Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track

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

United States
Small Animal
English
Chi Main Campus in Reddick, FL
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Program Overview

The Acupuncture Course Track is presented in 3 online and 2 on-site sessions.

During the online portions, you’ll overview the theories and frameworks needed for diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture patients. You then explore these frameworks more practically in recorded demos on live patients.

When you come to the Main Campus for the on-site portions, you’ll gather with classmates in live lectures on treating specific conditions, building on top of the online lectures. After an included catered lunch, you then split up into smaller lab groups allowing you to locate and discuss acupuncture points on live animals facilitated by instructors certified in acupuncture.

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Major Topics

With a curriculum designed for students new to acupuncture, the Small Animal Acupuncture Program provides a comprehensive mix of both theory and practice. You will learn:

  • Frameworks used in acupuncture: Five Elements, Yin-Yang, Eight Principles, Zang-Fu Physiology and Pathology, Meridians and Channels
  • The scientific basis of acupuncture
  • 129 transpositional and 28 classical canine acupuncture points (hands-on, wet-lab demos)
  • Acupuncture techniques: electro-acupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, moxibustion, and dry needling
  • TCVM diagnostic systems: patient personality, tongue and pulse diagnosis, and client inquiry
  • How to integrate acupuncture into your practice
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Additional Benefits

Once enrolled for the Acupuncture Certification Track at Chi, you will receive:

  • Complimentary canine 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 20 hours of virtual lab learning in 143 total hours of hybrid courses

Learn from Dr. Xie, the master of veterinary acupuncture

29 hours of intensive hands on learning with live animals in small lab groups capped at 6 students for every instructor

Start practicing acupuncture on patients after the first on-site session

Earn up to 25% of future master's degree credit per experiential learning

What our students have to say

Carrie Uehlein

After finishing the course, I feel confident to practice acupuncture and not worried I’m going to do it wrong. The training was great.

Carrie Uehlein, DVM

Huntersville, NC

Rene Gandolfi

I am very happy that I chose to study at Chi. The integration of acupuncture and the rest of the modalities of TCVM combined with the knowledgeable and helpful teaching staff have made this a lifetime event for me.

Rene Gandolfi, DVM

Castro Valley, CA

Amanda Ramage, DVM

This class was amazing! I love the small lab groups and the information is presented wonderfully. I now see how TCVM courses can become addicting!

Amanda Ramage, DVM

Westmont, IL

Jessica Balter

Dr. Xie's lectures are outstanding. Very engaging speaker. The information is presented clearly and he guides you through the material in a way that you can easily understand.

Jessica Balter, DVM

Seaford, NY

Jean Hollenstein, DVM

It is always nice to see an actual patient and assess tongue and pulse, then work through the diagnosis and treatment plan. I am continually amazed at all of the work and goodwill that gets poured into these classes.

Jean Hollenstein, DVM

Glenwood, MN

Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track

Taught in English

For veterinarians & veterinary students only

122 RACE-approved CE hours

Curriculum

Introduction to the 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

1h

General Rules of Acupuncture

4h

Indications for Veterinary Acupuncture

2h

How to Start Your Acupuncture Practice: Cookbook

1h

Where Do I Start the Acupuncture Practice

1h

Anatomy for Acupuncturists

1h

Five Elements and Zang-fu Physiology

1h

TCVM Diagnosis Intro

1h

Five-Shu Transporting Points, Source Points, Back-Shu & Front-Mu points, Influential Points

2h

Other Special Points and Clinical Application

2h

How to Treat Bi/Wei Syndromes, Osteoarthritis and IVDD

2h

How to Treat Gastro-Intestinal Disorders

2h

How to Treat Respiratory Disorders

2h

Canine Point Labs

16h

Five Treasure: 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

2h

How to Make a TCVM Diagnosis (Dry Lab)

2h

Acupuncture for Neurological Disorders

2h

How to Approach Clinical Cases

2h

How to Improve Acupuncture Result

2h

Avian Acupuncture

1h

Exotic Animal Acupuncture

1h

Bubble Chart Review

1h

A Quick Review from Session 1 to 3 SA Track

1h

How to Treat Renal Failure

1h

How to Treat Heart Failure

1h

How to Treat Behavioral Problems

1h

Herbal Introduction

2h

Acupuncture for the Liver

2h

How to Treat Skin Problems

2h

Acupuncture for Cancer

2h

Feline Acupuncture

2h

Case Studies from Students

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

Case Demos: Needling Techniques

2h

Case Demos: Electro-acupuncture

1h

Case Demos: Aqua-acupuncture, Pneumo-acupuncture and Other Techniques

1h

Case Demos: Moxibustion

1h

How to Approach a TCVM Canine Case Started Using TCVM

1h

Virtual Clarification of Acupoints and Acupuncture Techniques

3h

Canine Point Labs

8h

CVA course-Review

3h

How to Treat Thyroid Disorders

1h

How to Treat Diabetes

1h

How to Treat Cushing’s Disease

1h

How to Make TCVM Profitable

1h

Intro to Food Therapy

1h

Intro to Tui-na

1h

Canine Point Labs

12h

Cross Promotion

Point Lab 1 (Session 2 acupoint review)

