Frequently Asked Questions
What Acupuncture Associations are currently established in Ireland?
Within Ireland there are approximately 5 Acupuncture Associations who are fully recognised by the Department of Health and Children. They include:
- China Ireland Acupuncture Association
- Professional Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Irish Acupucnture Board
- Association of TCM
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Council Ireland
- Under the direction of the Department of Health and Children the Acupuncture Associations in Ireland are working together in harmony to established one set of standards and codes of ethics. An Acupuncture Steering Group made up of China Ireland Acupuncture Association (CIAA), Irish Acupuncture Board, (IAB) Traditional Chinese Medicine Council Ireland (TCMCI,) the Professional Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine (PRTCM) and the Association of TCM Ireland has been established.
- All association met on the 23rd April 2007 to discuss and agree the best way forward for the promotion of TCM in Ireland.
- Over the past months the Acupuncture TCM Steering Group have met several times and have agreed a common code of standards for practice and professional ethics. The different Associations have worked well together and they have agreed to form a Federation. Currently they are in the process of examing what this would mean for each Association and how a Federation would be set up.
- This group continues to meet regularly and make steady progress towards a unanimous goal of regulating Acupuncture in Ireland.
What is your average class size?
Class sizes average 10 - 15 in number. This caters for maximum individual attention and productive learning outcomes.
Once a student qualifies, what association can they join?
Once a student graduates they can immediately become a member of the China Ireland Acupuncture Association (CIAA). There is no joining fee for Shanghai Acupuncture College Ireland students. They may also apply to join other associations in Ireland.
Once a student qualifies, what insurance company can they avail of?
There are many insurance companies which a graduate may look to before making their preferred choice. To date, most of our graduates obtain comphrehensive block insurance through Balens Insurance Brokers for Complementary Health Practitioners, UK. They may be contacted on 0044 684893006 or at www.balen.co.uk.
Other colleges provide a biomedicine module. Do you also provide this?
The Shanghai Acupuncture College Ireland (SACI) covers Anatomy and Physiology and our students are taught to a level where they are capable of sitting the ITEC A&P exam on module completion should they wish to do so.
How many clinical hours do you need to qualify and how does the college support in meeting these hours?
Currently in Ireland, in an attempt to regulate the Acupuncture area, the required number of clinical hours for Diploma level is 400.
For Full-time students:
Year 1 - a total of 100 practical hours are covered within the classroom; 80 outside hours are required within an approved clinical practice under supervision.
Year 2 - a total of 100 practical hours are covered within the classroom; 120 outside hours are required under supervision in an approved clinical practice.
For Part-time students:
Year 1 - a total of 30 hours of practical teaching are covered within class hours.
Year 2 - a total of 40 hours are covered in class; 80 hours need obtained outside separately with a qualified Acupucnturist within an approved practice.
Year 3 - a total of 80 hours of practical teaching are covered within the classroom and 100 hours need to be obtained outside class within an approved practice.
The Shanghai Acupuncture College Ireland supports each individual student with their outside hours in the following ways:
- Providing each student with clinic sheets for keeping record of hours and clinics which they attend for the supervising practitioner to sign off.
- Students who are local to the college may discuss obtaining hours with Su Pin Chen (College Director) in her Templeogue clinic, as suited to each party.
- Organising post-graduate training in the 6th People's Hospital in Shanghai for 3 - 6 weeks. Graduates find this training extremely beneficial and it may also serve to account for clinical hours.
*Please note - students living away from Dublin or who wish to attach themselves to a local Acupuncturist may incur charges depending on the discretion of the practitioner.
