Overview
The course begins with an overview of fundamental aspects of Chinese Medicine, including Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory, which serve as a foundation for case diagnoses and treatment presented later in the class. A variety of acupuncture techniques are taught, including electro-acupuncture, aqua acupuncture, moxibustion, etc. in addition to conventional "dry" needling. Three track options are available: small animal, equine and mixed practice (which includes both small animals and horses). In acupoint labs, students learn acupuncture points on dogs or both dogs and horses depending on the selected track.
The course is presented in 2 online sessions and 3 hybrid sessions. Each hybrid session includes two portions: online & on-site. Online portions are comprised of lectures and case demos that students can stream at their own convenience. On-site portions give students the opportunity to learn acupuncture points on live animals in small acupoint lab groups of four to six students per instructor.
Major Topics
With a curriculum designed for students new to Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM), the Small Animal Acupuncture Program provides a comprehensive mix of both theory and practice. Students will learn:
- TCVM Foundations: Five Elements, Yin-Yang, Eight Principles, Zang-Fu Physiology and Pathology, Meridians and Channels
- The scientific basis of acupuncture
- 208 transpositional and 48 classical canine acupuncture points (hands-on, wet-lab demos)
- Acupuncture techniques including electro-acupuncture, aqua-acupuncture, moxibustion, and dry needling
- TCVM diagnostic systems, including tongue and pulse diagnosis
- How to integrate acupuncture into your practice
Additional Benefits
All Acupuncture Certification Track students receive the following benefits:
- Complimentary canine and/or equine acupoint chart
- Complimentary 32-hour Evidence-Based Veterinary Acupuncture Course
- 1-year complimentary membership with the World Association of TCVM (WATCVM)
- Free lifetime case consultation by Chi faculty
Program Features
Enjoy the convenience of online learning with 44 hours of hands-on learning in 138 total hours of hybrid courses
Learn from Dr. Xie, the master of veterinary acupuncture
Start practicing acupuncture on patients after the first on-site session
Join a limited class of 20 students for an intensive & intimate learning experience
Earn up to 25% of future master's degree credit per experiential learning
Veterinary Acupuncture Certification Track
Taught in English
For veterinarians & veterinary students only
138 CE Hours
Curriculum
Session 1
Introduction to Whole Course and History of Veterinary Acupuncture
1h
What is Acupuncture?
1h
Veterinary Acupuncture: Scientific Basis
2h
Basic TCVM Theories - Yin Yang
1h
Eight Principles and Bian Zheng
1h
Five Elements
2h
Zang-Fu Physiology
2h
Channels and Meridians
2h
Top 15 Equine Acupoints and Its Clinical Applications
1h
General Rules of Acupuncture
4h
Indications for Veterinary Acupuncture
2h
How to Start Your Acupuncture Practice: Cookbook
1h
How to Integrate Acupuncture into Your Practice
1h
Equine Anatomy for Acupuncturists
1h
Session 2
Five Elements and Zang Fu physiology
1h
Introduction to TCVM Diagnosis
1h
Five-shu Transporting Points, Source Points, Back-shu and Front-mu Points, Influential Points
2h
Other Special Points and Clinical Application
2h
Acupuncture Needling Techniques for EQ
2h
Treating Equine Musculoskeletal Issues with TCVM
2h
How to Treat Equine Cases
2h
Equine Point Lab
16h
Acupuncture for EQ Lameness
1h
Acupuncture for Thoracic Limb and Hind Limb Lameness
1h
Acupuncture for Cervical Issues
1h
Acupuncture for Neurological Disorders
1h
Session 3
Five Treasure: Qi, Blood, Shen, Jing, Body Fluid Physiology and Pathology
4h
TCVM Diagnosis
4h
Eight Extraordinary Channels
2h
Etiology and Pathology
2h
How to Select Acupoints
2h
Equine Acupuncture Techniques
1h
Acupuncture for Equine Lameness
2h
Acupuncture for Neck & Back Pain
1h
Acupuncture for Tendon/ligament, Shoulder, Hip, Stifle and Hock Pain
1h
Equine Special Conditions
2h
How to Approach Clinical Cases
1h
How to Improve Acupuncture Results
1h
Dry-lab Lameness and Internal Medicine Case Studies
1h
Session 4
Bubble Chart Review
1h
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 3 EQ Track
1h
How to Treat Urinary and Cardiovascular Disorders in Horse
1h
How to Treat Behavioral Problems
1h
How to Treat GI Disorders
2h
How to Treat Respiratory Problems
2h
How to Treat Bi and Wei Syndrome
1h
Acupuncture for Sports Medicine
1h
How to Understand Herbal Medicine
1h
How to Start Your Herbal Practice
1h
How to Treat Cushing’s Disease
1h
How to Treat Other Endocrine Disorders
1h
How to Treat Liver Problems
1h
Acupuncture for Skin Diseases
1h
Equine Point Lab
16h
Session 5
A Quick Review from Sessions 1 to 4
1h
Acupuncture for Endocrine Disorder
2h
Acupuncture for Immune-mediated Diseases
2h
Liver Physiology and Pathology
1h
Lung Physiology and Pathology
1h
Spleen Physiology and Pathology
1h
Heart Physiology and Pathology
1h
Kidney Physiology and Pathology
1h
TCVM Overview
1h
How to Sell TCVM
1h
Intro to Tui-na
1h
Intro to Food Therapy in Horses
1h
How to Treat Reproductive Disorders
1h
Acupuncture for Bovines, Caprines and Camelids
1h
Equine Point Lab
12h
Certification
CVA Certification
Students of the Veterinary Acupuncture program are eligible for the Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist certification endorsed by Chi University and the World Association of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (WATCVM). The CVA certification requirements are as follows:
Complete all sessions of the program
Pass three online quizzes with scores above 75%
Pass the final written exam in the final on-site session with a score above 75%
Pass the clinical acupoint exam in the final on-site session with a score above 75%
Submit one veterinary acupuncture case report to be approved
Complete 30 hours of advanced TCVM program training or internship with a certified veterinary acupuncturist
Please note that Chi cannot issue any certification to veterinary students until their DVM or equivalent has been obtained.
