A 3 YEARS +  COURSE IN ACUPUNCTURE

COURSE DESCRIPTION

AOM offers a three year and two month long   training  built according to the European Guidelines for Higher Education stipulated amongst the member state in Bologna (and successive amendments).  

This means that each year comprises 500  teaching hours divided into theory, live tutorials and hands-on practice, which  n the regulations  is considered 'bachelor level'.  Thus whilst we cannot claim to offer a recognised 'bachelor course',  we aim at keeping the levels is requires as we believe that this is the only way to form responsible acupuncturist who can  serve the community safely.   

AOM is a company registered in the UK, exempt from V.A.T. for the year 2019-2020.

Availability of courses

AOM  International does its best to ensure that all courses are made available every year.  A course runs when  between 6 to 10  students  enrol in it.  

Number of students per class

In order to facilitate the bonding amongst the students and make sure that the members of the staff can get to know each student individually, our classes never exceed 15. Courses with less than 6 students are not held.

Certifications

A diploma will certify the student's achievement at the end of the course. The diploma is accompanied by a detailed description of the student's curriculum and the final assessment, including the ability of taking responsibility of patients.

No diploma can be given before the end of the whole course. Should students decide to  discontinue or to continue their education elsewhere, an interim accompanying certificate that specifies the syllabus covered, progress made, marks received and evaluation is given.

Students with prior training

Students with prior training in subjects compatible with Chinese Medicine can transfer credits to AOM. All applications will be considered on the grounds of the applicants' merits and the positive outcome of an interview with a member of staff. Credits can be worked out and transferred on the basis of a 1 hour attendance : 2 hours of student workload.

Course curriculum

This year’s material includes: reading of various primary sources. Relevant videos. Weekly live webinars: 2 hours,

Retreat: 15 days hands-on practical (72 hours attendance)

*  Channels: palpation of channels,  

* The physiological  pulse and tongue, enquiring, smelling/hearing, touching,

* Looking within: what  do I see in myself, what do  I see in others. ' I' and the 'other: relating and connecting,

* Asking questions:  how to ask 'open' and 'closed' questions, how to organize the asking, 

* Qigong: Ba Duan Jing & Heart Gong

Western Medical Studies - General description:  

The course in Western Medical studies last 3 years and comprises 135 hours attendance  in 1st and 2nd year. In the 3rd year it will cover 'First Aid'  (18 hours). 

Syllabus

Anatomo - physiology

• Introduction to the Human Body. 
• The Chemical Level of Organisation.
• The Cellular Level of Organisation.
• The Tissue Level of Organisation.
• The Integumentary System. 
• The Skeletal System.
• The Muscular System.
• The Nervous System.
• The Special Senses (The Eye, Ear, etc).
• The Endocrine System.
• The Cardiovascular System.
• The Lymphatic System and Immunity.
• The Respiratory System.
• The Digestive System.
• Metabolism and Nutrition.
• The Urinary System.
• Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance.
• The Reproductive System.
• Development and Genetics.
• Acupuncture points and anatomy: precautions, dangerous points, needles depth. Where to needles shallowly and where deep needling is allowed.

Expected outcome : 

a. In Chinese Medicine, all students will be able to understand the physiology  of Chinese Medicine  as well as  to understand what happens when a disease occurs. They will have a good grasp of the cultural environment in which Chinese Medicine has evolved, as well as a good knowledge of the energetic anatomy of Chinese Medicine.

b. In Western Medical studies, all students will become familiar with the structure and the physiology of the human body and will be able to converse about it with Medical Doctors in order to create a spirit of cooperation.

This year’s material includes: reading from primary sources.

Retreat: 15 days hands on practical. 

* Diagnosis in practice: taking case histories,  pathological pulse and tongue. 

* Channel palpation , point location,  the function of the selected acupuncture points   and applications to syndromes.

* Rehearsing the skills of relating to the ‘I’ and the ‘other’:  learning to ask questions and hear answers.

* Qi Gong (as in the first year) and meditation. 

