Details about the professional doctorate

[Guest guest]

Hi, I know there was a lot of discussion recently about the professional

doctorate degree but it seemed like it was mostly focused on whether it was a

good or bad thing for our profession. I am interested in hearing answers to

specific questions about it because I am thinking about getting my doctorate, so

it would help to know more about this option:

 

1. When and where is a program like this likely to be offered?

 

2. How is it different from the current doctorate degrees out there?

 

3. I've read that it is only a little more school than the masters level with

herbs is currently. How much more? A year? Two years?

 

4. If it becomes the standard of our profession, will those of us already in

practice be grandfathered in or will we be required to go back to school to

continue practicing?

 

5. Will herbal medicine be required, or will there be a doctorate in only

acupuncture available? I'm an herbalist already, but I'm just curious.

 

Thanks!

 

Laura

[Guest guest]

Is there a website that has the pro-side, con-side and forum on it?

 

You can contact Benjamin Dierauf to get thorough info on the details of the

proposed FPD.

 

" Benjamin Dierauf " <bdierauf

 

K

 

 

 

On Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 1:16 AM, heylaurag <heylaurag wrote:

 

>

>

> Hi, I know there was a lot of discussion recently about the professional

> doctorate degree but it seemed like it was mostly focused on whether it was

> a good or bad thing for our profession. I am interested in hearing answers

> to specific questions about it because I am thinking about getting my

> doctorate, so it would help to know more about this option:

>

> 1. When and where is a program like this likely to be offered?

>

> 2. How is it different from the current doctorate degrees out there?

>

> 3. I've read that it is only a little more school than the masters level

> with herbs is currently. How much more? A year? Two years?

>

> 4. If it becomes the standard of our profession, will those of us already

> in practice be grandfathered in or will we be required to go back to school

> to continue practicing?

>

> 5. Will herbal medicine be required, or will there be a doctorate in only

> acupuncture available? I'm an herbalist already, but I'm just curious.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Laura

>

>

>

 

 

 

--

 

 

""

 

 

www.tcmreview.com

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

the doc talk in cyberspace has moved. most of the current chatter about the

doctorate, pro, con, and in-between seems to be happening at the google group

michael j set up. the FPD draft standards don't have totally specific

curriculum reqs. listed, mostly overall guidelines.

 

here's a link and happy reading:

 

http://groups.google.comaomcommunity?hl=en

 

keith

 

Chinese Medicine , " heylaurag " <heylaurag

wrote:

>

> Hi, I know there was a lot of discussion recently about the professional

doctorate degree but it seemed like it was mostly focused on whether it was a

good or bad thing for our profession. I am interested in hearing answers to

specific questions about it because I am thinking about getting my doctorate, so

it would help to know more about this option:

>

> 1. When and where is a program like this likely to be offered?

>

> 2. How is it different from the current doctorate degrees out there?

>

> 3. I've read that it is only a little more school than the masters level with

herbs is currently. How much more? A year? Two years?

>

> 4. If it becomes the standard of our profession, will those of us already in

practice be grandfathered in or will we be required to go back to school to

continue practicing?

>

> 5. Will herbal medicine be required, or will there be a doctorate in only

acupuncture available? I'm an herbalist already, but I'm just curious.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Laura

>

[Guest guest]

the doc talk in cyberspace has moved. most of the current chatter about the

doctorate, pro, con, and in-between seems to be happening at the google group

michael j set up. the FPD draft standards don't have totally specific

curriculum reqs. listed, mostly overall guidelines.

 

here's a link and happy reading:

 

http://groups.google.comaomcommunity?hl=en

 

keith

 

Chinese Medicine , " heylaurag " <heylaurag

wrote:

>

> Hi, I know there was a lot of discussion recently about the professional

doctorate degree but it seemed like it was mostly focused on whether it was a

good or bad thing for our profession. I am interested in hearing answers to

specific questions about it because I am thinking about getting my doctorate, so

it would help to know more about this option:

>

> 1. When and where is a program like this likely to be offered?

>

> 2. How is it different from the current doctorate degrees out there?

>

> 3. I've read that it is only a little more school than the masters level with

herbs is currently. How much more? A year? Two years?

