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Ministry of Health
Press Releases

Main Frame Work For The Regulation Of TCM Acupuncturists

28 December 1999

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28 Dec 1999

FORMATION OF THE TCM PRACTITIONERS BOARD

Functions of the Board

The functions of the Board will include:

  • To register TCM practitioners/acupuncturists

  • To approve training courses and institutions

  • To conduct examinations

  • To regulate the conduct and ethics of TCM practitioners/ acupuncturists

  • To caution, censure, suspend, fine and remove the name of the registered TCM practitioner/acupuncturist from the Register.

Constitution of the Board

Minister for Health will appoint a chairman and 8 other members to the Board from among Public Service officers, academic staff, and respected and experienced TCM practitioners.

Appointment of Committees by the Board

The Board may set up one or more committees to perform any function that it may determine.

REGISTRATION OF ACUPUNCTURISTS

From 1 January 2002, only duly registered persons with a valid practice certificate will be allowed to practise acupuncture.

Qualifications for registration

A person is required to meet the training requirements (including the 6-year part-time TCM course) and pass the appropriate common national examinations to qualify for registration. Apart from this, the Board may also approve any person whom the Board sees fit as being qualified for registration.

Types of registration

"Recognised" in this text refers to being recognised by the future TCM Practitioners Board.

Full Registration

A person who graduated from the recognised 6-year part-time TCM course of a local TCM school and has passed the appropriate common national examination or who is exempted from these examinations may be granted full registration; or

A person who possesses a basic TCM degree from a recognised TCM university from PRC and has not less than 10 years of practising experience in reputable institutions may be granted full registration.

Conditional Registration

A person may be granted conditional registration up till 1 January 2002 to practise acupuncture while undergoing upgrading training in preparation for CAQE; or

A person may be granted conditional registration to practise acupuncture with limitations as imposed by the Board if:

  • He/she holds an acceptable foreign qualification;

  • He/she has been selected for employment in a manner approved by the Board; and

  • He/she has the necessary knowledge, skill and experience.

Provisional Registration

A person may be granted provisional registration for 2-3 years to practise acupuncture while undergoing observation according to para 3a (iv & v). He/she may be granted full registration after the period of observation if the Board is satisfied with his/her conduct and practice.

Practice Certificate

All registered acupuncturists may apply to the Board for a practice certificate to allow them to practise. The requirements will be determined by the Board from time to time.

Offences related to registration

The following will be guilty of an offence:

  • A person who registers or tries to register himself or others as an acupuncturist by fraud;

  • Any unauthorised person acting as an acupuncturist.

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENT

Exemption from CAQE

A person who is practising acupuncture in Singapore at the time registration is implemented may be exempted from CAQE in the following manner if he/she applies for registration within the specified period:

Full Exemption

Full exemption from CAQE may be granted to:

  • A person who has been practising acupuncture continuously since 1 July 1985; or

  • A Singapore Citizen (or permanent resident) with a basic TCM degree from a recognised TCM university from PRC; or

  • A person who obtained a diploma before 1 July 1990 from a 5-year part-time TCM training course conducted by a local TCM training school approved by the Board and has been practising acupuncture continuously since 1 July 1990; or

  • A person who obtained a diploma between 1 July 1990 and 1 July 1995 from a 5-year part-time TCM training course conducted by a local TCM training school approved by the Board and has been practising acupuncture continuously from the date of obtaining the diploma; or

  • A person who obtained any other diploma or certificate before 1 July 1990 from other TCM training courses conducted by local TCM training schools approved by the Board and has been practising acupuncture continuously since 1 July 1990.

Full registration may be granted to those in categories (i) & (ii) & (iii) while provisional registration may be granted to those in categories (iv) & (v).

Partial Exemption

Partial exemption from CAQE may be granted to:

  • A person with no approved qualification but has been practising acupuncture continuously since 1 July 1990; or

  • A person who obtained a diploma after 1 July 1995 from a 5-year part-time TCM training course conducted by a local TCM training school approved by the Board and has been practising acupuncture continuously from the date of obtaining the diploma; or

  • A person who obtained any other diploma or certificate after 1 July 1990 and before 1 July 1995 from other TCM training courses conducted by local TCM training schools approved by the Board and has been practising acupuncture continuously from a date between 1 July 1990 and 1 July 1995 up to the time of registration.

A person granted partial exemption would be required to go through an appraisal process. A person who passes the appraisal would be exempted from CAQE. A person who fails the appraisal would be required to take and pass the CAQE before he/she qualifies for full registration. He/she may enrol in the Acupuncture Upgrading Training Course (AUTC) for upgrading before taking the CAQE.

No Exemption

The following will not be exempted from CAQE:

  • A person with no approved qualification but has been practising acupuncture continuously after 1 July 1990; or

  • A person who obtained any other diploma or certificate after 1 July 1995 from other TCM training courses conducted by local TCM training schools approved by the Board and has been practising acupuncture continuously after 1 July 1995.

He/she would be required to enrol in the AUTC for upgrading and pass the CAQE before he/she qualifies for full registration. Holders of additional qualifications, eg. either the A or B certificate from the Chinese National Examination Centre for Acupuncture and Moxibustion, may be allowed to take the CAQE without being enrolled in the AUTC at the discretion of the Board.