Acupuncture & TCM FAQ: Courses, CEUs, Books and More | AcuPro Academy

FAQ – AcuPro Academy

AcuPro Academy

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about learning TCM and acupuncture with AcuPro Academy. Can't find your answer? Reach out to Clara on Instagram or Facebook @acuproacademy or email Clara at acuproacademy@gmail.com.

AcuPro Academy is a global online education platform for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, founded by Clara Cohen, L.Ac, DTCM. It serves both TCM students who want to go deeper than their textbooks and licensed practitioners who want to sharpen their clinical skills, expand their specialties, and grow their practice. With over 800,000 followers worldwide and a community Clara calls the TCM Rock Stars, AcuPro Academy is one of the most trusted independent TCM education resources online.
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Clara Cohen is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (L.Ac, DTCM) with 20+ years of clinical experience. She has been teaching future acupuncture practitioners since 2008, and since founding AcuPro Academy in 2014, she has helped over 12,000 students and practitioners around the world deepen their TCM knowledge and grow their practice. She is also the host of the AcuPro Show podcast and the author of the Made Easy book series. Her mission is simple: make TCM accessible, visual, fun to learn and easy to grasp!
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system with over 2,500 years of history. It includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, TCM nutrition, moxibustion, cupping, and movement therapies like Qi Gong. At its core, TCM views the body as an interconnected whole where physical, emotional, and environmental factors are all part of health and disease.

Western medicine tends to focus on diagnosing and treating specific conditions or symptoms, often using pharmaceutical or surgical interventions. TCM, by contrast, looks for the root pattern of imbalance behind those symptoms. Two patients with the same Western diagnosis (say, insomnia) may receive completely different TCM treatments based on their individual patterns.

The two approaches are not opposites - many practitioners today successfully integrate both for better patient outcomes. AcuPro Academy's courses are designed to help practitioners bridge that gap confidently.
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Most courses, books, and resources are in English. However, AcuPro Academy also has a growing French-language community. Several books are available in French translation, and Clara runs a dedicated French YouTube channel and newsletter at @acuproenfrancais. If you are French-speaking, you are very welcome here!
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You can find AcuPro Academy on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and more at @acuproacademy. For French content, follow @acuproenfrancais.

Clara also sends a weekly newsletter packed with content she does not share anywhere else - think real clinical case studies, free PDFs, TCM tips, and so much more. It is genuinely one of the best free resources in the TCM community. Sign up for the English newsletter here and the French newsletter here.
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Yes! All premium courses at AcuPro Academy are completely self-paced. You study when it works for you, whether that is Sunday morning with your coffee or during a lunch break between patients. And here is the best part: you have LIFETIME access. Once you enroll, the course is yours to return to whenever you need a refresher.
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Yes. All premium AcuPro Academy courses are approved by the major acupuncture licensing bodies, including the NCBAHM (USA), CTCMA (Canada), AACMA (Australia), BAcC (UK), AFPA (Ireland), and Acupuncture NZ (New Zealand). They also apply toward CNPBC continuing education requirements for NDs in Canada. Each course page lists the exact number of CEUs/CPDs/PDAs available. A multiple-choice quiz (70% pass mark) is required to receive your certificate.
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Yes. After completing a premium course and passing the multiple-choice quiz with a score of 70% or higher, you receive an official certificate of completion. This certificate is what you submit to your licensing board for CEU/CPD credit. The quiz can be retaken if needed.
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Not at all! AcuPro Academy was built with students in mind. Clara specifically designs her courses and books to bridge the gap between dense theory and real clinical application, which is exactly the gap most TCM programs leave. If you are in your second year or beyond, you will find the clinical courses very relevant. For earlier students, the foundational books and free courses and resources are a great starting point. Each course page explains what level of prior knowledge is helpful.
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The premium courses are designed for licensed practitioners who want to go deeper into specific clinical specialties. Courses like The Complete Fertility & TCM Treatments, Auricular Therapy, Cosmetic Acupuncture, the Balance System, the Musculoskeletal Manual, and others are clinical deep-dives taught by experienced doctors and specialists. They are built to add real tools to your practice, not to review what you already know.
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Clara teaches most of the courses, but AcuPro Academy also features expert guest instructors for specialist topics. These include Dr. Rebecca Stephens (DrTCM, L.Ac.) for Cosmetic Acupuncture and Musculoskeletal courses, Dr. Sonia F. Tan (DAOM) for Scalp Acupuncture and the Balance System, Dr. Jeda Boughton (DrTCM, FABORM) for Thyroid treatments, and Dr. Alex Dragan (ND) for Integrative Vitamins & Nutrients. All instructors are licensed and experienced clinicians.
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Yes! Most premium courses offer a monthly payment plan so you can spread the cost. You will find the installment option listed on each course page at acupro-academy.mykajabi.com/store. All prices are in USD.
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Yes. All premium courses and masterclasses come with a 7-day money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied within the first 7 days of purchase, reach out and we will sort it out. No complicated hoops.
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Yes! All premium course students get access to the private AcuPro Academy TCM Facebook group, where you can connect with other students and practitioners from around the world, ask questions, and share clinical wins. It is one of the warmest TCM communities online.
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Yes! AcuPro Academy offers several free courses including a Free Gynecology & TCM course, a Free Mental Health & TCM course, and the 7-Day Business Challenge for practitioners. These are a great way to experience the teaching style before investing in a premium course. You can find them at acuproacademy.com/resources.
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Great question - not all CEU courses are created equal. Here is what actually matters:

