Exciting News! Applications Now Open for 2025 Admissions!
Exciting News! Applications Now Open for 2025 Admissions!
Our Halifax campus is where we started teaching acupuncture and TCM. That was back in 2009. It’s in Bedford, a community in Halifax, and it overlooks the Bedford Basin. The view is nice. More to the point, this is a place focused on this specific kind of education.
A Strong Foundation, Our college is built on decades of expertise. Founders Dr. Diana Tong Li and Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen have drawn on their deep academic backgrounds, clinical experience, and teaching careers to develop and continually refine our curriculum. Over the past 40 years, they have shaped an educational approach rooted in both tradition and innovation—with more than 20 years dedicated specifically to teaching acupuncture and TCM in Canada.
Since then, nearly 1,000 students have graduated from our programs. Many have gone on to become highly skilled practitioners, making a meaningful difference in their communities and helping thousands of patients live healthier lives.
CCATCM is officially recognized by the Nova Scotia government as a Private Career College, which means we meet all educational and operational standards.
For international students, we are a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), approved by the Government of Canada. Our DLI number is O19304017632, allowing student to apply for a Canadian study permit.
We specialize exclusively in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This specialized focus allows us to offer deeper, more practical, and immersive training in the field.
Our campus spans over 16,000 square feet, offering:
Dedicated classrooms, Multiple clinic rooms, A student lounge, A fully stocked herbal dispensary, Professional clinics operating under the college, and much more
Situated on Bedford Highway, the campus overlooks the Bedford Basin, with lush hills in the background. Many students find the location calming and conducive to focused learning—some even say it has excellent Feng Shui.
We are a close-knit and supportive academic community. Faculty and staff maintain an open-door policy for academic advising, financial aid support, or personal guidance.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a hands-on discipline. While you will study core theoretical concepts, we place strong emphasis on practical application. You’ll learn by doing, gaining skills that bring theory to life.
Most students attend classes 2.5 days per week or choose an evening schedule of 5 nights per week—allowing flexibility for work, family, or other responsibilities.
At CCATCM, students gain meaningful, hands-on experience through our on-site student clinic. For on-campus learners, clinical exposure begins early. In their first term, students start with our signature Acupressure Relaxation Massage course, and after passing the required exam, many begin treating patients as early as their fourth month of study.
Our clinic is open to the public and offers affordable treatments under the supervision of licensed, experienced instructors. It has served the local community for over 15 years, attracting a diverse group of patients—many of whom return regularly and often bring their entire families. This environment gives students valuable exposure to a wide range of health conditions and age groups, helping them build confidence and clinical competence.
Our programs are designed to meet—or exceed—the national and international standards for licensing in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). For example, our Acupuncture Diploma program includes 2,268 total instructional hours, with 668 hours dedicated to hands-on clinical training. This significantly exceeds the typical 1,950-hour minimum required for licensing exams in both Canada and the United States, such as the Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.) exam.
1. Three-Year Blended Delivery Program (Online + Onsite)
2. Two-Year Blended Intensive Program (Online + Onsite)
3. Three-Year Onsite Program
4. Two-Year Intensive Onsite Program
CCATCM launched its dedicated Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) programs in the Maritimes in 2008. This development was a natural progression from the Canadian College of Natural Medicine, founded in 1998 by Dr. Diana Tong Li and Dr. Franklyn Shi Chen. The college initially offered a 2,200-hour Massage Therapy and TCM Acupressure Massage Diploma Program. In response to growing interest in holistic healthcare, the college expanded in 2008 to introduce a full-time, comprehensive Acupuncture and TCM Diploma Program.
In the CCATCM Acupuncture Diploma program, you will study a comprehensive range of subjects designed to develop both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. Coursework includes acupuncture, acupressure massage, meridian massage for diagnosis, fire cupping, ear acupuncture, moxibustion, gua sha, TCM nutrition, and foundational Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theories such as Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, Qi, Blood, and the internal organ systems. You will also learn aspects of Western medicine. Additionally, training in patient health counseling is provided. All instruction is deeply rooted in the rich history and philosophy that underpin these time-honored practices.
Yes, it is possible to transfer credits from another recognized institution. If you have completed equivalent courses elsewhere, you can apply to have those credits transferred when you first enroll at CCATCM. You will need to provide official transcripts demonstrating a passing grade of at least 70%. Additionally, we may request course descriptions or syllabi to verify that the content aligns with our program. Once your application is reviewed and approved, accepted credits can reduce your course load and tuition fees. Please note, however, that to earn a diploma from CCATCM, you must complete at least 50% of your program hours at our institution.
Yes, CCATCM offers several flexible pathways to complete the Acupuncture Diploma. All options follow the same comprehensive curriculum, include the same number of instructional hours, and have identical tuition fees. You can choose the format that best suits your schedule and learning preferences.
1. Three-Year Blended Delivery Program (Online + Onsite)
2. Two-Year Blended Intensive Program (Online + Onsite)
3. Three-Year Onsite Program
4. Two-Year Intensive Onsite Program
1306 Bedford Highway Bedford, Nova Scotia B4A 1C8, Canada
Phone: 902-832-6628
Email: admissions@ccatcm.ca, administration@ccatcm.ca
1306 Bedford Hwy., Bedford, NS, B4A 1C8
admissions@ccatcm.ca
Phone: 902-832-6628
Fax: 902-832-3500
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