Membership Benefits

The CMAAC provides effective representation on behalf of more than 750 practicing TCM/A practitioners across Canada. Some of the roles of the CMAAC include:

• Negotiating group discounts for malpractice, liability, and other insurances
• Providing Continuing Education Seminars and Workshops (e.g. bilingual seminars, and information sessions with a wide range of presenters such as: TCM/A practitioners, the World Wildlife Federation, Toronto Public Health, Canadian Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association, Telus Health and the Privacy Commissioner)
• Professional Advocacy via government relations and communication services and TCM/A Promotion Campaigns
• CMAAC Website which provides highlights of activities to members of the CMAAC and the TCM/A community, as well as helpful information for the general public
• CMAAC E-Newsletters has additional features such as the latest updates of the CMAAC and TCM/A community in Canada and listings of upcoming Continuing Education opportunities
• Advertising and Job Posting – through our CMAAC website, newsletters, and e-newsletters, and social media
• Providing member contacts and assistance from a representative in each province in Canada

The Scope of “Acupuncture”

 An ‘Acupuncturist‘ is someone who to is able to assess and apply appropriate therapy to achieve the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of illness using knowledge and techniques based on the specific conceptual frameworks, assessment approaches and therapeutic modalities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

The term ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine‘ refers to the body of knowledge and broad range of medical practices that share common concepts, spanning thousands of years that was modernized and standardized in the 1950s.

The professional activities of Acupuncture according to TCM include diagnosis based on TCM theories; selection of principles, methods, modalities, and plans for the treatment of a patient; and the application of those treatments accordingly.TCM diagnosis is based on the following: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, pulse taking, palpation and differentiation of syndromes according to the principles based on TCM theories. 

 The theories, principles and conceptual frameworks of TCM include but are not limited to: Yin and Yang, The Five Phases (Wu Xing), Eight Principles Pattern Discrimination (Ba Gang Bian Zheng), Qi, Blood and Body Fluids Pattern Discrimination (Qi, Xue, Jin Ye Bian Zheng), Viscera and Bowels Pattern Discrimination (Zang Fu Bian Zheng), The Twelve Main Meridians, the 8 Extraordinary Vessels, the Divergent Channels, The Sinew Vessels, Disease Evil Cause Pattern Discrimination (Bing Yin Bian Zheng), Externally Contracted Febrile Disease Six Channel Pattern Discrimination (Liu Fen Bian Zheng), Externally Contracted Febrile Disease Four Aspects Pattern Discrimination (Wei, Qi, Ying, Xue Bian Zheng), Three Burners Pattern Discrimination (San Jiao Bian Zheng) and the Seven Emotions.

*The ‘specific points’ mentioned above can include established acupuncture points located on the major meridians of the body, established ‘extra’ acupuncture points, points located on established microsystems such as the French, Chinese and German ear systems, the Korean hand and foot systems, the Chinese wrist and ankle systems, and the Chinese and Japanese scalp systems, so called ‘ah shi’ points or any reactive point identified on the body surface through palpation. 

Membership Standards

Members Must:

• Uphold the Ethics Standards document approved by the Association and in keeping with the spirit of and major themes of CMAAC Head office codes of conduct
• Be a Canadian citizen, a landed Immigrant or possess a valid and relevant work permit
• Reside in and practice in Nova Scotia
• Pass a criminal background check
• Possess proof of current malpractice insurance with coverage of at least $1 million for general liability
• Acquire a recommended 30 hours of continuing education credits every year with 15 hours as mandatory to maintain membership
• Possess proof of completion of courses in Clean Needle Techniques when not included in curriculum of their educational institution and shown on transcript
• As a minimum requirement, possess a diploma of acupuncture from a program at least equivalent 1900 hours full time study including a minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience, and the program and the college has to be approved by the regulated provinces of Canada, or a provincial Department of Education, or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in the United States, or a graduate of a full time University of TCM in China

CEU Requirements

 CMAAC and NS-CMAAC require 15 mandatory hours of CEUs, every year, to renew membership, however, we expect that each member aims to set the standard higher by striving to complete an additional 15 hours in of study per annual year. 