1. Is it approved by your licensing body? Always confirm the course is approved by your specific board (NCBAHM, CTCMA, BAcC, AACMA, etc.) before purchasing. AcuPro Academy courses are approved by all major boards.

2. Is it taught by a real clinician? Theory is easy to teach. What transforms your practice is learning from someone who has actually sat across from patients with complex cases. All AcuPro Academy instructors are licensed, experienced practitioners.

3. Does it bridge theory and clinic? The best CEU courses give you tools you can use the very next day - treatment protocols, case studies, point selection rationale, not just lecture slides.

4. Is the format flexible? Self-paced with lifetime access means you can actually revisit the material when a relevant case walks through your door.

5. Is there a community? Learning alongside other practitioners accelerates growth. AcuPro Academy includes access to a private TCM Facebook group with every premium course. Browse available courses at acupro-academy.mykajabi.com/store.
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The content is the same, with one bonus: the PDF includes embedded video links to complement the material, making it an even richer learning experience. It is an instant digital download you can use on any device, tablet, or screen, great for quick clinical reference during a session. The hard copy is a beautiful printed book shipped from the publisher Blurb.com. Many students and practitioners love having both. If you buy the hard copy first, you can email your Blurb receipt (or a photo of you holding the book!) to receive a discounted PDF code. Browse all books and PDFs here.
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If you are a student or newer practitioner, start with Chinese Medicine Made Easy (the green book) for TCM foundations and diagnosis, then move to AcuPoints Made Easy (the orange book) for acupuncture point reference, and finish with Chinese Medicine Treatments Made Easy (the blue book) for treatment protocols. Together they form the complete Made Easy series and are available as a bundle at a significant saving. If you are preparing for board exams, AcuExams Made Easy is specifically designed for that. Browse the full books collection at acuproacademy.ca/books-pdfs.
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Yes! Hard copy books ship through the publisher Blurb.com to the following countries:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guadeloupe (French), Guam, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Micronesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Reunion (French), Romania, Saint Barthélemy, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, Virgin Islands, Virgin Islands (British).

Please note that Blurb may not be able to deliver to outlying regions not listed above (e.g., Canary Islands, Channel Islands). Local duties, customs, and taxes may apply and are the responsibility of the recipient upon delivery.
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Yes! French translations are available for all three books in the Made Easy series: Points d'Acupuncture Simplifiés, La Médecine Chinoise Simplifiée, and Les Traitements en Médecine Chinoise Simplifiés. There is also a French version of AcuExams: Examens de MTC Simplifiés. French PDFs are priced in both USD and EUR. Browse the full French catalogue at acuproacademy.ca/en-francais.
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Yes! Clara has a growing collection of affordable digital downloads designed for quick clinical reference - no fluff, just the essentials you reach for in practice. Current guides include a TCM Patient Intake Form, a TCM Nutrition Guide, and a TCM Treatments for Lung Disorders guide, with more being added regularly. Browse the full collection at acuproacademy.ca/downloads.
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Start with the AcuExams Made Easy PDF and the companion AcuExams Masterclass. This resource was specifically created to help acupuncture students prepare for board exams in the USA and Canada. There is also a bundle combining the PDF and Masterclass at a discount. Many students use the Made Easy book series alongside it for deeper review of points, theory, and treatments.
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This depends on your licensing body and location. As a general reference: NCBAHM (USA) requires 60 PDAs every 4 years, including specific hours in safety, ethics, and CPR. CTCMA (Canada, BC) requirements vary by registration category. BAcC (UK) has its own CPD requirements for members. Always verify the current requirements directly with your licensing board, as these can change. AcuPro Academy courses are approved by all the major bodies listed above, and the exact CEUs per course are listed on each course page.
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Both are registered TCM professionals, but they represent different levels of training and scope of practice, particularly in Canada.

