Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine

This program is designed for licensed acupuncturists that wish to enhance their practice and ability to support patients through the additional application and integration of Chinese herbal medicine with acupuncture. The program complements acupuncturists’ knowledge and skill set and enhances the treatment of their patients by integrating classical Chinese medicine with a Constitutional Five-Element perspective.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine at MUIH educates effective clinicians with a deep and thorough understanding of Chinese herbs and formulas who apply them to the practical enhancement of health and wellness and integrate their use with acupuncture approaches. The course of study integrates classical Chinese medicine and Constitutional Five-Element constitutional perspectives into the study of herbal medicine, yielding a uniquely deep and broad vision of the Chinese tradition. Graduates possess a well-rounded knowledge of the theory and philosophy of Chinese herbal medicine, its rich history, and contemporary applications. The program provides a deep and thorough understanding of Chinese herbs and formulas in the didactic component. Clinical training includes direct diagnostic calibration with experienced supervisors and practical dispensary training in MUIH’s extensive herbal dispensary. The program provides the opportunity to gain practical experience in prescribing Chinese herbs as well as the management of a Chinese herbal dispensary. It also provides the opportunity to apply the use of Chinese herbs to specialty topics, including gynecology, dermatology, oncology, gastroenterology, and traumatology. Students, taught by some of the brightest clinicians and prominent elders of Chinese herbal medicine in the U.S., receive knowledge and wisdom that carries the Chinese herbal tradition forward into an increasingly prominent place in the current healthcare landscape. Faculty in the program are highly credentialed faculty, and many hold the highest professional credential in acupuncture and herbal medicine in the U.S., issued by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

Comparison of Herbal Medicine Approaches: To learn more about various herbal medicine approaches to health and wellness and how they align with MUIH’s programs click here.

Students who complete the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine are able to:

• Demonstrate a working and thorough knowledge of the Chinese herbal Materia Medica and the most commonly used Formulas
• Apply a theoretical framework to analyze medicinal substances (herbal, mineral, animal product)
• Analyze any medical condition and provide a differential diagnosis using theoretical frameworks presented in the program
• Demonstrate knowledge of various specialties of Chinese medicine, theories, and contributions
• Demonstrate broad-based knowledge of the history of Chinese medicine
• Demonstrate an understanding of Chinese dietary therapy
• Demonstrate the clinical skills and training (diagnosis, formula planning, treatment delivery, and patient management) necessary to become a confident Chinese herbalist

Required Courses

The program consists of 41 credits of required courses:

• AOM776A Five Element Theory Integration Intensive I (0.5 cr)
• AOM776B Five Element Theory Integration Intensive II (0.5 cr)
• CHP623A Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory I (4.5 cr)
• CHP623B Five Element Theory and Herbal Integration I (3 cr)
• CHP623C Five Element Theory and Herbal Integration II (5 cr)
• CHP642B Clinical Theory in Practice II (0.25 cr)
• CHP642C Clinical Theory in Practice III (0.5 cr)
• CHP711A Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory II (3.5 cr)
• CHP711B Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory II (4.5 cr)
• CHP711C Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory II (4.5 cr)
• CHP721A Clinical Internship (2 cr)
• CHP721B Clinical Internship (2.5)
• CHP721C Clinical Internship (2.5 cr)
• CHP731A Clinical Thought Process (0.5 cr)
• CHP731B Clinical Thought Process (0.5 cr)
• CHP770A Pharmacy Practicum (0.25 cr)
• CHP770B Pharmacy Practicum (0.25 cr)
• CHP770C Pharmacy Practicum (0.5 cr)
• CHP780A Core Group I (0.5 cr)
• CHP780B Core Group II (0.25 cr)
• CHP780C Core Group III (0.25 cr)
• ISCI627 Pharmacology and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicines (4 cr)
• MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions are available in the Academic Catalog.

Graduates of MUIH’s acupuncture and herbal medicine programs are employed in a variety of settings including private practice; integrative group practices; health care systems; hospitals; wellness centers; pain management centers; addiction treatment centers; behavioral and mental health centers; fertility centers; veterans and military organizations and agencies; state and local health departments; and colleges and universities. Many graduates chose to have a portfolio career in which they have multiple positions and employers within one or more profession, rather than one full-time job. A portfolio career provides such individuals with variety in their work life and the opportunity to develop a wide and varied professional network.

The career outlook for acupuncture and herbal medicine (AHM) practitioners is strong, and national statistics indicate that individuals pursuing such careers successfully earn income and either establish a solo practice or are hired into a number of different healthcare settings. The AHM career track has been categorized as a “BrightOutlook” occupation by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), indicating that this occupation is predicted to experience rapid growth during the years 2018-2028. BLS predicts a much faster than average (11%) employment growth for AHM practitioners during this time period. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) reports that approximately 72% of acupuncture and herbal medicine practitioners are actively working in clinical practice with a majority of those practitioners reporting a solo practice being their primary practice setting. NCCAOM also reports that there has been a significant increase in employment in hospital and integrative care settings; the percentage of acupuncturists employed or contracted in these settings grew from 6% in 2008 to 10% in 2015. NCCAOM job analysis statistics indicate that 36% of AHM practitioners reported a total gross income (before taxes) of $40,000-$100,000 with 11% reporting gross incomes of $100,000 and above; the BLS reports the median average salary for AHM practitioners in 2017 was $73,830.

