The aim of the Graduate Certificate in Health Science (Chinese Herbal Medicine) is to prepare registered acupuncturists, with a Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) or equivalent, to be able to extend the scope of their practice in the field of Chinese Herbal Medicine. On completion of the programme graduates will have the knowledge and skills, within the traditional Chinese medicine worldview to practise within safe, lawful and professional boundaries in a manner that is culturally appropriate in Aotearoa New Zealand. They will have an enhanced ability to acquire relevant new skills in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Graduates will have the ability to expand their scope of practice as a Kaiwero Ngira Hauora to encompass Chinese Herbal Medicine and the academic base required for further tertiary study in a variety of health and/or policy fields (education outcome) dependant on the requirements of each educational institute.
Graduates of this programme will be able to include herbal medicine as a stand-alone or adjunct therapy. This allows patients to be treated without face-to-face sessions, increasing the availability of treatment to clients in remote locations. It can be used in combination with acupuncture for faster, enduring changes. The Certificate equips graduates to use pre-made patent formulae. These qualifications may appeal to learners who want to extend the scope of conditions treated and to provide treatment in a remote context.

A graduate of the Graduate Certificate in Health Science (Chinese Herbal Medicine) is able to:
1. Safely and effectively prescribe patent herbal medicines, understand their origins in classic formulae, as an adjunct to acupuncture practice or as a stand-alone treatment modality
2. Communicate with the wider healthcare community using biomedical concepts and language relating to diagnosis, treatment and outcomes
3. Demonstrate cultural safety in practice, recognising their role as healthcare providers and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi whilst being responsive to the needs of all cultures built on reflective practices and knowledge of the historical, political and social context of health for all populations in Aotearoa New Zealand
4. Apply knowledge of all legal, regulatory and professional requirements relating to Māori health equity (including He Korowai Oranga: Māori Health Strategy) to their practice.

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The perquisite to the Graduate Programmes is registration as an acupuncturist and the Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture) or equivalent to ensure the required knowledge and understanding of Chinese medicine to extend their scope of practice to Tuina massage Therapy and / Chinese Herbal medicine. Learners will preferably be currently practising upon enrolment so there is access to clients for the clinical component of the relevant graduate programme. An applicant must be registered with a professional body being Acupuncture NZ or New Zealand Acupuncture Standards Authority Inc., who will have assessed or recognised their education and / or training to be equivalent to the undergraduate education required in Aotearoa. Learners/ākonga must have a valid first-aid certificate for the duration of their study in the graduate programme(s).
English language requirements
An applicant is expected to 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 6.5 (with at least 6 in each band) issued within the last two years, or equivalent.