The NS-CMAAC expects members to acquire 30 hours per year (30 CEUs) with 15 mandatory hours of Formal Education (as per the minimum requirements of CMAAC for membership renewal) and 15 additional hours as Informal Study.

1. Formal Education

• “Seminars or Workshops – all hours spent at the seminar or workshop plus 5 hours for preparation and review time (i.e. if the seminar/workshop is 1 hour in length, plus 5 hours for preparation and review of material, equals 6 hours completed in total). Members are responsible for their enrollment fees to any seminar or workshop. Documents of enrollment should be supplied as proof to the Chapter Office.” 
• Self Study – this could include a book or instructional video pertaining directly to the profession. It is the members’ responsibility to find and/or purchase any self-study materials. The member would log the time spent in self study on which date (i.e. member studied from 1pm-2pm on Friday January 2nd, 2013) and send a copy of such log to their Chapter President.”

 2. Informal Study

We suggest other topics such as safety, business related topics, legal issues, case studies, bylaws, code of ethics, standards of practice, or research using books, online material, academic and professional publications by reading, researching, mentoring or teaching. These additional hours should be logged with date, time, topic, type of activity and the amount of time expended.

 CEUs must be submitted at the time you renew your dues. For forms go to Governance

Application Process

Professional members must apply to the Nova Scotia Chapter of CMAAC (NS-CMAAC) to join CMAAC locally and nationally.

Student members and a Student Board Member are welcome to apply. You will not be able to vote but it is an opportunity to participate and learn.

You can download forms in the Governance section.

In order to make the application process easier for our members we have made arrangements so that new members apply to your local chapter. We will then forward all your information and fees to head office once are approved locally.

 Process: The application criteria for professional membership with NS-CMAAC, is as follows:

 Entry standards:

Please note: The Entrance exam is required for candidates from other countries, or other provinces, depending on the candidate’s application review.

•  Completed AT LEAST a 3 year full time acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine course that equals 1900 hours of full time study, including 500 Clinical Hours, from a college approved or registered by a provincial Department of Education (in Nova Scotia, the Department of Labour and Advanced Education) and/or the FTCMCC (Federation of TCM Colleges of Canada)
• Be a Canadian citizen, OR have Landed Immigrant Status (You must provide proof of your landed immigrant status when you submit your CMAAC application)

 If you meet the above criteria, please download the CMAAC Membership Application Form from the Governance section along with the 4 Oaths.

 Fill in the application, sign the oaths, and prepare the following items to be submitted along with the application:

•  4 passport size photographs signed by Guarantor
• Copies of all credentials (Academic and Clinical)
• Copy of Educational Transcripts (sealed)
• Copy of Educational Diplomas
• 2 letters of reference
• Criminal record check with vulnerable sector check

 The following must also be read and agree to (signed) and included in the application for membership

•  Declaration of Geneva
• Declaration of Helsinki
• The Hippocratic Oath
• The Prayer of Maimonides

 Applications must be sent to, and approved by NS-CMAAC NOT to CMAAC Head office.

Approval from our local chapter is required before you can be accepted nationally.

 Fees: Local Chapter (NS-CMAAC) fees and national CMAAC fees are paid separately. However, when you first apply, they can be sent to local chapter directly and we will forward the application and membership fee to head office for you along with your approved application.

 $400 ($250 one time application fee for new members + $150 annual membership fee) to Head Office

• $100 annual membership fee for local chapter plus $25 for registration certificate
• $25 shipping and handling fee
• Total when first applying = $550

Next annual fee should be paid: 

on your anniversary date directly to the Head Office ($150 national)

by January 31 each year ($150 local) to the NS chapter.

Fees to be paid by e-transfer to cmaacnovascotia@gmail.com

Please make sure to clearly identify the name of the applicant

You can drop the application and payment off or mail it to our NS-CMAAC local office:

Attn: CMAAC-NS Director of Membership 

1306 Bedford Hwy.

Bedford, Nova Scotia,

B4A 1C8

Governance