Course Overview
The Acupuncture CE Course earns students 30 Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points in veterinary acupuncture. The CE course will be equivalent to the five-session Certified Veterinary Acupuncture (CVA) course of the Chi Institute. Students may choose to register for either the Small Animal, Equine or Mixed Practice track of this course. The program 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 and moxibustion, in addition to conventional dry needling. Students will learn acupuncture points on small animals only, and primarily dogs are used for practice in the wet labs.
The program is presented in five sessions. Online sessions are composed of lectures that students can stream at their own convenience. Afternoon wet-labs of on-site sessions give students the opportunity to learn acupuncture points on live animals in small lab groups of five to six students per instructor. Only veterinarians or final year veterinary students may register for this course.
Major Topics
With a curriculum designed for students new to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), the Small Animal 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
- 127 transpositional and 40 classical canine acupuncture points (hands-on, wet-lab demos)
- How to needle acupuncture points in dogs, cats and birds
- TCVM diagnostic systems, including tongue and pulse diagnosis
- How to integrate acupuncture into your practice
What our students have to say
A worthwhile course and a good investment.
Tanya Grantham, BVSC
Benoni, South Africa
Great course, absolutely no regrets attending and highly recommended.
Alicia Chow, BVSc
Gaborone, Botswana
The course was excellent. The theory was explained magnificently! It has filled me with enthusiasm and excitement. I can't wait to learn more.
Louise Biggs, BVSc
Swartberg, South Africa
It was an incredible amount of information in a short time but was very rich and excellent value for money.
Kerry French, BVSc
Bryanston, South Africa
Very interesting. Gained much more from the course than I thought I would.
Alma Kerr, BVMS
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track
Taught in English
For veterinarians & veterinary students only
30 Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Points
Curriculum
Session 1
Introduction to Whole Course 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
1h
How to Integrate Acupuncture into your Practice
1h
Anatomy for Acupuncturists
1h
Session 2
Five-shu Transporting Points, Source Points, Back-shu and Front-mu points, Influential Points
2h
Five Elements and Zang-Fu Physiology
2h
Canine Point Lab
16h
Other Special Points
1h
TCVM Diagnosis Intro
1h
How to Treat Bi/Wei Syndromes
1h
How to Treat Osteoarthritis and IVDD
1h
How to Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders
2h
How to Treat Respiratory Disorders
2h
Session 3
Five Treasure: Qi, Blood, Shen, Jing, and Body Fluid Physiology and Pathology
4h
TCVM Diagnosis
4h
Eight Extraordinary Channels
2h
Etiology and Pathology
2h
How to Select Acupoints
1h
How to Make a TCVM Diagnosis (Dry Lab)
2h
Acupuncture for Neurological Disorders
2h
How to Approach Clinical Cases
1h
How to Improve Acupuncture Results
2h
Small Animal Cases: a TCVM Approach
3h
Exotic Animal Acupuncture (Lecture and Demo)
1h
Avian Acupuncture (Lecture and Demo)
1h
Session 4
Review from Session 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
1h
How to Treat Skin Problems
1h
Acupuncture for Cancer
1h
Feline Acupuncture
2h
Case Studies from Students
1h
Dry Needling and Lab Demo
1h
Introduction to Electro-acupuncture
1h
Electro-acupuncture Demo
1h
Aqua-, Hemo-, and Pneumo-acupuncture
2h
Moxibustion
1h
Acupuncture Demo
2h
Case Demo
2h
Zang-fu Physiology
5h
Canine Acupuncture Point Identification
10h
Virtual Internship
15h
Session 5
Overview of Sessions 1-4
2h
How to Treat Diabetes and Cushing's Disease
1h
How to Treat Thyroid Disorders
1h
How to Sell TCVM
1h
Final TCVM Overview
1h
Intro to Food Therapy
1h
Intro to Tui-na
1h
Canine Point Lab
12h
CVA Certification
Students of the Veterinary Acupuncture program are eligible for the Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist certification endorsed by the Chi Institute of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine 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 acupoints 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. See the details here: https://media.graphcms.com/QoVlodmNRUq64yp9a3Uw
Please note that Chi cannot issue any certification to veterinary students until their DVM or equivalent has been obtained.
Instructors
Roselle Hartwigsen
BVSc, CVA
Dr. Roselle Hartwigsen qualified as a veterinarian from the University of Pretoria in 2011. Thereafter she was certified as a Veterinary Acupuncturist in 2013 from the Chi Institute Europe. She spent the next couple of years working in private practice, integrating complimentary medicine especially acupuncture when treating patients. Her clients are found in South Africa, Botswana and Dubai. In 2016 she spent a year treating horses exclusively and bringing veterinary acupuncture to the horse racing industry in Gauteng.
