Your Medical Acupuncture Training Questions Answered

Enrollment for the course is done on a rolling basis. The class typically fills to capacity, so early enrollment is always recommended. Your spot in the course is secure when all enrollment tasks are complete (i.e. tuition is paid, all enrollment documents are completed).

There is a late fee for tution paid less than 6 weeks prior to a course. Keep in mind, the course could fill to capacity before this date!

The best tuition rate is when tuition is paid by a single e-check. Course tuition can also easily be paid by credit card, either online or over the phone.

Tution can be paid in installments, either in a 2-part or 3-part payment plan. There is no extra fee to pay through an installment plan. Please get in touch with HMI if you are interested in arranging this.

The “west coast” venue is in Tempe, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. It is an urban, college-town location at an upscale hotel.

The “east coast” venue is in Potomac, Maryland, just outside of Washington D.C. This venue is a retreat center in a quiet, more residential part of town.

Both locations are excellent venues, though quite different from one another!

To enroll in the “Medical Acupuncture for Physicians” course, complete the following three steps:

1)Fill out the online application found on the HMI website.

2)Submit the supplemental documents (CV/Resume, Personal Statement, copy of your Medical License).

3)Finalize your tuition payment.

The HMI admissions committee reviews applications on a rolling basis. After Steps 1 & 2 are completed, acceptances are typically sent within 48 hours.

Your spot in the course is secure and access is granted to pre-course assignments when tuition payment has been finalized.

No, the modules must be taken in order, and enrollment in the course is for a designated series of course modules. The course builds upon itself, so activities must be completed in the designated order.

As a graduate of the HMI course, you are eligible to enroll for stand-alone modules as a Returning Student.

Course tuition includes:

• 300 hours of CME credits (upon successful completion of the course)
• Three live course modules for in-person hands-on instruction.
  • Breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day are included in the HMI room block
• Six virtual small-group meetings with preceptors
• Four textbooks
• Course syllabus and other reference materials
• Clinical equipment
• Access to the video library
• Starter kit of needles

The only additional costs are travel, lodgins, dinners at the in-person modules, and acupuncture needling supplies for your own clinical practice.

The HMI faculty is composed of only physician Medical Acupunctures. All faculty members are graduates of the HMI course and have also graduated from the HMI Preceptor Training Program. All preceptors have extensive experience in:

– the clinical practice of Medical Acupuncture

– advanced theories of Medical Acupuncture

– teaching, mentoring, and lecturing

Each student will work with a wide variety of preceptors during the program.

All clinical activities at the in-person course modules are done in small group settings with a low learner-to-preceptor ratio. This ensures close supervision by HMI faculty, as well as the ability to build relationships with HMI faculty members.

See more on the HMI Faculty page.

Regulations vary state-by-state. For most states, you can practice acupuncture under your medical license.

Some states require a certain number of training hours (200, 250, or 300 hours) for physicians to practice, while other states do not define training hour requirements. The HMI course is a 300-hour training program.

Some states do require that you register with the medical board after completing the required training hours (DC, GA, LA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA).

Exceptions:

-Hawaii does NOT allow the practice of acupuncture by physicians under their medical license (restriction does not apply in the military/VA setting).

-New Mexico and Montana both have vague regulations; we recommend reaching out directly to the Medical Board in these states for further clarification.

-The above guidelines are for MDs/DOs. If you are an NP/PA, we recommend getting guidance directly from your state Nursing Board/Physician Assistant governance before enrolling.

Yes, there are four different CPT codes that can used for billing and coding. The HMI course contains activities on Practice Management where these topics are discussed further.

Participants must be licensed physicians (MD or DO). 

Clinically experienced midlevel providers (NPs, PAs) may be considered with verification that acupuncture is included in the scope of practice of their state license; working in collaboration with physician acupuncturists is encouraged, and in some state required.

DDS/DMDs may apply with verification that acupuncture is included in the scope of practice of their state license.

Our curriculum focuses on contemporary acupuncture science, classical energetics, needling techniques and palpation in the first block. Specific treatmetns for stress, pain, fatigue, and injury are covered and can be immediately applied in a clinical setting (state regulations permitting).

The second block add psycho-spirtual and energetic tools, expanded treatment options for pain, an emphasis on point location and needling techniques, a deeper understanding of acupuncture systems, and discussions on pracitce management.

The third block integrates and refines all skills and concepts. Substantial time is spent on acupuncture diagnosis, treatment planning, and case deconstruction. Advanced and more complex treatments are added.

Yes. Helms Medical Institute is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians, and HMI’s Medical Acupuncture for Physicians course is approved by the American Board of Medical Acupuncture as meeting the formal educational standards for board certification with the ABMA.