The information provided here is designed to help you determine your eligibility for the doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine (DAOM) program. Please feel free to contact our
if you have additional questions.
Current master’s students:
Congratulations! You are almost there. If you are considering completing your doctoral degree before starting a practice, please
as early as possible in your planning so we can help you determine if there are any outstanding academic requirements. Prerequisite coursework can be initiated during the admissions process and does not need to be completed in order to submit your application.
Some DAOM program courses are open to third-year master’s students enrolled at Bastyr University. This is a great way to experience doctoral-level courses before making your decision to pursue a doctorate degree. While not formally enrolled in the DAOM program, you will earn doctoral academic credits, potentially reducing your academic load upon formal admission to the program. Please contact the AOM advisor in the Bastyr University Registrar’s office.
Graduates of U.S. master’s degree programs:
If you have earned an AOM master’s degree in the U.S., you are eligible to apply for admission to the DAOM program. You are not required to have private practice experience or a Washington state acupuncture license in order to apply. Federal financial aid is available for the doctoral program.
If you have graduated (or will be graduating) from an AOM program other than at Bastyr University, please apply to the DAOM program as early as possible so that we may assist you with academic planning. Students occasionally need additional science courses beyond their master’s program in order to be eligible for admissions and/or to excel in doctoral studies. These courses may be considered prerequisite or co-requisite courses and may determine your admissions eligibility. Early advising for any outstanding coursework is highly recommended.
Master’s graduates or experienced practitioners without Chinese herb training:
If you completed your acupuncture training without formal studies in Chinese herbal medicine, you will need to enroll in a Certificate of Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCHM) program prior to applying to the DAOM program. Bastyr University is one of only a few institutions that offer this specialized training. The classroom portion of the certificate is a prerequisite for admissions into the doctoral program; however, the clinical portion of the CCHM may be taken concurrently with DAOM studies.
Experienced practitioners with acupuncture certificates:
Experienced practitioners with 10 years of clinical experience are also eligible for admissions. Applicants will be evaluated for competency with the master's level AOM curriculum. If you do not have training in Chinese herbs, then you must first complete the Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (see above). In addition, your bachelor's degree will be evaluated for all general education requirements. If you do not have a bachelor’s degree, our admissions staff can advise you on completing 60 semester or 90 quarter credits of undergraduate college study. We can also review your prior college work and help you identify any outstanding courses.
Challenge exams covering material in upper-level AOM courses may be required in order to assess whether further remediation is needed. It is possible that some returning practitioners will need to spend a year or more completing necessary master’s-level curriculum before advancing to the doctoral level. The admissions staff is committed to providing a supportive and respectful atmosphere for returning practitioners while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