R.Ac (Registered Acupuncturist) is a practitioner licensed to perform acupuncture and make TCM diagnoses. In most Canadian provinces, this typically requires a 3-year diploma program covering acupuncture theory, point location, and supervised clinical hours.

DTCM (Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine) represents the highest level of TCM training. It typically requires a 4 to 5-year program and includes all areas of TCM practice: acupuncture, herbal medicine, TCM nutrition, and advanced diagnostics. In British Columbia, the DTCM designation allows practitioners to use the title "Doctor" within their scope of practice.

In other countries, titles vary: in the UK practitioners may be registered with the BAcC, in Australia with AACMA, and in the USA licensure is governed state by state with the NCBAHM overseeing national certification. Clara Cohen holds a DTCM and has been practicing and teaching since 2003 and 2008 respectively.
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It depends on your country and the level of qualification you pursue, but here is a general overview:

Canada: A Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) diploma typically takes 3 years full-time. A DTCM (Doctor of TCM) takes 4 to 5 years. Programs include classroom study and supervised clinical hours.

USA: A Master's level program in acupuncture or Oriental Medicine typically takes 3 to 4 years. Graduates must then pass the NCBAHM national board exams to become licensed.

UK: Acupuncture degree programs are typically 3 years full-time. Practitioners can register with the BAcC upon graduation.

Australia: Most programs are 3 to 4 years and graduates register with AACMA.

After graduating, continuing education (CEUs/CPDs/PDAs) is required throughout your career to maintain your license. AcuPro Academy is here to support that journey at every stage - from student to seasoned practitioner.
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Coverage varies significantly by country and provider. Here is a general overview as of 2026:

Canada: Acupuncture is not covered by provincial health plans in most provinces, but many extended health benefit plans (through employers) do cover a set number of sessions per year with a registered practitioner. In British Columbia, ICBC covers up to 12 acupuncture sessions following a car accident.

UK: Acupuncture is available on the NHS in limited circumstances, primarily for chronic pain and certain musculoskeletal conditions. Most acupuncture is accessed privately.

USA: Coverage is growing. Medicare covers acupuncture for chronic low back pain. Many private insurers cover it, and coverage is expanding state by state. Practitioners are advised to check with individual insurers.

Australia: Acupuncture is not covered by Medicare but is covered by many private health funds under extras cover, when performed by a registered practitioner.

Always advise your patients to check their specific plan. As awareness of TCM grows globally, coverage continues to expand.
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This is one of the most common challenges practitioners face, and it is something Clara addresses directly across her courses, podcast, and YouTube content. The key is translating without losing the meaning. For example, instead of saying "Liver Qi Stagnation," you might describe it as tension, frustration, or stress that has built up and is affecting the body's smooth flow of energy. Check out this free YouTube video where Clara breaks it down, or go deeper with the Grow a Successful Practice masterclass.
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They all refer to continuing education credits required to maintain your license, just named differently depending on your licensing body. CEUs (Continuing Education Units) is the general term used in many US states. PDAs (Professional Development Activities) is the term used by the NCBAHM. CPDs (Continuing Professional Development) is used in the UK and Australia. AcuPro Academy courses are approved and the credits are recognized under all three terms by the relevant boards.
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Yes! While acupuncture is a major focus, TCM is a complete medical system and AcuPro Academy reflects that. Resources cover TCM diagnosis, herbal medicine references in treatment protocols, TCM nutrition, and integrative approaches. The Chinese Medicine Treatments Made Easy book includes herbal formulas alongside acupuncture protocols, making it a go-to clinical reference. The Integrative Guide to Vitamins & Nutrients course with Dr. Alex Dragan is specifically designed for practitioners who want to blend TCM with modern nutritional science.
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This is a topic Clara is genuinely passionate about. The Grow a Successful Practice + Crush it on Social Media masterclass (3 CEUs) walks you through practical strategies for building your patient base, showing up confidently online, and running a sustainable practice. Clara has over 800,000 social media followers herself and built AcuPro Academy from the ground up, so this is real-world advice, not theory. The 7-Day Business Challenge is also available for free as a starting point.
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Quite a lot! Free downloadable PDFs include TCM Treatments for Menopause, TCM Treatments for Constipation, and Pulse Diagnosis. There are also three free courses: Free Gynecology & TCM, Free Mental Health & TCM, and the 7-Day Business Challenge. On top of that, Clara publishes a weekly YouTube video, weekly podcast episode, and a weekly newsletter, all free. There is genuinely a lot of value before you spend a single dollar.
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The AcuPro Show is Clara's weekly podcast covering clinical TCM topics, practice growth, diagnosis breakdowns, patient case discussions, and interviews with other practitioners. It is designed for both students and licensed acupuncturists who want to keep learning in a format that fits into a busy day. You can listen on the podcast page, on YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are announced in the weekly newsletter.
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This is one of the most debated topics in the needling world, and it is worth understanding both sides clearly.