Dr Roselle has a passion for integrating complimentary veterinary medicine into daily veterinary care in South Africa. One way she tries to achieve this is by teaching veterinarians through the Complimentary Veterinary Medicine Group of South Africa (CVMG) and the Chi Institute.
Huisheng Xie
DVM, PhD
Dr. Huisheng Xie (pronounced “Shay”) founded Chi in 1998 to train veterinarians in Chinese acupuncture, herbal medicine, food therapy, and Tui-na. Before coming to America, Dr. Xie received his BSVM (equivalent to DVM) from the Sichuan College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine in 1983. He then received a Master of Science in Veterinary Acupuncture from Beijing Agricultural University in 1988 where he also served as an associate professor. In 1994 he moved to America to pursue his doctoral studies, and in 1999 he received his PhD from the University of Florida for his investigation of the mechanisms of pain control in horses using acupuncture. He has lectured around the world and has authored more than 20 books. Currently, Dr. Xie continues to teach and develop educational courses and programs at the Chi in Reddick, Florida. He also serves as a clinical professor at UF’s College of Veterinary Medicine. In total, Dr. Xie has trained over 10,000 veterinarians to practice TCVM.
Elize van Vollenhoven
BVSc, LLB, PhD, CCRP, CVA
Dr. van Vollenhoven received a veterinary degree at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) in 1992, a law degree in 2007 (UNISA – University of South Africa) and a PhD (measuring the stress in teaching horses during student transrectal palpation practicals using non-invasive methods namely salivary and faecal cortisol as well as heart rate variability) in 2018. She worked for 18 years as a State Veterinarian, dealing especially with law/legislative issues, before joining the University of Pretoria as a lecturer in Ethology (horse behaviour, nutrition and welfare) as well as Law and Ethics in 2010-2017. She was a member of the Animal Ethics Committee of the University of Pretoria and (2016-12019). She is also a member of ISAE's (International Society for Applied Ethology) ethics committee and a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist as well as a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner.
Sarah Peters
BVSc, CVA
Dr. Peters first became interested in TCVM after her own dog became very ill. Western medicine had reached its limits and she faced the probability of having to euthanize him. Out of desperation, she gave TCVM a try and much to her surprise, it made all the difference.
Afterwards, she travelled to the USA to attend the Chi Institute and became certified in acupuncture. Since, it has been an extremely rewarding and exciting journey both practicing and teaching acupuncture. In the future she would like to see corroboration with conventional vets. She believes eastern and western medicine can harmoniously work side by side, and our pets deserve the best of both worlds.
Enrollment Options
Available Formats
Semester
2020
Residency
Schedule & Tuition
Session 1 includes the $100 application fee.
Session 1
Online
02/01/20 - 03/31/20
$1,050
Session 2
Hybrid (on-site in Rustenburg, South Africa)
04/01/20 - 09/06/20
$1,630
Online Portion:
04/01/20 - 05/03/20
On-site Portion:
09/02/20 - 09/06/20
Location
Rustenburg, South Africa
Contact for hotel & accommodation recommendations
southafrica@tcvm.com
Day 1 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Registration |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
1:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
Day 2 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Sign-in |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
1:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
Session 3
Online
05/04/20 - 07/31/20
$950
Session 4
Hybrid (on-site in Rustenburg, South Africa)
08/01/20 - 09/06/20
$1,630
Online Portion:
08/01/20 - 09/01/20
On-site Portion:
09/02/20 - 09/06/20
Location
Rustenburg, South Africa
Contact for hotel & accommodation recommendations
southafrica@tcvm.com
Day 1 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Registration |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
1:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
Day 2 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Sign-in |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
1:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
Session 5
Hybrid (on-site in Rustenburg, South Africa)
09/07/20 - 12/06/20
$1,370
Online Portion:
09/07/20 - 12/03/20
On-site Portion:
12/04/20 - 12/06/20
Location
Rustenburg, South Africa
Contact for hotel & accommodation recommendations
southafrica@tcvm.com
Day 1 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Registration |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Lecture |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
1:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
Day 2 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Sign-in |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Acupuncture Point Lab |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM | Lunch Break |
1:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Acupuncture Point Exam |
Day 3 | |
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM | Sign-in |
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Final Written Exam |
Payment Information
A $200 non-refundable course deposit is charged upon enrollment to reserve your seat.
Payment is due 30 days before the course start date.
Add-ons
CVA Certification
$350
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.