Textbooks
Instructors
Huisheng Xie
DVM, PhD
Dr. Xie has 41 years of clinical, teaching, and research experience in veterinary acupuncture and TCVM. He has trained over 10,000 veterinarians to practice TCVM worldwide. Dr. Xie’s education includes advanced training in veterinary medicine, veterinary acupuncture, and human acupuncture. Dr. Xie has authored 20 books and over 100 peer-reviewed papers. His textbooks, including Xie’s Veterinary Herbology, Xie’s Veterinary Acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine-Fundamental Principles, have been used for TCVM training programs around the world. Dr. Xie continues to teach and develop educational courses and programs at Chi University, serves as a full clinical professor at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and is an honorary professor at China Agricultural University, South China Agricultural University, and China Southwest University.
Read moreLorena LLoret Nadal
DVM, CVA, CVTP, CVFT, CVCH, CVBMA
Dr. LLoret received her DVM from Murcia University in Spain in June 2002. She earned her veterinary acupuncture certification from Chi University-Thailand in 2005. The following year, Dr. LLoret completed the acupuncture internship program at the University of Florida with Dr. Xie. She served as Chief of TCVM Services of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University Alfonso X in Madrid, Spain from 2014-2021. Dr. LLoret is the translator and editor-in-chief of the Spanish edition of TCVM: Fundamental Principles by Dr. Xie. She is currently the director of Chi-Europe, Chi-Spain and Chi-Ireland and serves as a primary instructor for Chi CVA courses throughout Europe. Dr. LLoret TCVM specialty in both small animal and horses , offering clinics in Ireland.
Roger Clemmons
DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Neurology and Neurosurgery), CVA, CVFT
Dr. Clemmons graduated with his DVM from Washington State University. There, he also was granted a PhD in veterinary science (emphasis in neurophysiology and clinical neurology). Dr. Clemmons then took a faculty position at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine where he practiced neurology and neurosurgery for 35 years before joining the private Veterinary Specialty Hospitals in Florida. Dr. Clemmons, a board-certified specialist in Neurology, has published over 100 peer-reviewed original studies, reviews, papers and abstracts and given numerous presentations, both in the US and abroad. At UF, he has had an active research program and is known for his work on platelet physiology and in the study of neurodegenerative diseases such as degenerative myelopathy. He has developed a number of innovative neurosurgical techniques including fixation of atlantoaxial subluxation and Wobbler’s syndrome. Dr. Clemmons taught veterinary and graduate students at the University of Florida for 35 years. Dr. Clemmons became a certified veterinary acupuncturist (CVA) at Chi in 2000. He was certified in TCVM Food therapy (CVFT) from Chi in 2009. He integrates Veterinary Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, and nutrition into his practice. He is a national and international speaker in the field of neurology and the science of veterinary acupuncture.
Silvia De Lucchi
DVM, CVA, CVBMA
Dr. Silvia De Lucchi graduated with a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Parma University in Italy, in 2006. After graduation, she practiced small animal medicine with a particular focus on internal medicine and surgery. Also interested in physiotherapy, she attended the Certified Program in Canine Physical Rehabilitation from the University of Tennessee in 2012.
Dr. De Lucchi obtained her Acupuncture Certification at Chi Spain in 2013. She continued her education and training in TCVM by undertaking courses in Herbal Medicine, Tui-na, Japanese Acupuncture, and Balance Method Acupuncture.
She established her own practice where she treats small animals, horses, and cattle. She integrates acupuncture, moxibustion, physiotherapy, herbal medicine, and food therapy within her practice.
Enrollment Options
Semester
2024
Schedule & Tuition
Session 1 includes the 100 € application fee
Session 1
Online
Jan 1 - Feb 29, 2024
€1,000.00
Session 2
Online Portion
Mar 1 - Apr 14, 2024
On-site Portion in Giavera del Montello, Italy
Apr 13 - Apr 14, 2024
€1,400.00
Session 3
Online
Apr 15 - Jun 28, 2024
€900.00
Session 4
On-site Portion in Giavera del Montello, Italy
Jun 29 - Jun 30, 2024
Online Portion
Jul 1 - Aug 12, 2024
€1,400.00
Session 5
Online Portion
Aug 13 - Oct 13, 2024
On-site Portion in Giavera del Montello, Italy
Oct 11 - Oct 13, 2024
Includes the CVA Certification
€1,500.00
Payment Information
A €200.00 non-refundable course deposit is charged upon enrollment to reserve your seat.
Payment is due 30 days before the start date of each session or course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to take acupuncture classes in a prescribed order or can I start at any time?
You must start at session one and continue along in order. If you have mitigating circumstances, you will have to defer all following sessions until the next semester.