>

> 4. If it becomes the standard of our profession, will those of us already in

practice be grandfathered in or will we be required to go back to school to

continue practicing?

>

> 5. Will herbal medicine be required, or will there be a doctorate in only

acupuncture available? I'm an herbalist already, but I'm just curious.

>

> Thanks!

>

> Laura

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Laura,

 

For an excellent Q & A on the FPD, go to http://asny.org/FPD-12-18-09.pdf

 

For a quick way to send a letter of support or opposition to ACAOM, go to

http://findrep.org/fpd. These need to be in by Jan 15!

 

In response to your questions:

 

1. When and where is a program like this likely to be offered?

Nobody knows for sure, but if ACAOM decides to move forward, based in large

part on the degree of support from the profession to the draft proposal, the

general sense seems to be 3-5 years by those schools that have the

inclination and resources to do so.

 

2. How is it different from the current doctorate degrees out there?

The DAOM and DAc are post-graduate doctorates that serve as advanced

degrees. They require students to first complete a master¹s (degree or

level) education in AOM. As discussed above the post-graduate DAOM and DAc

do not provide entry level training. In contrast, students entering programs

awarding the professional doctorate will enter directly from college without

any prior AOM training and receive the doctoral degree in either acupuncture

or Oriental medicine upon graduation.

 

The DAOM, an advanced Oriental medicine degree, will remain a post-graduate

program that is designed to develop advanced skills in areas of clinical

specialization and to support the ability of participants to participate in

research, teaching and scholarly activity. It can continue to play a role

contributing to the science and knowledge of the AOM profession as an

advanced post-graduate degree. The same would be true for the post-graduate

doctorate in acupuncture, but no such programs presently exist.

 

3. I've read that it is only a little more school than the masters level

with herbs is currently. How much more? A year? Two years?

The proposed ACAOM standards for both the professional doctorate (FPD) in

acupuncture and the professional doctorate (FPD) in Oriental medicine will

require 4 academic years to complete (8 semesters/12 quarters/3 calendar

years). This is the same as the current standards for the master¹s in OM,

and one academic year longer than the current standards for master¹s in

Acupuncture. Admissions requirements will vary from institution to

institution. The proposed ACAOM professional doctorate (FPD) standards would

require 90 semester units of college level education to enter a program. The

current admissions requirement for the master¹s degree is 60 semester units

for both acupuncture and OM programs.

 

4. If it becomes the standard of our profession, will those of us already in

practice be grandfathered in or will we be required to go back to school to

continue practicing?

Grandfathering applies only to licensure, not to earned degrees, and is

defined by each states¹ practice act. A degree such as the professional

doctorate (FPD) must be earned. Licensure titles are granted by the states.

Degree titles are granted by educational institutions on the basis state

authorization, and although educational institutions do have the ability to

grant transfer credit, they may not grant a ³grandfathered² degree. In

short, if you wish to receive the professional doctorate (FPD), you will

have to return to school. However you will not be required to do so in order

to retain your state licensure.

 

For those who choose to return to school and upgrade, in some instances

transfer credits may be awarded for coursework and clinical work at programs

with equivalencies. Any transfer credit awards will be guided by ACAOM

transfer credit standards and final determinations made by individual

schools. An example might include transfer from TCM colleges in China or

from previously completed master¹s training. The rules for transfer are

subject to the policies of the degree granting institution.

 

A transitional doctorate is an upgrade path for people who are already

practicing in the field when a new first professional degree evolves. For

example, transitional doctorates are being offered to individuals who hold

the master¹s in physical therapy and wish to receive the Doctorate of

Physical Therapy (DPT). Ideally, these programs are convenient (including

distance learning), relevant, inexpensive, and take into account

competencies learned though their professional experience. ACAOM has not yet

explored what a transitional doctorate would be like.

 

5. Will herbal medicine be required, or will there be a doctorate in only

acupuncture available? I'm an herbalist already, but I'm just curious.

There are two professional doctorates being proposed, one for acupuncture

only and the other for full-scope OM that includes herbs.

 

Send your letter soon!

 

Benjamin