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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Session 1
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
Session 2
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
Session 3
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
Session 4
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
Session 5
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
Optional Acupuncture Review
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
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 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.
Textbooks
Instructors
Huisheng Xie
DVM, PhD
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 moreGreg Todd
DVM, CVA
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.
Cheryl Chrisman
DVM, MSTCVM, CVA, CVCH, CVTP, CVFT
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.
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.
Allison Faber Marshall
DVM, MS, CVA, CVSMT
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.
Terri Rosado
DVM, CVA, CTCVMP, CCRT, CVMMP
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
Online
Jan 1 - Feb 5, 2025
$1,170.00
Session 2
On-site in Reddick, FL
Feb 6 - 9, 2025
$1,750.00
Thursday, February 6, 2025 | |
7:45 AM | Check-in begins |
Sunday, February 9, 2025 | |
1:00 PM | Class Ends |
Session 3
Online
Feb 10 - Apr 12, 2025
$1,070.00
Session 4
Online
Mar 1 - Jun 4, 2025
$1,750.00
Session 5
On-site in Reddick, FL
Jun 5 - 7, 2025
Includes the CVA Certification
$1,840.00
Thursday, June 5, 2025 | |
7:45 AM | Check-in begins |
Saturday, June 7, 2025 | |
6:30 PM | Class ends |
Optional Acupuncture Review
On-site in Reddick, FL
Mar 31 - Apr 1, 2025
$900.00
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
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.