Veterinary Acupuncture

1h

What is Acupuncture?

1h

Veterinary Acupuncture: Scientific Basis

2h

Yin-Yang

1h

Eight Principles

1h

Five Elements

2h

Zang-Fu Physiology

2h

Channels and Meridians

2h

General Rules of Acupuncture

4h

Indications for Veterinary Acupuncture

2h

How to Start your Acupuncture Practice: Cookbook (Small Animal)

1h

How to Start your Acupuncture Practice: Cookbook (Equine)

1h

How to Integrate Acupuncture into Your Practice (Small Animal)

1h

How to Integrate Acupuncture into your Practice (Equine)

1h

Anatomy for Acupuncturists (Small Animal)

1h

Anatomy for Acupuncturists (Equine)

1h

Mix Practice Point Lab

12h

Tutoring, Real Case Demo, and Question and Answer

4h

Five Elements and Zang-Fu Physiology

2h

Five-shu Transporting Points

2h

Other Special Points

1h

TCVM Diagnosis Intro

1h

Demo - How to Treat Canine Diseases

2h

How to Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders (Small Animal)

2h

How to Treat Respiratory Disorders (Small Animal)

2h

How to Treat Bi/Wei Syndromes (Small Animal)

1h

Demo - Canine Acupuncture Cases (Small Animal)

2h

Acupuncture Needling Techniques (Equine)

2h

Treating Equine Musculoskeletal Issues

2h

Demo - Equine Lab Case

2h

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

1h

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)

1h

How to Improve Acupuncture Results (Small Animal)

2h

Small Animal Cases: TCVM Approach

3h

Equine Acupuncture Techniques

1h

Acupuncture for Equine Lameness

3h

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

Mix Point Lab

12h

Tutoring, Real Case Demo, and Question and Answer

4h

Review from Sessions 1-3

1h

How to Treat Renal Failure

1h

How to Treat Heart Failure

1h

How to Treat Behavioral Problems

1h

Introduction to Herbal Medicine

2h

Introduction to Food Therapy

1h

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

Avian Acupuncture

2h

Exotic Animal Acupuncture

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

Understanding 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

How to Treat Liver Problems (Equine)

1h

Acupuncture for Skin Diseases (Equine)

1h

Mix Point Lab

8h

Tutoring, Real Case Demo, and Question and Answer

4h

Review of Sessions 1-4

1h

Acupuncture for Endocrine Disorder

2h

Acupuncture for Immune-Mediated Diseases

2h

Clinical Applications of TCVM (Small Animal)

2h

Introduction to Tui-na (Small Animal)

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

TCVM Overview

1h

How to Sell TCVM

1h

Tui-na Applications (Equine)

1h

Introduction to Food Therapy (Equine)

1h

How to Treat Reproductive Disorders (Equine)

1h

Acupuncture for Bovines, Caprines, and Camelids

1h

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 75%

  • Pass the final written exam in the final on-site session with a score above 75%

  • Pass the clinical acupoint exam in the final on-site session with a score above 75%

  • 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.

See the documents needed for certification here

Textbooks

TCVM: Fundamental Principles

by Huisheng Xie and Vanessa Preast

Xie's Veterinary Acupuncture

by Huisheng Xie and Vanessa Preast

Clinician's Guide to Canine Acupuncture

by Curtis Wells Dewey and Huisheng Xie

Instructors

Dr. Xie has 41 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience in veterinary acupuncture and TCVM. He has trained over 10,000 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 more

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.

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.

Dr. Silvia De Lucchi graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Parma University in Italy, in 2006. After graduation, she practiced small animal medicine with a particular focus on internal medicine and surgery. Also interested in physiotherapy, she attended the Certified Program in Canine Physical Rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee in 2012.

Dr. De Lucchi obtained her Acupuncture Certification at Chi Spain in 2013. She continued her education and training in TCVM by undertaking courses in Herbal Medicine, Tui-na, Japanese Acupuncture, and Balance Method Acupuncture.

She established her own practice where she treats small animals, horses, and cattle. She integrates acupuncture, moxibustion, physiotherapy, herbal medicine, and food therapy within her practice.

Enrollment Options

Semester

2025

Schedule & Tuition

Session 1 includes the 100 € application fee

Session 1
Session 2
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5

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.

Discounts

Enroll by Dec 1, 2024

-€500.00

Frequently Asked Questions

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.