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You might be confused by so many different titles used after the acupuncturists’ names: "D.Ac." or "DAC,""C.M.D." or "CMD,""TCMD" and "DTCM." These are not legal titles in Ontario nor in Quebec. The practice of acupuncture is regulated in Alberta, Quebec and BC. BC has also regulated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). There are no educational and professional standards established for the practice of acupuncture or/and TCM in Ontario.

Acupuncturists’ educational background and training vary greatly. It is an undisputed fact that the most qualified acupuncturists educated from the state recognized institutions are graduates of five or six year full-time professional programs from China’s 23 colleges of TCM. The curriculum of these colleges is roughly divided into 70% of courses in TCM and 30% in Western biological medicine (WBM). After receiving their MB degrees, the TCM graduates will continue their resident rotations in different departments of TCM hospitals. The best students are usually selected to do graduate studies, and they are expected to be TCM college professors and professional leaders in TCM hospitals.

China is one of the few countries that have dual systems of medical education and health care. Colleges and hospitals of TCM and of WBM have been established throughout the country. Both graduates of TCM colleges and of WBM colleges receive MB degrees and they have equal legal status. Patients decide whether they want to see WBM doctors or TCM doctors. Generally speaking, people see WBM doctors for acute cases when surgery or antibiotics are necessary, and they look for help from TCM doctors for most chronic illnesses. In recent years, some TCM college graduates have immigrated to Canada and set up their practices. They are called "中医 (zhongyi)" in Canadian Chinese communities as in China. This title means literally "doctor of traditional Chinese medicine." Note that "doctor" here is neither an academic degree nor professional degree. Rather, it is an occupational title as the word "teacher" is applied in the English language. Health professionals here in Canada often refer to traditional acupuncturists as "zhongyi." [top]

The majority of acupuncturists here in Canada who call themselves "MDs in China" were trained in China’s colleges of WBM. After 1956, one introductory TCM course, namely, the Fundamentals of TCM was integrated into these colleges’ curricula. This is obviously not enough training for their graduates to make TCM diagnoses and to administer TCM treatments. Like many other immigrant professionals, all Chinese trained WBM doctors wish to practice their profession in Canada. Except for several lucky ones, however, they were disillusioned by the English (or French) proficiency test, the licensing examination, and the low quota of foreign physicians admitted into the Canadian medical profession. Many of them decided to become acupuncturists and to sell Chinese herbs for a living. The lack of formal training in TCM makes it difficult for them to adopt the TCM approaches to health and healing. TCM diagnosis (pattern discrimination) is out of the question. [top]

Another major acupuncturist group is formed largely by licensed MDs and physiotherapists. Many of them are members of the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada (AFC). Only biomedical physicians, dentists, veterinarians and physiotherapists are accepted to the weekend seminars organized by the AFC. By attending several weekend lectures and passing an examination, these trainees are certified by the AFC. They do not claim to be acupuncturists, neither can they do TCM analyses. AFC members use acupuncture as an adjunct to complement their regular practices, and deal mainly with pain related disorders. [top]

There is another group of practitioners who have from 3 month to 3 year part-time training at acupuncture schools in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and in North America. Among them are chiropractors, massage therapists and those without previous health related training. They turned to acupuncture as a result of mid-life career change.

There are still many practitioners received their "training" from irregular ways such as: uncontrolled apprenticeship, correspondence courses, video courses, self-teaching books, etc. [top]

Advertising is very important for acupuncturists, both the well-qualified and the over-night "trained", though aggressive advertising is ethically unacceptable to many professionals. Without a nationally recognized university degree as a backup, the practitioners have to tell the public when, where, and how they learned acupuncture. They often maximize their freedom of expression in their advertising and the media are happily paid. You, as consumers, have to be very careful of misleading, false and exaggerated information. In our investigation, we found a few self-claimed "doctors," "D.Sc.s" and "Ph.D.s. Some did display beautifully designed certificates printed in Latin characters. They received them from overseas "acupuncture institutes" by sending a "dissertation" with a cheque of $4000.

When an acupuncturist shows off his or her honorary titles or numerous certificates, you should be cautious. One could receive a title because of his monetary donation to an organization. Expensive seminars and conferences often issue certificates to their attendants. One who receives only 3 month training in a Chinese TCM college might claim to be a graduate of that institute. Just because of attending a lecture given by a noted TCM physician, one might shamelessly but proudly announce to be a disciple of that master. [top]

No matter how much acupuncture training one advertises, you should talk to him or her on the phone and ask a couple of questions. Not just trying to verify truthfulness, but you also need to know if he or she is fully functional in the language you speak. In many senses, TCM is a perfect combination of art and science. The practitioner directed conversation often serves certain diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. We emphasize the acupuncturist’s ability of using your language because TCM is a culturally bound subject that is very difficult to translate. To some extent, the hiring of a competent interpreter by the practitioner can be a solution. (Do not trust his English proficiency just because he has an article in a local free magazine. It could be paid piece by a freelance writer.)

You could, of course have a consultation with a practitioner without engaged in any treatments until you trust that he or she is a good one. Does the acupuncturist feel your pulses? Does he or she observe your tongue? These are essential examinations for a well-trained practitioner. Does she or he concern her/himself with your total health not just the main complaints? Does she or he seem competent, thorough and caring? You will also get a better chance to find out the practitioner’s real training and background. A traditional acupuncturist cannot be cultivated with less than 3 years full-time training. An acupuncturist should also be equipped with sound knowledge of biomedical sciences. However, a practitioner’s qualification in other fields of health care does not make her or him a competent acupuncturist. [top]

The average price for an acupuncture session varies a lot.  You should not use the cost as the only reference to choose your practitioner.  You really have to see what you will receive.  Is the practitioner practising acupuncture within the TCM framework? Is the practitioner also a TCM doctor who uses other TCM methods in his consultation and treatment sessions?  In Ottawa, you will have no trouble to have someone puncture you at a surprising low price.  A "cheap" practitioner treats his patients in a "mass production" setting in which 10 to 25 patients are grouped and treated at once in a filthy environment. Same acupuncture points are used for each and every patient and needles are inserted rapidly with a lot of pain.  Except the promise of a cure in six months and scary tricks to make you undergo the treatment, no real individual consultation ever takes place.  The whole thing is like a "cult" meeting.