So here we go. The following are the most common credential abbreviations and their meaning. Following this, I will clarify their significance.

There may be others, but these are the primary designations. Now, if I asked you who was better educated, the CA or the OMD, what would your answer be? If you picked the OMD, you may or may not be correct. In fact, the CA may be better educated than the OMD. The L.Ac., CA and AP may or may not hold degrees. These designations are authorized by the state in which the practitioner is licensed. It is simply a label granted by the state to indicate that a practitioner has met the minimum standards required to practice acupuncture/Oriental medicine within the state.

It is important to understand that acupuncture is part of a larger system of medicine known as Oriental medicine. Oriental medicine includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary and lifestyle considerations, and others. Many acupuncturists also include nutritional medicine in their practice. It is unfortunate that the profession has mostly emphasized the acupuncture part of Oriental medicine. Oriental medicine is actually a complete form of medicine, capable of treating pain, injuries, coughs, genitourinary, gynecologic, neurologic, respiratory, gastrointestinal and other problems. While many practitioners run a family practice, others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, gynecology, etc.

The confusion in credentials is the result of the haphazard introduction of Oriental medicine into this country. When Oriental medicine was first introduced, a variety of schools were formed, many of which offered degrees. These programs were not accredited at the time as there was no accrediting agency for Oriental medicine. Thus, degrees such as D.Ac., DOM and the like began to appear. To add to the confusion, people holding foreign degrees were also practicing in this country. In addition, some schools offer the same degree but have very different curriculums and varying levels of education. As the profession advanced, the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) was formed in 1982 to oversee and approve school curriculums. Existing degree programs were changed to diploma programs. By 1985, the ACAOM had established the minimum educational standards for a Masters degree program and, slowly, schools were granted the authority by their respective states to offer Masters programs in Oriental medicine.

The profession has more recently developed the DAOM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine) degree program. This is a program consisting of approximately 4000 hours beyond undergraduate studies. Although the Masters program is considered entry level, the profession is considering eliminating the masters program and making the doctorate program the entry level degree. This is a decision of significant importance and should be adopted.

In most, if not all states, one of the licensing requirements is board certification through the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). This exam was given over a two-day period when I took it more than ten years ago. Becoming a Diplomate of the NCCAOM (Dipl. NCCAOM) means you have met nationally recognized standards of competence and safety.

Well there you have it -- a quick overview of who’s who, in Oriental medicine. For additional information on acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, visit www.acupuncturetoday.com or one of many other web sites. You can also check out our clinic web site for additional information on our services: www.premier-acupuncture.com