View more about career opportunities

Program Format

This program is offered in the on-campus format. Click here to view MUIH’s definition of online, hybrid, and on-campus course and program formats.

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine is delivered primarily on campus with some online courses.

Program Schedule

For trimester start and end dates, see the Academic Calendar.

The program is offered on-campus on weekends, approximately one weekend per month; where a weekend is Friday and Saturday, with some Friday through Sundays. Class times are generally Friday 8:30-4:30 and Saturday, Sunday 8:30-5:30. In the second year, students will begin participating in clinic. Clinic times are available on weekdays and weekends. The program also includes a limited number of online courses.

Schedule of Classes

Trimester 1

• CHP623A Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory I (4.5 cr)
• MUIH550 Academic Research and Scholarship (0 cr)

Trimester 2

• AOM776A Five Element Theory Integration Intensive I (0.5 cr)
• CHP623B Five Element Theory and Herbal Integration I (3 cr)
• CHP642B Clinical Theory in Practice II (0.25 cr)
• CHP731A Clinical Thought Process (0.5 cr)

Trimester 3

• AOM776B Five Element Theory Integration Intensive II (0.5 cr)
• CHP623C Five Element Theory and Herbal Integration II (5 cr)
• CHP642C Clinical Theory in Practice III (0.5 cr)

Trimester 4

• CHP711A Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory II (3.5 cr)
• CHP721A Clinical Internship (2 cr)
• CHP731B Clinical Thought Process (0.5 cr)
• CHP770A Pharmacy Practicum (0.25 cr)
• CHP780A Core Group I (0.5 cr)
• ISCI627 Pharmacology and Safety of Chinese Herbal Medicines (4 cr)

Trimester 5

• CHP711B Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory II (4.5 cr)
• CHP721B Clinical Internship (2.5)
• CHP770B Pharmacy Practicum (0.25 cr)
• CHP780B Core Group II (0.25 cr)

Trimester 6

• CHP711C Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory II (4.5 cr)
• CHP721C Clinical Internship (2.5 cr)
• CHP770C Pharmacy Practicum (0.5 cr)
• CHP780C Core Group III (0.25 cr)

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Graduates of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine are eligible to sit for the Chinese Herbology certification exam offered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). Interested individuals are encouraged to check for the most recent requirements with NCCAOM at nccaom.org.

Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in  Chinese Herbal Medicine program of Maryland University of Integrative Health is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the recognized accrediting agency for programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners. ACAOM is located at 8941 Aztec Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347; phone (952) 212-2434; fax (952) 657-7068; acaom.org.

Laws & Licensure

Completion of the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Chinese Herbal Medicine does not automatically qualify graduates to begin practicing independently. Each state, including Maryland, has specific licensure or registration procedures that must be met. Governmental laws, regulations, legal opinions, and requirements differ from country to country and state to state. MUIH cannot provide assurance that completion of the program will qualify a graduate to be registered or accepted under a state law other than Maryland. However, the University’s Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Chinese Herbal Medicine program is designed to provide basic, solid competence in the use of Chinese herbal medicine. There may be a waiting period between the completion of the program and the legal recognition allowing the graduate to begin practice. Until a graduate receives official notification of legal recognition to begin practice, she or he may continue to practice only under faculty supervision. Students who wish to continue to practice in Maryland after graduating, but prior to being licensed, must enroll in MUIH’s Trainee Program. Most states require successful completion of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine exam. For more information, refer to nccaom.org.

Maryland Acupuncture Licenses

Graduates wishing to practice in Maryland may be licensed by applying to the Maryland Board of Acupuncture. MUIH is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission to award a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine degree, and the program conforms to Maryland laws and regulations regarding the practice of acupuncture. For requirements for licensure in Maryland, contact: Maryland Board of Acupuncture, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Room 311 Baltimore, MD 21215; phone 410-764-4766 or 800-530-2481; or online at health.maryland.gov/bacc/.

Requirements of Other States

For eligibility to apply for licensure, other states may stipulate additional requirements, such as completion of a course in Chinese herbs or clinical hours beyond what is required by MUIH. Individuals who wish to practice in a state other than Maryland are advised to check the licensing requirements of that state by contacting the medical or acupuncture regulating agency in each state.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding licensure is available in the Academic Catalog.

Sharon Jennings-Rojas, D.O.M; M.Ac.; L.Ac.; RT (NADA)
Department Chair

Kerri Westhauser, M.Ac., D.A.O.M
Director, Chinese Herb Programs

Jennifer Schwing, M.A.
Department Manager

Chelsey Barrett, M.S., CHES
Student Support Specialist and Academic Advisor

Guest Lecturers

Eric Brand, DAOM, Ph.D.
Anne Jeffres, DAOM
Steve Kaufman, L.Ac
Thomas Kouo, DAOM
Julie Ann Nugent-Head, MD (China)
Brandt Stickley, M.S. (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Sabine Wilms, Ph.D

• Doctor of Acupuncture
• Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization
• Master of Acupuncture
• Master of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization
• Additional Herbal Medicine Programs
• Comparing Herbal Medicine Programs