The NCCAOM, or National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, is a national organization in the United States that provides certification for practitioners of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. To become credentialed with the NCCAOM, potential diplomates must pass a rigorous exam on four topic categories: Chinese Herbology, Acupuncture Point Location, Biomedicine, and the Foundations of Oriental Medicine. Each category of the exam contains 100 questions.
Chinese Herbology
The Chinese Herbology component of the NCCAOM exam is designed to assess an individual’s knowledge and understanding of Chinese herbal medicine principles, theory, and practical applications. It’s important to note that the NCCAOM’s Chinese Herbology exam is comprehensive and requires a deep understanding of traditional Chinese medicine theory and practice.
To pass the Chinese Herbology component focus your study time on the following key areas:
- Chinese Herbal Medicine Theory: This includes an understanding of the fundamental theories of Chinese herbal medicine, such as the principles of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, Zang-Fu organ theory, and the Eight Principles (such as Hot/Cold, Interior/Exterior, etc.).
- Herbal Formulas: Knowledge of various herbal formulas, their compositions, functions, indications, and contraindications. This involves understanding the synergistic effects of different herbs in a formula and their applications for specific patterns of disharmony.
- Herb Identification: Familiarity with a wide range of Chinese herbs, their Chinese names, pinyin names, and common English names. This may include recognizing and identifying the physical characteristics of herbs, such as appearance, taste, and smell.
- Herbal Safety and Toxicity: Awareness of potential herb-drug interactions, contraindications, adverse reactions, and precautions related to the use of Chinese herbs. Understanding the safe and responsible use of herbal medicine is crucial.
- Herbal Diagnosis and Pattern Differentiation: Ability to assess patients’ conditions and differentiate patterns of disharmony according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principles. This involves understanding how to select appropriate herbal formulas based on individual patient presentations.
- Herbal Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics: Understanding the actions, properties, and functions of individual herbs, including their chemical constituents and effects on the body. Knowledge of how herbs are processed, prepared, and administered is also important.
Acupuncture Point Location
The NCCAOM’s Acupuncture Point Location test is designed to evaluate an individual’s knowledge and proficiency in locating acupuncture points on the human body.
To pass the Acupuncture Point Location component of the NCCAOM exam, make sure you review the following subject areas:
- Acupuncture Point Names: Develop your understanding on the names and classifications of acupuncture points according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. This includes understanding the Chinese names, pinyin names, and English translations of the acupuncture points.
- Location Techniques: Become proficient in locating acupuncture points on the human body using specific anatomical landmarks and measurement techniques. This involves knowing the precise locations of the points in relation to the body’s structures, such as bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
- Point Groupings and Channels: Increase your understanding of the pathways of the meridians or channels through which the acupuncture points are organized. This includes knowledge of the major meridians, their trajectories, and the point groupings along these meridians.
- Surface Anatomy: Become familiar with the surface anatomy of the body, including the location of bones, muscles, and other anatomical landmarks. This knowledge is crucial for accurately locating acupuncture points.
- Palpation Skills: Practice your skills in palpating or feeling the body to locate acupuncture points. This involves the ability to identify subtle anatomical landmarks, detect the energetic qualities of the points, and locate them by touch.
- Safety and Clean Needle Technique: Know the importance of maintaining a sterile environment during acupuncture treatments and following proper clean needle technique to prevent infections and ensure patient safety.
Biomedicine
The NCCAOM’s Biomedicine exam, also known as the Biomedical Science Examination (BSE), is designed to assess the biomedical knowledge and understanding of the candidate.
To pass the Biomedicine component, potential diplomats will want to review the following areas:
- Anatomy and Physiology: Knowledge of the structure, function, and interrelationships of the various systems and organs in the human body. This includes understanding the skeletal system, muscular system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, nervous system, digestive system, endocrine system, and reproductive system, among others.
- Pathology: Understanding the processes and mechanisms of disease, including the causes, progression, and effects on the body’s systems. This involves knowledge of common pathological conditions, their signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options from a biomedical perspective.
- Pharmacology: Familiarity with the principles of pharmacology, including the actions, interactions, side effects, and contraindications of commonly used medications. This includes understanding the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs and their impact on the body.
- Microbiology and Immunology: Knowledge of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, and their role in causing infections and diseases. Understanding the basic concepts of immunology, including the immune response, immunity, and immunological disorders, is also covered.
- Laboratory Diagnostics: Understanding common laboratory tests and procedures used for diagnosis, monitoring, and evaluation of diseases. This may include knowledge of blood tests, urine tests, imaging techniques, and other diagnostic tools.
- Medical Terminology: Familiarity with the appropriate medical terminology used in healthcare settings, including anatomical terms, pathological conditions, medical procedures, and diagnostic tests.
The Biomedicine exam is designed to ensure that acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners have a solid foundation in biomedical science to support safe and effective patient care.
Foundations of Oriental Medicine
To pass the Foundations of Oriental Medicine component of the exam, you will need to study the following topics in depth:
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Theory: Understand the core concepts and theories of TCM, including Yin and Yang, Five Elements, Zang-Fu organ theory, Eight Principles, and the theory of Qi (vital energy) and Blood. This includes knowledge of the interrelationships between these principles and their applications in diagnosing and treating disharmonies in the body.
- Acupuncture Theory and Techniques: Develop your knowledge of the principles and techniques of acupuncture, including the meridian system, acupuncture point selection, needling techniques, and the mechanisms of action of acupuncture. This includes an understanding of how acupuncture can influence the flow of Qi and restore balance in the body.
- Diagnosis and Pattern Differentiation: Refine your ability to assess patients’ conditions and differentiate patterns of disharmony according to TCM principles. This involves understanding various diagnostic methods, such as observation, palpation, questioning, and listening, and applying them to identify the underlying patterns of imbalance.
- Herbal Medicine Theory: Become familiar with the principles and concepts of Chinese herbal medicine, including the properties, functions, and indications of commonly used herbs. This includes understanding herbal formulas, their compositions, and their applications for specific patterns of disharmony.
- Diagnostic Techniques: Refine your knowledge of additional diagnostic techniques used in Oriental medicine, such as tongue diagnosis, pulse diagnosis, and assessment of the channels and collaterals (meridians). Understanding how these diagnostic techniques provide information about the state of health and imbalances in the body is important.
- Ethics and Safety: Understand professional ethics and standards of practice in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. This includes knowledge of legal and regulatory considerations, informed consent, patient confidentiality, and maintaining a safe and hygienic treatment environment.
How do you prepare for the NCCAOM Exam?
Preparation for the NCCAOM exam can be time-consuming and stressful. Luckily potential diplomats can use aomtestprep.com to put their hours of studying to the test, and get an idea of their performance on exam day, with practice tests. When it comes to large credentialing exams, such as NCCAOMs, the more test taking practice you can receive, the better. AOMTestPrep.com offers potential candidates full NCCAOM practice tests, containing all four categories of the exam, or individual topic category practice tests.