Clinical Internships

After almost two years of studying theory, point location, and needling techniques, the clinical internship is the culmination of a student's learning experience at NESA.

Full-time students typically enter clinic in the summer of their second year. Interns spend clinical rotations on site and at satellite locations further developing their skills and confidence in a collaborative and supervised clinical setting. All internship rotations are supervised by an experienced and licensed practitioner. This unparalleled clinical education serves as a transitional step between life as a student and a career as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Interns are responsible for intaking new patients, following up with existing patients, making Oriental medicine differential diagnoses, forming appropriate treatment principles and plans, and treating patients with acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine.

Students working towards a MAc degree are required to complete nine clinical rotations for a total of 630 clinical training hours. Before graduating, students must have documented at least 250 treatments and have seen at least fifty distinct patients. Those working towards the MAOM degree are required to complete ten clinical rotations for a total of 720 clinical training hours. MAOM students must perform at least 350 treatments and treat at least 50 different patients. Additionally, MAOM students must have written at least 75 Chinese herbal prescriptions.

Prior to graduation, all interns must demonstrate competency in the following categories: patient care, communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, acupuncture and CHM knowledge and skills, practice-based learning, as well as consistently demonstrate improvement and safety.