Masters Program
Admission Requirements
Master’s Program Admissions Standards
Candidates must be at least 18 years old and must be competent in speaking, reading, and writing English as well as understanding spoken English. Candidates must provide the Institute with all necessary admission documents including official transcripts documenting at least two years of accredited baccalaureate-level education (60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits) or its international equivalent. 19 of those 60 credits must be taken in the following four General Education/Liberal Arts areas below, with at least 3 credits in each of the subject areas:
Humanities/Fine Arts
Social/Behavioral Sciences
English/Communications
Science/Mathematics
California Acupuncture Board requirement
To meet the educational standards promulgated by the California Acupuncture Board, for those students who haven’t taken any undergraduate course in Psychology as part of meeting the General Education requirement for credits in the “Social/ Behavioral Science” category, such students must demonstrate that they have passed a college-level course in Psychology at an accredited educational institution as a co-requisite to be completed no later than the end of the second academic year of the program. This policy has been in effect since Jan. 1 of 2017.
English Language Competency (Master’s program)
English-language competency is required of all students seeking admission to the Master’s program. If ATOM has any concern regarding English language competency, the applicant must successfully meet the requirements of one of the accepted tests of English language competency listed in the table below. All international applicants must meet the requirement of one of the accepted tests of English language competency listed in the table below.
Assessment Tool
Assessment Tool
Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test (TOEFL® iBT)
$30.00
Application Fee – International Students
$40.00
Registration Fee (Due upon Enrollment) $120.00
$120.00
China Standard of English Language (CSE)
CSE 6
Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE)
C
Cambridge English Advanced (CAE)
C
Common European Framework Reference (CEFR)
B2
B2 Occupational English Test (OET)
250
C Pearson Test of English (PTE)
Academic Overall: 4
Assessment of Prior Learning (Master’s program)
A maximum of 30 semester credits (50%) of the prerequisite two-year education requirement for admission to the Master’s of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine program may be earned through prior learning assessment using either one or a combination of the following assessment techniques: (1) credit by examination through the use of standardized tests and/or (2) assignment of credit for military and corporate training based on recommendations established by the American Council on Education. Guidelines are as follows:
Credit by examination can be earned through successful testing and the recommended college credit equivalencies of the College Scholarship Service’s AP (Advanced Placement) examinations, the College Scholarship Service’s CLEP (College Level Examination Program) examinations, the American College Testing PEP (Proficiency Examination Program) examinations, PONSI (N.Y. State Department of Education Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction), the USAFI (U.S. Armed Forces Institute) program, and the DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) tests.
Credit for military and corporate training may be assigned according to the recommendations. established by the American Council on Education in The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs and The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services.
Provisional Admissions
No student will be admitted unless he/she has successfully completed at least 60 college (semester) credits from an accredited postsecondary institution. As noted in the relevant section of these Policies and Procedures, included within those 60 (semester) colleges credits must be 3 (semester) credits in each of the following subject areas: (a) Humanities/Fine Arts; (b) Social/Behavioral Sciences; (C) English/Communications; (d) Science/Mathematics for a total of 19 (semester) credits.
From time to time a student meets the 60 college credits requirement yet lacks three semester credits in one of the four above-specified categories. In some limited, special cases, the Admissions Committee may grant Provisional Admission to those students. Provisional status will require the student to rectify any deficiencies in the four specified categories and the required three Psychology credits before Bachelor of Health Science or a Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine can be conferred. The student will be required to earn a minimal grade of 70% in that course in order for the course to be considered successfully completed.
If the student on Provisional Status does not complete the required coursework in the four above specified categories he or she will not receive a Bachelor of Health Science or a Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. All deficiencies must be completed no later than the end of the second academic year of the program. Upon such successful completion of all requirements, the student will be placed in Regular Student Status.
Admissions Documents
Certain admissions documents must be submitted to ATOM to begin the application process for admissions to the Master’s program. Once submitted to ATOM these documents can neither be returned to the candidate nor forwarded to any other institution or agency. The Admissions Committee makes all acceptance decisions. New matriculating classes begin in January (WINTER Session), May (SPRING Session) and/or September (FALL Session). Candidates applying to enroll in the Master’s program must submit the following:
A completed application form (linked to Populi)
$30 non-refundable application fee.
Photo Identification (valid Driver’s License or current Passport) and a Social Security Card (Photocopied for file).
Signed Social Security Card
Official certified transcripts from 2-year or 4-year colleges accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or its international equivalent that document a passing grade in 60 or more baccalaureate-level semester credits (or 90 or more quarter credits). Transcripts must be received by ATOM directly from the issuing institutions. Foreign transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated by a foreign credentials evaluation service acceptable to ATOM.
