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 Equine 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-FuPhysiology and Pathology, Meridians and Channels
- The scientific basis of acupuncture
- 256 equine acupuncture points on live animals
- 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 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 20 hours of virtual lab learning in 138 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
This course provided the most information, provided in a logical manner, I have ever taken away from a conference!
Amy Munsterman, DVM
Notasulga, AL
It was so exciting to learning something new so quickly out of school. I now have a true advantage in my diagnostic skills and treatment options. This is awesome!
Tai Curry, DVM
Brandon, MS
Excellent course. The instructors taught in a way to help us wrap our heads around a new type of medicine.
Dinah Skorich, DVM
Wallkill, NY
I thought it was well organized and the subject matter had a nice flow to it. I liked the lectures being in the morning with the afternoon for labs.
Jaime Horner, DVM
Califon, NJ
I genuinely felt that all the instructors wanted to impart their knowledge to the students and for us to succeed.
Helen Kwong, DVM
Black Creek, BC, Canada
Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track
Taught in English
For veterinarians & veterinary students only
122 RACE-approved 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
1 h
Five Elements
2h
Zang-Fu Physiology
2h
Channels and Meridians
2h
Top 15 Equine Acupoints and Its Clinical Applications
1h
General Rules of Acupuncture
4h
Indications for Veterinary Acupuncture
2h
How to Start your Acupuncture Practice: Cookbook
1h
How to Integrate Acupuncture into your Practice
1h
EQ Anatomy for Acupuncturists
1h
Session 2
Five Elements and Zang Fu physiology
1h
Introduction to TCVM Diagnosis
1h
Five-shu Transporting Points, Source Points, Back-shu & Front-mu Points, Influential Points
2h
Other Special Points and Clinical Application
2h
How to Practice Acupuncture in Horses
1h
Equine Musculoskeletal Case Studies
1h
TCVM for Equine Lameness
1h
Acupuncture for Tendons and Cervical Disorders
1h
Acupuncture for Neurological Disease and Back Pain
1h
Acupuncture for Forelimb and Hind Limb Lameness
1h
Equine Point Lab
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
Equine Acupuncture Techniques
1h
Acupuncture for Equine Lameness
2h
Acupuncture for Neck & Back Pain
1h
Acupuncture for Tendon/ligament, Shoulder, Hip, Stifle and Hock Pain
1h
Equine Special Conditions
2h
How to Approach Clinical Cases
1h
How to Improve Acupuncture Results
1h
Dry-lab Lameness and Internal Medicine Case Studies
1h
Session 4
Bubble Chart Review
1h
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 3
1h
How to Treat Urinary and Cardiovascular Disorders
1h
How to Treat Behavioral Problems
1h
How to Treat GI Disorders
2h
How to Treat Respiratory Problems
2h
How to Treat Bi and Wei Syndrome
1h
Acupuncture for Sports Medicine
1h
How to Understand Herbal Medicine
1h
How to Start Your Herbal Practice
1h
How to Treat Cushing’s Disease
1h
How to Treat Other Endocrine Disorders
1h
Acupuncture for Liver Diseases
1h
Acupuncture for Skin Diseases
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
How to Approach an Equine Case
1h
Virtual Clarification of Acupoints and Acupuncture Techniques(EQ)
3h
Equine Point Lab
8h
Session 5
CVA course-Review
3h
How to Treat Reproductive Disorders
1h
How to Practice Equine TCVM for Profit and Pleasure
1h
Acupuncture for Bovines, Caprines and Camelids
1h
Intro to Food Therapy
1h
Intro to Tui-na
1h
Equine Point Lab
12h
Cross Promotion
Optional Acupuncture Review
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 moreJohn Langlois
DVM, MSTCVM, CVA, CVMMP
Dr. Langlois is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981. He has been an equine practitioner in Marion County, Florida for the past 32 years, where he established his own practice in 1983 with an emphasis on reproductive medicine, lameness diagnostics, and surgery. He has received advanced training in veterinary acupuncture, Chinese veterinary herbal medicine, and veterinary Tui-na massage. He has been practicing for over 30 years and has been using Chinese medicine and spinal manipulation successfully for over 10 years enjoying treating at many of the prestigious thoroughbred farms in Marion County, FL.
Carla Pasteur
DVM, MSTCVM, CVA, CVTP, CVMMP, CVSMT, CERP
Dr. Pasteur grew up showing horses in many disciplines, including reining, saddleseat, dressage and pleasure. She graduated in 1991 from the University of Wisconsin and opened an equine exclusive clinic in Green Bay. The practice grew to cover five counties, with emphases on reproduction and lameness. She received her acupuncture training from IVAS in 1997, sold her conventional practice and began an equine alternative practice. She has been a Chi instructor since 2005 and has lectured internationally. Her current practice encompasses TCVM, veterinary medical manipulation and osteopathy, focusing on sport and performance horses.
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 includes the $100 application fee.
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
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.