Yo San University: Consumer Information
Non-Profit Status
Yo San University is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution registered with the State of California and United States of America.
Accreditation & Approvals
Accreditation
The Master of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (MATCM) / Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MAcCHM) program at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for the approval of programs preparing acupuncture and herbal medicine practitioners. The name of the Master’s Degree Program was changed in accordance with ACAHM policy in January 2023. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed at: https://acahm.org/directory-menu/.
The Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Program (DAOM) at Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), which is the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. Accreditation status and notes may be viewed at: https://acahm.org/directory-menu/.
ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, MN 55331; phone 952/212-2434; fax 952/657-7068; https://acahm.org.
Approvals
California Acupuncture Board: Yo San University (YSU) grants the degree of Master of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (MATCM).YSU has been approved by the California Acupuncture Board to allow graduates to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE). Graduates also qualify for the examination offered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Acupuncturists are licensed by the Acupuncture Board, State of California Department of Consumer Affairs, 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N-219, Sacramento, CA 95834; Phone: 916.515.5200; Fax: 916.928.2204. Please contact this agency for further licensing information. The California Acupuncture Board also approves YSU as a provider of continuing education certification renewal for licensed acupuncturists.
Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE): Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is approved to operate by the Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education. “Approval to operate” means compliance with state standards as set forth in Section 94897 (l) of the State of California Education Code. Any questions a student may have regarding this school that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education at:
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400
Sacramento CA 95833
www.bppe.ca.gov
tel: 888.370.7589
fax: 916.263.1897
To view the most recent annual report submitted to the BPPE, please click here:
2020 Annual Report Institutional Data
2020 School Performance Fact Sheet
2020 MATCM Program Information
2020 DAOM Program Information
Acupuncture Licensure
Forty-five states and the District of Columbia license acupuncturists. The following information will help you navigate the requirements for practice.
In California, the California Acupuncture Board establishes education requirements, accredits schools, and oversees a licensing examination process. To practice in in California, one must graduate from a state-approved instruction program of at least 3,000 hours and pass the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE). Training for California licensed acupuncturists (L.Ac.s) includes basic Western sciences and Western medicine training as well as acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional Chinese medical theory. Graduates of a CAB-approved school are also eligible to sit for the national exam and receive national certification. We encourage all prospective practitioners to review the licensing requirements for the state in which they intend to practice.
View Curriculum Requirements of the California Acupuncture Board.
Most other states require acupuncture specialists to have taken the exams of and/or obtained certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Practitioners with this certification are granted the title of Diplomate in Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), Herbology (Dipl. C.H.), or Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM). NCCAOM develops and administers the exam, while the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) creates the standards of training and approves schools. ACAOM is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit acupuncture training programs. The NCCAOM follows the curriculum requirements set by ACAOM when developing its exams and determining eligibility for applicants. Even with an NCCAOM certification and initials, different states then grant titles such as Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac. or Lic.Ac.), Certified Acupuncturist (C.A.), or Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.). A few states grant titles with wording including the term “doctor” or “physician,” as in “doctor of oriental medicine” or “acupuncture physician.”