The simple version: dry needling is a trigger-point-focused needling technique used mainly for musculoskeletal pain. Acupuncture is a complete medical system with its own diagnostic framework, treatment logic, and whole-body approach that includes - but goes far beyond - trigger point work.

The acupuncturist's view (and Clara's) is that dry needling and acupuncture use the same needles, target the same anatomical points, and apply the same technique. Acupuncturists have been releasing trigger points and treating muscles and joints with needles for thousands of years. The term "dry needling" exists because practitioners who are not licensed acupuncturists cannot legally call what they do acupuncture - so a new name was created to allow non-acupuncturists to perform needling within their own scope of practice. From this perspective, dry needling is acupuncture applied in a narrower, more limited way.

The training gap is significant. Licensed acupuncturists complete a minimum of 3 to 5 years of full-time study, including at least 600 hours of hands-on needling training before graduating, plus 2,500 to 4,000 total hours of education. Dry needling practitioners typically receive between 24 and 100 hours of needle training, often over a weekend course. They are skilled professionals in their own fields - but the needle-specific training is not comparable.

The other side: physical therapy and sports medicine sources often describe dry needling as a distinct, evidence-based Western technique focused on myofascial trigger points, separate from TCM philosophy and meridian theory. Proponents argue it is a modern, targeted intervention for musculoskeletal pain and should be judged on its own terms.

A fair takeaway: dry needling is a symptom-focused technique that overlaps with one part of what acupuncturists do. Acupuncture is a broader clinical system that addresses pain, stress, digestion, sleep, hormonal health, and more - with a complete diagnostic process behind every treatment. The American Medical Association (AMA) has stated that dry needling is indistinguishable from acupuncture and recommends that training standards for dry needling should be benchmarked to those of a licensed acupuncturist.

The bottom line: if someone is putting needles in your body, you deserve to know exactly how many hours of training they have. A licensed acupuncturist is the most comprehensively trained needling professional you will find.
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Absolutely - and this is exactly where acupuncture shines. Treating muscles, joints, and trigger points with needles has always been part of acupuncture practice. When a licensed acupuncturist works on a shoulder, a knee, or chronic back pain, they are doing everything a dry needling practitioner does, and more - with a complete TCM diagnosis, a broader treatment framework, and vastly more needling training behind them.

The difference is depth. A dry needling session typically focuses on the local site of pain. An acupuncturist can address the local pain and the underlying patterns contributing to it - whether that is poor circulation, chronic tension, hormonal imbalance, or stress - all within the same treatment.

If you are a practitioner who wants to deepen your musculoskeletal needling skills and learn advanced point combinations for the lower back, abdomen, hips, knees, ankles, and feet, Clara highly recommends the Acupuncture Musculoskeletal Manual courses taught by Dr. Rebecca Stephens (DrTCM, L.Ac.) at AcuPro Academy. Dr. Stephens brings years of specialized clinical experience directly to your screen.
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Acupuncture CEUs, books and courses - AcuPro Academy

Still have a question? Reach out to Clara directly - she is active and responsive. Email her at acuproacademy@gmail.com.

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Written by : AcuPro Academy (Clara)

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