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Requirements for Admission


Applicants to NESA's degree programs must have a bachelors level degree* from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, and must demonstrate:

1.        a genuine and thoughtful interest in the study and practice of acupuncture;

2.        a record of successful academic performance;

3.        the ability to successfully complete a rigorous three-year academic program;

4.        maturity and a commitment to ethical and caring professional behavior; and

5.        strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work and relate well to others.

* There is an exception for Registered Nurses lacking a bachelor's degree (see below) International students should refer to the International Students section below.

  1. Application and Admissions Procedures

·          Application Checklist

·          Pre/Co-Requisite Science Courses

·          Part-Time Study

  1. International Students
  2. English Language Competency
  3. Transfer Students
  4. Registered Nurses
  5. Course Exemption

Application and Admissions Procedures

Prospective students are strongly encouraged to visit the school, observe classes, and receive acupuncture treatments before applying. Please call ahead to arrange a convenient time for a visit or to register for an upcoming Open House. In addition, all applicants must have an admissions interview, which is arranged once NESA receives all application materials.

Applications for admission to the master's degree programs are considered on a rolling basis. NESA offers applicants an early admissions option: applicants who apply by December 1 will receive an admissions decision by February. All other prospective students are encouraged to submit applications for admission by May 1. Applications received after May 1 will be considered as long as space is available, however applicants are advised that early completion of all application materials and procedures increase their chance of securing a position in the entering class.

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), enrolled students are allowed access to all documents submitted in support of their application for admission, except those to which they have waived right of access. All application materials submitted become the property of NESA.

Application Checklist

·         Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college

·         1-2 page statement of purpose

·         Updated resume

·         2 professional or educational letters of recommendation

·         Official transcripts from colleges attended

·         Application fee

·         2 passport photos

·         Admissions interview

Pre/Co-requisite Science Courses

NESA requires that applicants complete the following science courses at NESA or from an institution accredited by an agency which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, before beginning the program full-time:

 

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology (6 credits/90 hours)
  • 2 other sciences from the list below

 

The degree programs also require a student to complete the following science courses at NESA or from an institution accredited by an agency which is recognized by the U.S Department of Education, either before enrolling at NESA or concurrently with the master's program:

  • General Chemistry 3 credits/45 hours
  • Organic Chemistry 3 credits/45 hours
  • Biochemistry 3 credits/45 hours
  • General Psychology 3 credits/45 hours
  • General Physics 3 credits/45 hours
  • General Biology 3 credits/45 hours
  • Microbiology with lab 3 credits/45 hours

Because the NESA curriculum is demanding, we encourage students to complete as many of these science courses as possible before entering the program. Applicants should contact the Admissions Department as early as possible to discuss plans for completing these science courses. Please see the Course Description and Curriculum Outline sections of the web site for more information.

Part-time Study

NESA offers a part-time study option to a limited number of incoming students each year. Part-time students must fulfill the degree requirements within six years. A part-time student must be enrolled at least half-time each term, unless the student has fewer credits remaining to complete the program or is taking previously failed or missed courses.

Since the curriculum has been designed as a coordinated whole, all students take courses in an established sequence and in specified combinations. Each part-time student meets at least once per term with an advisor who counsels the student on course selection and other issues related to the program.

Graduation requirements may change over time in response to new national accreditation standards, state regulations and other factors. Part-time students are required to meet the graduation requirements in effect three years prior to their date of graduation, rather than those in effect at the time they began the program. For further information regarding part-time study, prospective students are encouraged to contact the Admissions Department.

International Applicants


International applicants are encouraged to begin the application process at least six months prior to the final application deadline. In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission, international applicants must also meet the following additional requirements: Official transcripts of the applicant's academic record, including course titles and grades, with English translations validated by an official educational translation service, must be sent to the Admissions Department. The official translation and evaluation must clearly indicate hours and credits of student, and that the education is equivalent to a U.S. Bachelor's degree. Please contact the Admissions Department if you need to be directed to a recognized translation and transcript evaluation service.

NESA will issue a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SEVIS Form I-20 to international students who are accepted into the program, and who have provided NESA with evidence (notarized bank statement or letter) of financial support for at least the first year of study and living expenses in the United States. As of September 1, 2004, each student issued an initial Form I-20 is required and responsible to pay a SEVIS I-901 fee ($100.00) which is paid to SEVP (Student Exhange Visitor Program) and mandated by Congress. It is the student's responsibility to obtain an F1 visa to study in the United States.

English Language Competency

Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English. NESA requires a minimum score of 550 (on the paper-based exam) or 213 (on the computer-based exam) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and a minimum score of 45 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). This requirement may be waived if the applicant has received a degree in the
U.S. and demonstrates language proficiency during the admissions interview. However, if English is not your first language, you will be required to achieve the minimum TOEFL score for acupuncture and OM licensure in Massachusetts. Information about the TOEFL and TSE exams may be obtained from:
TOEFL/TSE Services,
PO Box 6151, Princeton, New Jersey, 08541, USA.
Website: www.ets.org/toefl/
Email: toefl@ets.org

Transfer Students


NESA accepts transfer credit from an institution accredited by an agency which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for Anatomy & Physiology, General Psychology, General Biology, Microbiology, General Chemistry, Living Anatomy & Structural Analysis, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, General Physics, Western Nutrition, Research I, and Practice Development & Business Management.


NESA evaluates and compares course work taken at an accredited acupuncture and Oriental medicine school to the requirements of the NESA program before awarding transfer credit. For this reason, transfer students should make sure that their applications and transcripts are received by NESA at least six months prior to the term in which they seek admission. There is a $150 fee for the evaluation of transfer applications.

In general, up to one academic year's worth of credit may be transferred from another ACAOM accredited acupuncture school. All transfer students will be required to complete the final two academic years of their acupuncture and/or Oriental medicine education at NESA. Clinical internship credit is not transferable.

Placement exams may also be required to assess competency in transferred courses. In some cases, transfer students are required to begin their study at NESA with tutorials or first year courses which they did not take elsewhere.

To be eligible for transfer credit, a course must be passed with a grade of 70% or better, cover equivalent content, and have the same (or greater) number of hours as the NESA course.


Registered Nurses

Registered nurses who have graduated from a three-year nursing program of at least 90 academic credits may be eligible for admission. These applicants also must have completed additional course work in a related field which, when combined with the RN program, is equivalent to a bachelor's degree. Registered nurses who think they meet these requirements may request to have their credentials reviewed by the Admissions Department.

Course Exemption

For certain courses in the required curriculum, students who are able to demonstrate mastery- through professional credentials, a review of academic credentials or through a challenge examination- of course content may apply for a course exemption. Students may not be exempt from a portion of a course. Additional information regarding course exemption policies is published in the NESA Student Handbook.

 

 

 

 


New England School of Acupuncture

School, Research Center and Administration
150 California Street, 3rd Floor
Newton,
MA 02458

617-558-1788
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150 California Street, 1st Floor
Newton,
MA 02458

617-558-6372
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