Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences

The Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences (ACCHS) is a private nonprofit graduate school in Oakland focused on acupuncture and Chinese medicine. It suits students who are intentionally pursuing this professional field, rather than someone seeking a broad undergraduate campus. Its programs combine classroom study with supervised clinical work at an on-campus teaching clinic, and several advanced pathways are aimed at people who already hold Chinese-medicine credentials.

Choose the right training route

ACCHS offers a Master of Science in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (MAcCHM), a combined Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and MAcCHM track, an online DAcCHM Bridge for licensed practitioners who already hold a qualifying master’s degree, and a post-master’s Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM). The combined professional degree includes classroom and supervised clinical training; the master’s is taught in English and Mandarin. The Bridge is designed for working practitioners and is delivered asynchronously online. The DAOM is an advanced, clinically oriented program with study in classical Chinese herbal medicine, orthopedics and pain management, research, and supervised clinical experience. ACCHS also offers Tui Na massage certification. Check the program directory and current catalogs and confirm which credential meets your intended state’s licensing requirements before enrolling.

Accreditation distinction: ACCHS states that its MAcCHM and DAOM are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. Its entry-level DAcCHM and Asian bodywork certificate are state-approved to enroll but are not currently ACAHM-accredited; the school says it is seeking accreditation and cannot guarantee that it will be granted. ACCHS says DAcCHM and MAcCHM graduates may sit for California’s acupuncture licensing exam, but programmatic accreditation and state exam eligibility are separate questions. Verify the current status with ACAHM and the California Acupuncture Board before choosing the DAcCHM route.

Admission, cost, and assistance

Requirements vary substantially by program. The MAcCHM application calls for at least 60 semester units (or 90 quarter units) of undergraduate coursework; the combined DAcCHM/MAcCHM track requires 90 semester or 120 quarter units. DAOM applicants need a current license to practice Chinese medicine and a qualifying professional master’s degree. The Bridge also requires prior professional training plus separate undergraduate coursework. The DAOM application page lists deadlines of August 1 for fall, November 30 for spring, and March 30 for summer. Ask Admissions to confirm the next deadline for your chosen program, transfer-credit rules, language requirements, and clinical schedule. The application portal provides program-specific forms and prerequisite lists.

ACCHS’s published 2025–27 estimates list total program charges of about $64,532 for the MAcCHM-only route, $68,420 for the combined DAcCHM/MAcCHM route, $7,695 for the DAcCHM Bridge, and $27,500 for the DAOM. These are program-specific estimates, and expenses or policies can change; request a written current cost sheet before deciding. Federal aid eligibility requires a FAFSA and applies only to eligible programs and students. The Academy also lists a $500 Diversity Scholarship for students who document current volunteer work with a qualifying nonprofit serving underserved Bay Area communities; the application requires a supervisor’s verification letter explaining the work and its community impact. Ask Financial Aid whether the award is open for your intake and whether it can be combined with other aid. See financial aid and scholarship conditions and the published program cost estimates.

Oakland campus, clinic, and student comments

The main campus is at 1600 Broadway, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94612. The college phone is (510) 763-7787; Admissions is (510) 763-7787 ext. 107 at admissions@acchs.edu, and the clinic is (510) 763-1299. Main Administration is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; the clinic is open Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; and the library is open Tuesday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ACCHS identifies this as its sole Oakland campus, with no branch or satellite locations reported in the state’s institutional filing. The school says the campus is close to the 19th Street BART station. Its teaching clinic provides supervised student experience and offers public services, so confirm the correct desk and appointment type before visiting.

Public comments about the clinic often value attentive, gentle student care and access to lower-cost treatments. A current-student comment, however, criticizes the consistency of instruction and course oversight; the Academy replies that it uses faculty and course evaluations. These comments reflect individual experiences, and clinic patients’ accounts do not necessarily describe the academic program. Ask to speak with a current student about course sequencing, faculty feedback, and how clinical hours are supervised. Read public comments about the campus and clinic.