Western Medical Studies: pathology (135 hours)

• Health & Disease
• Cellular Injury, Inflammation and Repair
• Disorders of the Immune System
• Infectious Diseases
  
• Neoplasia
• Disorders of Fluid, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Balance
• Disorders of Blood Cells
• Disorders of Blood Vessels
• Disorders of the Heart
• Disorders of the Respiratory Tract
• Disorders of the Gastrointestinal Tract
• Disorders of the Liver and Biliary Tract
• Disorders of the Pancreas
• Disorders of Endocrine Glands
• Disorders of the Urinary Tract
• Disorders of the Male Genitalia
• Disorders of the Female Genitalia
• Disorders of Bones, Joints, and Skeletal Muscle
• Disorders of the Nervous System
• Disorders of the Senses
• Disorders of the Skin
• Congenital and Childhood Disorders
• Ageing, Stress, ExercisePathology & Disease

Expected outcome: 

a. In Chinese Medicine students will be able to diagnose both from the perspective of 5 Elements  and that of Syndromes and Patterns and to understand how to select the points studied. 

b. In Western Medicine students are expected to be at ease with the pathology and mainly to know it in order to individuate 'red flags' that need to be referred to a medical doctor.

NB We reserve the right to change the above programme  (order and emphasis of classes) if needed..

Class material includes: reading of primary sources, relevant videos and weekly webinars (2 hours each)

Retreat : 

* Case taking under supervision: asking deeper and more focused questions. 

* Practice on each other: diagnosis, principle of treatment, points selection, needling techniques.  

* Self-cultivation: who am I as a practitioner in clinical practice?

* Taiji, qigong and meditation.

* review of point location and points functions

 Expected outcome: students will be able to diagnose, establish the right principle of treatment, choose channels and points and discuss a case in progress through a series of sessions.

N.B. We reserve the right to change the above programme  (order and emphasis of classes) if needed.

Expected outcome:  students will be able to diagnose from the perspective of 'unified Qi field, including the five elements/ phases and the syndrome differentiation. They will also be able to take a full cases history and work out an appropriate principle of treatment  in order to make an adequate choice of channels and points to be treated. 

Class material includes: reading of primary sources, relevant videos and weekly webinars (2 hours each)

Retreat : 

* Case taking under supervision: asking deeper and more focused questions. 

* Practice on each other: diagnosis, principle of treatment, points selection, needling techniques.   

Study of 150 case histories, revision of point location, function of points,  practical techniques  & skills. 

* Self-cultivation: who am I as a practitioner in clinical practice?

* Taiji, qigong and meditation.

 Expected outcome:  at the end of the retreat the students will have  acquired the skills and confidence needed to enter the clinical practice training.

Clinical practice : 400 hours attendance with real patients 

At the end of the three years, students will have to undergo 400hrs of hands-on patients' treatment under the guidance of one of  the AOM's teachers.

Expected outcome : students are expected to master the practical/clinical applications of the theory of Chinese medicine and learn to be self confident to practice by themselves.

Fees for  Chinese Medicine

Fees :  €6,000  per year.   This year, however, we will still run  a Beta Launch course: save  € 2.500, pay only €3.500  if you enrol before the 30th of June 2020.   

Talk to us to be accepted on a pay as you go scheme, by dividing the fees in 9 easily payable instalments.

Also talk to us if you want  to pay the fee in one go, to have 10% discount.

Enrolment fee: € 300, refundable if notice of withdrawal from the course is given 30 days before the start of the course.

Fees for Western Medical Studies

The course in Western Medical studies  is compulsory and no student can graduate without having completed successfully it (exception are medical practitioners and some medical professions i.e. nurses, physiotherapist etc. who can be exonered from parts of this training designed for acupuncturist and bound to provide information they have not received in medical school).

Fees:  € 1.800 for the whole training, €900 per year.

* Physiotherapists, nurses and MDs will be exonerated from following the hours corresponding to this part of the course upon presentation of a valid degree.

Cancellation and modifications: Please be aware that, whilst we will always do our best not to make changes to the agreed schedule, because life is in perennial motion, changes beyond our control may well happen.  We apologize in advance.