The aim of the Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) ['BHSc (Acup)'] is to prepare graduates to be competent entry-level acupuncturists eligible for membership of an acupuncture professional association and able to operate their own clinic or be employed as an acupuncturist/kaiwero ngira hauora practitioner in the allied health field.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) will be able to: 1 Demonstrate a broad understanding of the theories, principles and clinical application of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and designing of safe and culturally appropriate treatments and management of a range of patients and health conditions 2 Exercise critical thinking in appraising modern and traditional literature and make informed judgments in identifying health problems, planning, and applying acupuncture and appropriate TCM treatments 3 Critically review and analyse, consolidate, and synthesise relevant acupuncture/TCM knowledge, ethics, and professional standards and apply in clinical environment 4 Deploy knowledge, understanding, skills and personal qualities with a high level of professional judgment and awareness 5 Manage a clinical case load, including taking personal responsibility for the treatment of patients making appropriate referrals when required 6 Maintain accurate records and information in accord with legal requirements and professional and ACC standards effectively employing information technology and manual requirements 7 Demonstrate capacity for continuing professional development as an acupuncturist/kaiwero ngira hauora.

- AUT offers the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science in Acupuncture6
(60 credits), that
enables learners gain advanced knowledge and critical analysis skills in western acupuncture
and the Master of Health Practice in Acupuncture7
to take their health career to the next level
in either research or teaching
- New Zealand College of Chinese Medicine offers the Master of Chinese Medicine8
(180
credits)
Acupuncture/TCM graduate programmes in Australia, such as at University of Western
Sydney which offers the Master of Chinese Medicine9
, a postgraduate qualification designed
for Chinese medicine practitioners wishing to strengthen their knowledge and better integrate
into the healthcare system, or for graduates with a Chinese medicine specialisation seeking a
pathway to research. It can be completed in one-and-a-half years of full-time study or the
equivalent in part-time study. Applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree in
either acupuncture or TCM.

The BHSc (Acup) is targeted toward two main groups of learners/ākonga wishing to become acupuncturists: · General - being the wide range of domestic and international learners being either school leavers or mature learners seeking education opportunities or career change, domestic and international and · Health professional block-blended learning target group, being domestic or international. For applicants under the general category, entry requirements are the achievement of NCEA level 3 (60 credits at level 3 or higher and 20 credits at level 2 or higher), including · A minimum of 14 credits at level 3 or higher in each of three subjects from the list of approved subjects · A minimum of 10 credits at level 2 or higher in English or Te Reo Maori made up of 5 credits in reading and 5 credits in writing, and · A minimum of 10 credits at level 1 or above in numeracy, made up of achievement standards - specified achievement standards available through a range of subjects, or unit standards - package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 - all three required), or · Any qualification (New Zealand or overseas) recognised by NZQA as being equivalent to achievement of NCEA level 3 · A qualification considered to be equivalent to the above. An applicant with equivalent experience who does not meet all of the entry requirements, may be granted entry at the discretion of the Academic Committee where it is considered that the applicant has a reasonable chance of succeeding in the qualification. An applicant for the health professional block-blended learning must: · hold a current practicing certificate for nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy (or equivalent medical health field) to meet the requirements for clinical practice in New Zealand or Australia or · have a qualification in nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy (or equivalent medical health field) to meet the requirements for clinical practice in New Zealand or Australia or · have qualifications or health profession experience deemed to be the equivalence of one of the above as deemed appropriate by the Health Profession Coordinator (a new position) and approved by the Academic Committee where the criteria is that it is considered that the applicant has a reasonable chance of succeeding in the qualification. 8.1.1 English language requirements All applicants must have a level of English sufficient to enable study at the level of the programme. International learners whose first language is not English must have: · An international English Language Testing System (IELTS) overall academic score of at least 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each band) issued within the last two year, or equivalent.