Prospective Students - Admissions

The school starts a new class cohort in late September every year. Both full-time and part-time students are welcome. Students are admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Students are also accepted for early (July) and late (January) enrollment.

Non-discrimination Policy

The school does not discriminate in the admission of students nor in its administrative or educational policies with regard to age, gender, sexual preference, color, creed, religion, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Requirements

Applicants must have completed two years (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of an accredited college) by the time they matriculate.

Six (6) semester credits (90 hours) of Anatomy and Physiology and at least 15 classroom hours each of biology and chemistry may be transferred to ASAOM to satisfy the science requirement of the first two quarters. Tuition is reduced for transfer credit.

Personal Qualities

The school seeks students who have:

1. A strong desire to study and practice Oriental medicine as a means of self-fulfillment and as an opening for greater service to others
2. The capability to set a direction and follow through to completion at a standard of excellence

Prospective students are asked to consider that they are participating in a tradition of care giving whose recorded history alone extends 5,000 years into the past, and has been the life work of at least 250 generations of practitioners. Our school, its teachers, students and graduates are a growing tip of a branch of this living tree.

Admissions Process

To complete the admissions file and be considered for a place in the next class, please:

1. Make an appointment for an interview with the President
2. Have the following supporting documents sent directly to us:
   1. Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended
   2. A letter from two persons (professionals, instructors, employers) who know you well and can attest to your skills and ability to perform Master's level work
   3. A letter from a health care practitioner attesting that you can be a full-time student and eventually practice acupuncture (your acupuncturist can do this)
   4. A letter from a licensed acupuncturist, preferably one of our teachers, who has treated you at least twice within the past year
   5. Copies of professional licenses or certificates
   6. A typed résumé outlining educational and professional development
   7. A handwritten statement of at least 350 words giving your reasons for starting this course of study, outlining your career plans and demonstrating your understanding of the commitment of time, money and dedication needed to succeed as a graduate student of Oriental medicine
3. Submit a completed application form with a recent photo and a non-refundable $100 application fee. You may call for an interview at any time, whether or not all your supporting documents have been received by the school

Applicants are notified of probable admission after the interview process. Final acceptance depends on a review of a complete admissions file.

Enrollment and Orientation

Enrollment is completed at the orientation session which is scheduled in the week before classes start, and includes registration for the first term. The orientation includes staff introductions, payment of tuition and review of school policies and procedures.

Prior Learning Assessment

The school does not evaluate prior life learning but accepts credit established by standardized tests; or for military and corporate training that follows American Council on Education guidelines.

English Language Competence

English language competence is required of all students seeking admission to ASAOM programs. Foreign students may satisfy this requirement by means of transcripts from a college that teaches in English, by interview with the Academic Dean, or by scoring at least 500 on the TOEFL or the currently reported mean score on the TSE. Applicants who do not satisfy this requirement, but about whom there is reason to believe that academic work can be satisfactorily done, are admitted on probation provided they are enrolled in ESL courses and are recommended to continue by their ASAOM teachers. Probationary students must satisfy English language proficiency before starting internship.

Transfer Policy

Persons seeking transfer credit are asked to send catalogs and have official transcripts sent directly from previous schools. (An initial appraisal can be done with student copies of transcripts.) A $150 processing fee is required, $100 of which is applied to the application fee if the student enrolls.

Special Students

Persons wishing to enroll in Qi Cultivation, Western clinical science, Chinese Language, or I Ching courses may apply as a special student by writing a letter of intent accompanied by a one-time special student admissions fee of $25. The hourly tuition rate is charged.