Acupuncture schools in California
History of Acupuncture Schools in California
Acupuncture education in California began in the 1970s, as a result of the increased interest and demand for alternative medicine. At the time, there were no acupuncture schools in the state, and practitioners were largely self-taught or trained in Asia.
Miriam Lee was a pioneering acupuncturist and herbalist who played a significant role in the history of acupuncture in California. She was one of the first acupuncturists to practice in the state and was instrumental in the legalization of acupuncture in California in 1974.
Lee was a self-taught acupuncturist who began practicing in California in the early 1970s. She treated patients in her home and was known for her ability to help people with chronic and difficult-to-treat conditions. She became a leading advocate for acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, and was a founding member of the California Acupuncture Association.
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In 1972, the California Acupuncture Association began a campaign to legalize acupuncture in California. Miriam Lee was a key figure in this effort, and she and other acupuncturists met with legislators and testified at hearings to educate them about the benefits and safety of acupuncture. In 1974, Governor Jerry Brown signed the Acupuncture Act into law, making California the first state to legally recognize and regulate the practice of acupuncture.
Miriam Lee’s work in California helped to establish acupuncture as a legitimate and viable form of healthcare in the United States, and laid the foundation for the development of acupuncture education and practice in the state. She is considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of acupuncture in California and the United States.
Following legalization, the first acupuncture school in California, the Traditional Acupuncture Institute, was established in 1975.
This was followed by the establishment of several other acupuncture schools in the state, including Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine, and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. These schools were founded by acupuncturists who had trained in Asia and were committed to bringing traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture to the Western world.
In 1976 Hua-Ching Ni, a renowned practitioner of Chinese medicine, came to California from Taiwan.
In 1989, Hua-Ching Ni and his two sons, Drs. Daoshing Ni and Maoshing Ni, founded a school of Chinese medicine, Yo San University, in order to transmit their traditional knowledge of healing to future generations.
Today, California is home to many acupuncture schools and programs and has become a leader in the field of acupuncture education in the United States. In California, there are currently 13 acupuncture schools that are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM). Each school offers programs leading to a degree or certification in acupuncture. These schools include the Yo San University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Branches University, and the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, among others. These schools offer programs that typically take three to four years to complete and include both classroom instruction and clinical training. They teach a blend of traditional Chinese medicine and modern biomedical practices. Graduates from these programs are eligible to take the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE) or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) exam to become licensed acupuncturists.