Dear Academy Community,

We are thrilled to announce that, following our 2023 self study process and a comprehensive site visit in March of this year, the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture has been re-accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) for a full seven year period. This reflects the maximum possible re-accreditation term. The college was first accredited 26 years ago in 1998, and was re-accredited in 2001, 2005, 2011, and 2017. So this represents was our 5th successful re-accreditation cycle.

Reaccreditation is, of course, always good news for a college. But given the many significant challenges the Academy faced over the past few years, including most notably the pandemic and its aftermath, this decision is especially good news. It is a testament to the dedication, excellence, and integrity of our entire community—our students, faculty, staff, supervisors, alumni, and board. It also surely reflects the Commission’s enduring confidence in the quality of our programs, governance, and operations.

As many of you know, we learned a lot during our March ACAHM site visit, which was conducted by a very experienced and highly collegial team of site visitors. The team clearly recognized the high quality of the education we provide, the level of commitment of the college’s faculty, staff, students and alumni, and the positive impact our medicine has on the broader healthcare landscape.

In the broadest sense, this decision is a milestone that represents much more than institutional recognition; it also clearly invites a celebration of the future we are building together. For our current students, this decision reaffirms the quality and value of their education, ensuring that they are receiving the highest level of training and preparation for their careers in acupuncture and Chinese medicine. For our other stakeholders, and the broader community including our patients, it also reinforces the vital role the Academy plays in advancing Five Element Acupuncture and enhancing the health and well-being of all those we serve.

We are deeply grateful to each of you for your ongoing commitment and support. It is through our collective effort that we have achieved this remarkable accomplishment, and it is through that same dedication that we will continue to grow and thrive.

We look forward to many more years of success, innovation, and service in the acupuncture community and beyond. Together, we are making a profound difference in the world of medicine.

With gratitude,

Tim Chapman-Wilson, Board Chair

Rebekah Johnson, Executive Director