A professional resume.
One-page essay describing reasons for pursuing this program and plans for financing three years of study.
Two letters of reference sent directly to the Institute from individuals outside the applicant’s family. (letters must include a handwritten signature). These may be uploaded directly to the application form.
International students must possess a VISA permitting study in the U.S. for at least the 3-year period required to complete the program.
See additional admissions requirements for International Students, below.
Admissions for International Students
The Institute accepts international students and is approved under the United States Department of Homeland Security to enroll nonimmigrant alien students (INS school code MIA214F01394000) into the Masters of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine program. As an academic institution of higher education, the Institute is authorized to issue a Certificate of Eligibility, Form I-20 for F-1 student status.
International students interested in enrolling at the Institute must comply with all admissions requirements listed under the Admission Requirements section of this catalogue, and with the following additional requirements.
International students must also submit a Declaration of Finance form to be completed by their banks. This document must show sufficient financial resources, with a minimum of US$ 50,000 for one academic year to cover education and living costs.
If written in a foreign language, foreign students must have their official transcripts accompanied by a certified document providing English translation of course names, hours, and grading system.
All foreign-trained applicants must submit documentation of his or her education to a foreign credentials evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credentials Evaluation Service, Inc. (NACES) www.naces.org for review to assist ATOM in approximating comparable levels of educational achievement in the U.S. relative to compliance with ATOM’s published admissions requirements. This evaluation needs to be a course-by-course description for educational purposes. The report of the foreign credentials evaluation service shall be filed with the applicant’s admissions application materials. This should be sent directly to the Admissions office in a sealed envelope.
Or any other member on the NACES list: National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES)A $40 nonrefundable application fee must be paid at the time of application.
All I-20 international students are required to enroll full–time for a minimum of 12 months each year. All questions regarding visa status, accommodations, application for driver’s license and OPT training, etc. should be directed to the Office of International Students at the Institute.
California Licensure
Please note ATOM is one of the approved schools by the California Board of Acupuncture. The completion of the entire Master’s degree curriculum qualifies a student to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE).
Admissions Process
ATOM candidates for admission must be mature, self-motivated, academically capable, and prepared to undertake the intensive and rigorous course of study required of ATOM’s programs. Candidates must also be motivated by the genuine desire to heal. An interview with the ATOM Admissions Committee is required prior to the final admissions determination. Not all applicants can be accepted for admission. ATOM reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant who is not approved by the Admissions Committee.
Transfer Credit Policies
Students enrolled in ATOM’s programs may be awarded transfer credit for academic experiences from other educational institutions that are accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education and that meet or exceed the requirements of the course for which transfer credit is sought, subject to the following guidelines.
Basic Course Transfer Eligibility Criteria
Course content must substantially match an ATOM course. It is the responsibility of the student to provide course descriptions and syllabi as necessary for ATOM to assess whether the prior course work is substantially similar to a program course to justify the award of transfer credit.
Grade must be equivalent to 70% or higher.
Contact hours must be at least 85% of the ATOM course hour requirement.
Students awarded transfer credit for a course equivalent to one offered at ATOM will be granted credit for the number of hours that the Institute’s course earns. A student seeking transfer credit may be required to demonstrate knowledge and skills through challenge exams to be granted credit.
Master’s Program transfer students must take a minimum of 50% of the Masters curriculum at ATOM to be eligible for ATOM’s Master’s degree. Therefore, no more than 50% of ATOM’s required curriculum can be considered transfer credit and accepted toward completion of Master’s program requirements. Of that 50% no more than 25% of the program clinical training requirements may be accepted as transfer credit.
Please Note: Transferability of ATOM Master’s program credits to other educational institutions is at the discretion of the accepting institution. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm if credits will be accepted by another institution.
Transfer Credit Policies
Course work taken at another institution after admission to ATOM is not transferable unless students are required to retake a course to meet ATOM class course requirements. Such coursework must be preapproved, in writing, by the ATOM administration.
Quick Links
ATLANTIC INSTITUTE of
ORIENTAL MEDICINE
100 E. Broward Blvd., Suite 100,
Fort Lauderale, FL 33301
ACAHM does not accredit any programs at the undergraduate/bachelor level.
STUDENT LIFE
PATIENT CARE
Hours of Operation
Monday 9am-5pm
Tuesday 9am-9pm
Wednesday 9am-5pm
Thursday 9am-5pm
Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-5pm
NEWS
LEGAL
© Copyright 2025. Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine. All Rights Reserved.