Application Procedure

Master’s degree programs

Students may apply for admission to the Fall trimester (which begins in September) or Winter trimester (which begins in January). Applicants are encouraged to submit admission documents 3 – 4 months before classes begin, but applicants who have submitted most of their documents may be conditionally accepted pending receipt of all required documentation. Conditionally accepted students are not eligible for financial aid until they are officially matriculated. The following documents must be submitted for application:

Requirements

1. A completed copy of the Master’s Application Form

2. A 500-word essay (on a separate sheet) addressing the following: Why have you decided to study acupuncture and Chinese medicine at this time? Do you have personal experience with traditional Chinese medicine as a patient or through friends/family members? Describe an experience where you were able to help someone, or discuss why you want to be a healthcare practitioner.

3. Official transcripts from post-secondary institution(s) attended, indicating satisfactory completion of a minimum of two years’ post-secondary education. Students who have completed their education in another country must have their foreign credentials evaluated by a recognized evaluation service, such as an agency, which is an accredited member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). All transcripts and evaluations must be sent directly to the AAHW’s Admissions Office from the educational institution or agency.

4. Two letters of recommendation from non-family members, sent directly to AAHW’s Admissions Office by the writer. Letters from individuals who know the applicant in an educational, professional or business context are preferred.

5. English Proficiency Requirement: English is the language of instruction for all classes at AAHW. For those whose native language is not English, please refer to the detailed information in the section, “International-Student Applications”, below.

6. Application fee of $50.00. This application fee is non-refundable.

Doctoral degree program

Doctoral degree seminar courses are offered on a rotating basis over an 18-month period. Doctoral candidates may join the program at any time. However, once candidates enter the course rotation cycle, they are expected to attend on a continuous basis until they have completed all the required courses. The following documents must be submitted for application:

Requirements

1. A completed copy of the Doctoral Application Form
2. Applicants must hold a master’s degree or DAc degree from an ACAHM-accredited or pre-accredited program.
3. Applicants who are licensed acupuncturists in the U.S., but do not hold an entry-level degree in an ACAHM accredited program, may be considered for admission by AAHW and accepted, with the following provisions:
   1. a.) AAHW can verify that the program completed by the applicant provided the applicant with professional competencies equivalent to an ACAHM-accredited master’s-level program.
   2. b.) AAHW provides the applicant with opportunities to make up for any deficiencies by taking master-program courses that will remediate the deficiencies, or by taking a determination exam or exams that will demonstrate proficiency in the deficient areas. (A determination exam is the final exam of an AAHW course which teaches the competencies in question.)
   3. c.) Prerequisite and co-requisite credits taken to qualify for admittance to the DAOM program are not counted as DAOM degree-completion credits.
4. Applicants must document the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 45 hours/three semester credits of introductory coursework in fundamentals of Chinese herbal medicine as a pre-requisite or co-requisite to the DAOM program.
5. Applicants must demonstrate a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in their previous academic experience.
6. Applicants must be licensed acupuncturists in the U.S., or be in the process of applying for licensure.
7. International students must have course work that has been verified by an education evaluation service for equivalency to an ACAHM-accredited/pre-accredited master’s degree program or professional entry-level doctoral program. (See below, “International Student Applications.”)
8. A non-refundable $100 Application fee (sent with the Application Form).
9. Official transcript of relevant master’s or TCM degree(s) earned, sent directly to AAHW Admissions Office from the institution.
10. Two letters of recommendation from non-family members sent directly to the Admissions Office by the writer. It is preferred that recommendation letters are written by people who have knowledge of the applicant in an educational, professional, or business context.
11. Copy of a current acupuncture license, if applicable.
12. A 500-word essay (on a separate sheet) addressing the following questions: Why have you decided to pursue a doctoral degree in TCM and integrative medicine at this time? Why did you choose to attend AAHW? What effects or benefits (if any) do you expect this degree to have on your professional life (i.e. career advancement, increased job satisfaction, etc)?
13. Additional documents are required for international students. (see below)

All applicants

Applicants will be notified in writing whether their application has been accepted or denied.

English Proficiency Requirement: English is the language of instruction for all classes at AAHW. For those whose native language is not English, please refer to the detailed information below.

International-student applications

An applicant whose native language is not English may be admitted to the program if they have previously completed one of the following:

1. Four years at a U.S. high school demonstrably delivered in English.
2. At least two years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) undergraduate-level or graduate-level English-language education in an institution, which is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
3. At least two years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) undergraduate-level or graduate-level education demonstrably delivered in English.
4. High school or two years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) of English-language undergraduate-level or graduate-level education at an institution in one of the following countries or territories: American Samoa; Anguilla; Antigua & Barbuda; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Bermuda; Botswana; British Virgin Islands; Cameroon; Canada (except Quebec); Cayman Islands; Christmas Island; Cook Islands; Dominica; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; The Gambia; Ghana; Gibraltar; Grenada; Guam; Guyana; Ireland; Isle of Man; Jamaica; Kenya; Lesotho; Liberia; Malawi; Montserrat; Namibia; New Zealand; Nigeria; Norfolk Island; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Pitcairn Islands; Sierra Leone; Singapore; South Africa; South Sudan; St. Helena; St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Lucia; St. Vincent & the Grenadines; Swaziland; Tanzania; Trinidad and Tobago; Turks and Caicos Islands; United Kingdom; U.S. Virgin Islands; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe.

In all cases, English must have been both the language of instruction and the language of the curriculum used.

Non-native speakers who cannot demonstrate a qualifying English-language educational background must have completed one of the following language-competency assessment tools at the required level:

1. Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based test (TOEFL iBT), with a minimum total score of 61. (AAHW TOEFL reporting code: 0104)
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam, Academic Format, with a minimum overall band score of level 6.
3. Duolingo English Test, with a score of 90.
4. China Standard of English Language (CSE), with a CSE score of 6.
5. Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), with a score of C.
6. Cambridge English Advanced (CAE), with a score of C.
7. Common European Framework Reference (CEFR), with a score of B2.
8. Occupational English Test (OET), with a score of 250 or C.
9. Pearson Test of English (PTE), Academic, with a minimum overall score of 45.