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Acupuncture Competencies Program

Dear SSC Graduates & Students,

The regulation process is in motion, and in the near future, to be registered with the College of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario, applicants will need to meet the entry requirements to practice. According to Highlights of the 7^th Meeting of the Transitional Council (November, 2009), the Council approved in principle the Entry-Level Occupational Competencies for the Practice of TCM in Canada.

These competencies have been developed by CARB (Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies for TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists) and will probably form the basis for TCM regulatory entry-to-practice standards throughout Canada (CARB competencies can be viewed on the CTCMPAO website). To meet these competencies successfully, graduates of TCM schools will likely need to complete their formal education, before they are able to register with the regulatory College.

As a result, for the last several months we at the SSC have been extremely busy drafting an upgrade program for the graduates of the 1600-hour acupuncture program at the SSC, by working vis-à-vis the regulatory bodies. We have been in contact with members of the TCM Transitional College and CARB, including Mr. Warren Fischer (Member of the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of British Columbia; has been developing the competency indicators for recommendation to the CARB Steering Committee), who are involved in drafting the competencies and entry to practice requirements which will become mandatory for any TCM practitioner / acupuncturist wishing to practice in Ontario (as well as in Canada).

Based on the information we have obtained from the above bodies and taking the B.C. model as a benchmark, we have designed an upgrade program, which not only meets the suggested competencies, but also provides excellent theoretical and practical tools within the clinical setting. You as practitioners will expand your TCM knowledge and be able to treat a wide variety of clients, using enhanced clinical tools with confidence and success. This program has been designed to meet the missing competencies as well as to enrich and strengthen your clinical skills.    

The final stage of this program is the clinic, which combines all other parts of the program.

In the clinic you will practice various treatments by combining your previous experience and training with the newly learned skills.

We welcome you to explore this opportunity which will ensure your acceptance into the College of TCM Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario.

For full information and course details please read the below information and/or call Enza Ierullo at (416) 323-1818 ex.22, Toll Free 1-800-263-1703 ex.22.

350 HOUR CURRICULUM:

Tuina (65 Hours)
Tuina – an excellent Chinese manual therapy, which uses the TCM theory of the flow of Qi through the channels as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques Tuina establishes a harmonious flow of Qi through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body to heal itself naturally. Tuina's simplicity and focus is on specific problems, rather than a more generalized treatment.

It is used to treat conditions that in western medicine ordinarily would require a physiotherapist, a chiropractor and an osteopath.

Tuina may be applied to treat many disorders from soft tissue injuries to many other kinds of ailments such as rheumatic pain, tiredness, lack of energy and any symptoms caused by stress or emotional problems. Tui Na not only works on the muscles and joints, but also at a deeper level, affecting the flow of vital life energy in the body.

Tuina will be learned and practiced, with a special emphasis on the practical aspect. The student will learn how to treat various pathologies by using individually formulated protocols containing a variety of techniques.

This part of the program will focus on treating orthopedic (musculoskeletal) and pain problems. The classes will be presented in a seminar/workshop style with an emphasis on hands-on practice. Handouts with the specific protocols will be provided; overhead projector and slides will be used as required.

Some of the topics to be covered (contingent upon time frame and student progress) are:

-          acute lower back pain

-          chronic lower back pain

-          herniated disc in lower back

-          frozen shoulder

-          stiff neck

-          cervical spondylopathy

-          syndrome of performis muscle injury

-          injury of superior cluneal (gluteus) nerve

-          sprain of the ankle joint

-          plantar fasciitis

-          headaches/migraines

Qi-Gong (20 Hours)
The word Qigong means the practice of "working" with one’s "life force". It is a meditative practice which uses slow and graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques to promote the circulation of Qi within the body, and enhances the overall health. Students will learn basic movements to practice on a daily basis to promote and maintain their health and assist them in strengthening their Qi in daily interactions with clients.

Yu Fang and Yang Sheng - Prevention, Diet, Lifestyle (20 hours)
Lifestyle changes will be discussed with focus on basic Chinese dietary principles so as to be able to advise patients on their best course of diet according to patterns, seasons, age, and more. Students will also learn about various other lifestyle changes and prevention of diseases, for optimal health and wellbeing.

Gan Mao – Acute External Diseases Theories (8 Hours)

A. San Jiao Bian Zheng (Triple Warmer Differentiation) - developed by Wu Jung Tong, and describes how a warm diseases progress in the body through the 3 jiao’s. 

B. Jing Luo Bian Zheng (Meridian Differentiation) – identifying and treating diseases by meridians/channels

B. Review of Six Stages Differentiation (Liu Jing Bian Zheng) and Four Phases/Levels (Wei Qi Ying Xue Bian Zheng)

Western Medical Assessment (25 Hours)
As part of their diagnostic training, students will learn to:

A) Obtain information on biomedical diagnostic data, medical and health history

B) Measure vital signs

C) Conduct relevant physical examination

Among other things, the students will learn about medical orthopedic assessment, interpretation of results of medical imaging and medical laboratory tests, and western medical information and examination (recognize conditions that require urgent medical treatment, and assist or direct patient appropriately, obtain information on biomedical diagnostic data, medical and health history, measure vital signs, conduct relevant physical examination)

Treatment of Diseases (65 hours):
Students will expand their theoretical understanding and knowledge by learning about a broad range of diseases and disorders, which have not been covered in the original SSC Treatment of Diseases course.

Study will cover diseases in various areas, such as: cardio-pulmonary diseases, infectious diseases, neurological diseases, dermatological diseases, pediatric diseases, geriatric diseases, addictions.    

 Clinic (150 hours)- Final Stage
The students will continue their training and gain further clinical experience as required by various TCM and acupuncture regulatory bodies’ standards.  

In the first part of clinic the students will add the following skills to their clinical repertoire as required by CARB:

A) Direct moxibustion (4 hours)

B) Stimulation using heat lamps

C) Stimulation using electro-acupuncture device (4 hours)

D) Gua sha (2 hours)

E) Dermal (plum blossom, seven star) needling (2 hours)

Here you will be able to use the knowledge they have acquired in the upgrade program to treat clients in a supervised clinical setting, i.e. exploring needling of new acupuncture points (e.g. scalp, face), electro-acupuncture, direct moxa, tuina, dietary guidelines.

On top of these newly acquired skills, you will get further exposure to various disorders/diseases and treatment.   

Program Details:

Course Length: 350 hours

Dates:
September 1, 2010 to mid-February, 2011: Mondays, Wednesdays - 6pm to 10pm and Saturdays 9:30am to 5pm.

Cost: $2782.50 (+tax) *Monthly installments are available

For full information and course details please read the above information and/or call Enza Ierullo at (416) 323-1818 ex.22, Toll Free 1-800-263-1703 ex.22.

*To participate in monthly installments, students must submit post dated cheques.

This program does not require approval under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.