Outcome Of The Registration Of Acupuncturists

07 Apr 2001

The TCM Practitioners Board received 1,595 applications for the registration of acupuncturists by the closing date, 8 Mar 2001. All the applications have been processed according to the exemption criteria for transitional period as has been made public by MOH previously, and set out in the TCM Practitioners (Registration of Acupuncturists) Regulations 2001.

Letters were sent to 1403 applicants on 7 Apr 2001 informing them of the outcome of their applications. The remaining 192 applications were acknowledged and are under consideration. Letters were sent to them on 9 Apr 2001. All applicants should receive their notification letters over the next few days.

Full exemption:

A total of 957 (60%) applicants were granted full exemption based on their acupuncture qualifications and experience. They may register as acupuncturists without having to sit for the Common Acupuncture Qualifying Examination (CAQE). Of these, 711 were granted Full Registration and 246 were granted Provisional Registration.

Due to the large number of acupuncturists scheduled to come for registration, the Board wishes to remind those who are fully exempted to come for registration on the appointed dates as stated in their notification letters.

They are advised to register in person at the registration counter at the TCM Practitioners Board between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm at the following address:

TCM Practitioners Board

Health Promotion Board Building (formally known as Institute of Health)

Level 4, 3 Second Hospital Avenue

Singapore 168937

Partial exemption:

336 (21%) applicants were granted partial exemption from CAQE. They may register as acupuncturists after they have sat for and passed the Acupuncture Appraisal (AA). Those who fail AA have to sit for and pass the CAQE before they can become eligible for full registration.

Two AAs and two CAQEs will be conducted for applicants who are granted partial or no exemption. The first AA is scheduled for 1-3 Jun 2001 and the first CAQE is scheduled for October 2001. Details of the AA and CAQE will be made known to this group of applicants individually.

No exemption:

110 (7%) applicants were not exempted from CAQE. They may register as acupuncturists only after they have sat for and passed the CAQE. Of these, 93 applicants are required to attend the Acupuncture Upgrading Training Course (AUTC) before sitting for the CAQE. The remaining 17 applicants may sit for the CAQE without attending AUTC.

The Association for Promoting Chinese Medicine, through its school Chinese Medical Studies (CMS), has been appointed to conduct another AUTC for applicants who are required to attend the AUTC before sitting for the CAQE. The second AUTC is scheduled to start on 2 May 2001. The respective candidates have been informed to contact CMS at:

Chinese Medical Studies

Association for Promoting Chinese Medicine

25A Lorong 22 Geylang

Singapore 398682

Tel: 8413049

Applications for which decision is pending:

The remaining 192 (12%) applications have been considered by the Board but the outcome of their applications are still pending because of special circumstances of the cases. They will be notified of the final outcome of their applications once the Board has made a decision. They include the following groups of applicants:

Those not practising acupuncture in Singapore at the time of application;

• Non Singaporeans and non Permanent Residents;

• Those with past conviction of offences in court; and

• Those who are required to submit additional information to the Board.

Applicants may call the TCM Practitioners Board's hotline at 236 1080 should they have any queries.