Transfer Credit Policy

We accept course credits from any nationally or regionally accredited institution (i.e., most universities, colleges, and local community colleges). We also accept credits from other post-secondary healthcare-related degree programs that are accredited by an agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education (USDOE).

Note that all Academy credits must be semester, rather than quarter-based. To calculate this conversion, multiply the number of quarter credits granted for the course by two-thirds (0.667) to determine semester credit equivalency. For example, for five quarter credits, this would be the same as 5 x .667 = 3.3 semester credits. A three-quarter credit course is equivalent to a two-semester credit course.

Corequisite courses are Western science courses that are a part of the Academy’s curriculum, but which students take at other accredited institutions as transfer credits. Students have the option of completing these courses concurrently with the Academy’s programs or taking them before they enroll.

Corequisite courses are different from prerequisite courses in that they do not have to be completed before enrollment. Students who have already completed their admissions requirements may decide to complete at least some corequisite courses before enrolling in order to focus more intensely on their studies at the Academy. We recommend this approach, in particular for the Anatomy & Physiology II corequisite. Students may also complete the corequisite courses while enrolled in the Master of Acupuncture and/or Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine programs. The flexible intensive-based structure of our programs allows students to complete the required courses when at home, often at their own pace, in between intensives.

In either case, courses must also be completed at an accredited community college, university, or online institution. The Academy can provide a range of recommendations for quality corequisite courses that meet the Academy’s requirements. Corequisite courses are not part of the regularly scheduled intensive-based curriculum. However, the Academy does periodically offer certain corequisite courses. Please inquire with Admissions for more information.

Corequisite Courses – Master of Acupuncture

• Anatomy & Physiology II: 4 semester credits (60 hours) *
• General Nutrition 3 semester credits (45 hours)
• Biomedical Electives: 3 individual courses, 9 semester credits in total (135 hours) **

*   Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits) is a prerequisite to Year 3, and official transcripts showing successful completion of this course must be received before advancing to clinical internship.

** For a list of classes that satisfy this requirement, please see Table C in the catalog.

Corequisite Courses – Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine

• Botany: 3 semester credits (45 hours)

Please note that the cost of corequisite courses is not included in the Academy’s tuition for the Master of Acupuncture or Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine programs. Costs for these courses will vary depending on the institution where the student chooses to take these courses as well as how many courses a student must take. Please see Costs Additional to Tuition in the catalog.

A consortium agreement must be obtained for every student for each course taken at an outside accredited institution in order to fulfill a program requirement of the Academy. This applies to students who are receiving financial aid as well as those who are not. The Registrar secures consortium agreements from outside accredited institutions. In order to do this, students must first fill out and submit to the registrar a Transfer Credit Approval form before registering or paying for a course.

Some of the institutions accepting consortium agreements with Academy for Five Element Acupuncture are:

• Westcott Courses (UMass Global)
• University of Maryland Global Campus
• Excelsior College
• Huntington College of Health Sciences
• Clovis Community College

This list can change at any time. Therefore, we strongly recommend speaking with the Academy’s registrar before registering for courses at these colleges. If a student chooses to search for other institutions not on the Academy’s recommended list, there is a request limit of two institutions. If after two different requests neither institution will sign a consortium agreement, the student must use one of the Academy’s recommended institutions.

The Academy is required by the USDOE to have a signed consortium letter of agreement with any institution that will be granting credit for corequisite courses accepted by the Academy. This letter of agreement states that the corequisite institution agrees to provide the course(s) in which the student has enrolled, and that the student is not receiving Title IV federal financial aid from dual institutions. This requirement applies to students who are receiving financial aid as well as those who are not.

Steps to taking courses outside of the Academy are as follows:

1.    The student researches courses of interest. Before registering and paying for any courses, a Transfer Credit Approval form must be submitted to the registrar.
2.    The student emails a completed Transfer of Credit form to the registrar for approval. The form must be complete and include the name and address of the outside accredited institution, the course title and number, and number of course credits, the academic term, and proposed course start/end dates.
3.    The registrar signs and returns the approval form to the student, specifying which courses are approved or denied. Students are advised not to register or pay for any courses until they receive written approval.
4.    The student then gives notice to the registrar as soon as they have registered and paid for their courses.
5.    The registrar then sends the consortium agreement to the outside accredited institution. The registrar will notify the student when the signed consortium agreement is received. The student is advised to contact the Academy’s registrar if confirmation has not been received after two weeks.
6.    On occasion the student may be required to personally request the consortium agreement from the outside institution.