4h

Point Lab 2 (Session 2 acupoint review)

2h

Point Lab 2 (Session 4 acupoint review)

2h

Point Lab 3 (Session 4 acupoint review)

4h

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 written exam proctored online after the final session with a score over 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. Todd graduated from the University of Florida with a DVM in 1988. In 1993, Dr. Todd became an apprentice to Dr. Patrick Sullivan, AP, and began studying Traditional Chinese Medicine. In 1996, he became certified by IVAS. His studies continued at Chi. He has lectured and instructed nationally and internationally for IVAS, the North American Veterinary Conference, and Chi. Dr. Todd practices integrative veterinary medicine at the Animal Hospital of Dunedin in the Tampa Bay Area.

Dr. Chrisman received her DVM from Michigan State University in 1968, an MS degree from the Ohio State University in 1974 and became certified in veterinary neurology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1976. Dr. Chrisman is a certified veterinary acupuncturist from Chi. She was a professor and Chief of the Neurology Service at UF for 30 years and integrated acupuncture into her neurology practice as well as a member of the UF Acupuncture Service. She is a Professor Emeritus at UF as well as the former Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and is on the Executive Board of the American Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine.

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. Allison Faber Marshall graduated from University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and moved to Virginia into general equine practice. She opened Full Circle Veterinary Services, PC in 2005 after becoming a Certified Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (CVSMT) through Healing Oasis Wellness Center and a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist (CVA) through Chi University where she also trained in veterinary herbal medicine, food therapy, and tui-na, culminating in completion of a Master’s of Science in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Marshall served on the AAEP ethics committee from 2010-2013. She has been an instructor at Chi since 2010. Her busy practice is limited to equine alternative therapies in Virginia and Maryland, and she enjoys a large variety of sport horses and beloved friend as patients. She has 3 grown children, and is an avid surfer, knitter, yarn spinner, gardener, and works to keep her many interests and profession in balance.

Dr. Terri Rosado holds certifications in all Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine branches. As an Assistant Professor at Chi University and the medical director of Chi Animal Hospital, Dr. Rosado is passionate about education, offering externships to Chi and veterinary school students, and inviting volunteers to experience small animal veterinary practice.

Enrollment Options

Semester

Spring 2025

Schedule & Tuition

Session 1
Session 2

Location

Location of class
Chi Main Campus

9650 W Hwy 318

Reddick, FL 32686

Hotel & accommodation recommendations

Thursday, February 6, 2025

7:45 AM

Check-in begins

Sunday, February 9, 2025

1:00 PM

Class Ends

Session 3
Session 4
Session 5

Location

Location of class
Chi Main Campus

9650 W Hwy 318

Reddick, FL 32686

Hotel & accommodation recommendations

Thursday, June 5, 2025

7:45 AM

Check-in begins

Saturday, June 7, 2025

6:30 PM

Class ends

Optional Acupuncture Review

Location

Location of class
Chi Main Campus

9650 W Hwy 318

Reddick, FL 32686

Hotel & accommodation recommendations

Day 1

8:30AM -10:35AM

Point Lab 1 (Session 2 acupoint review)

10:35AM -10:55AM

Snack Break

10:55AM -01:00PM

Point Lab 1 Continued (Session 2 acupoint review)

1:00PM -2:00PM

Lunch Break

2:00PM -4:05PM

Point Lab 2 (Session 2 acupoint review)

4:05PM -4:25PM

Snack Break

4:25PM -6:30PM

Point Lab 2 Continued (Session 4 acupoint review)

Day 2

8:30AM -10:35AM

Point Lab 3 (Session 4 acupoint review)

10:35AM -10:55AM

Snack Break

10:55AM -01:00PM

Point Lab 3 Continued (Session 4 acupoint review)

Payment Information

A $250.00 non-refundable course deposit is charged upon enrollment to reserve your seat.

Payment is due 60 days before the start date of each session, course, or event.

Add-ons

Printed Binders

$50.00 / on-site

Required Textbooks

$340.00

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.