Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

​The Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (BTCM) is a 10-semester program that provides the academic preparation for students to practice as an Acupuncturist after semester 6, and as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner, after semester 10. The BTCM program curriculum has been approved by the regulatory body in BC, the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CTCMA) and the CTCMA Registration Committee as meeting the academic requirements for licensure. This positions BTCM graduates desiring to practice in BC, the ability to apply for licensure and registration upon graduation, subject to meeting other non-academic licensing requirements.

A student may complete only the first 6 semesters of the program and graduate with a Diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine – Acupuncture (an existing KPU credential) or continue through the 10 semesters graduating with a BTCM. A graduate with a Diploma in Acupuncture may use all 86 credits of that credential towards their Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This approach allows practicing Acupuncturists to further their education to practice to the full scope of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner by completing the BTCM program.

The aim of the program is to develop graduates who will become competent Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners able to combine research and critical thinking in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of complex patients. This practice will rely on deep understanding of the evolving healthcare delivery environment of British Columbia, as well as the similarities and differences between Western medicine, biomedical science, and TCM. Its disciplinary foci will be TCM theory, TCM practice, philosophy, herbal treatment, advanced acupuncture, and the provision of integrated care to complex patients. Graduates will be prepared, through practice management courses and applied practice, to successfully operate their own practices.