Tristate Institute of Integrative Medicine
A graduate school of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in New Jersey
Master of Science programs and a teaching clinic in Marlton. The winter trimester begins January 11, 2027.
Licensure petition under review by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
Programs
Three programs, one tuition rate
$375per credit, 2026 to 2027 catalog
Tuition is charged per credit on a trimester calendar: ten weeks of classes and one week of exams, three times a year, with an optional summer intensive.
Master of Science in Acupuncture
MAc
Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture technique and the biomedical sciences, with a clinical internship in the teaching clinic.
- Credits
- 147
- Hours
- 2,655
- Clinical hours
- 690
- Total tuition
- $55,125
Master of Science in Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine
MAcHM
The acupuncture curriculum plus Chinese herbal medicine: materia medica, formulas and an herbal clinical internship.
- Credits
- 190
- Hours
- 3,420
- Clinical hours
- 930
- Total tuition
- $71,250
Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine
CCHM
For licensed acupuncturists and graduates of acupuncture programs who want to add herbal medicine to their practice.
- Credits
- 43
- Hours
- 765
- Clinical hours
- 240
- Total tuition
- $16,125
Application fee $100. The 2026 to 2027 catalog lists these as proposed New Jersey programs.
What you study
Five elements, one cycle
Chinese medicine reads the body through patterns. The five phases describe how things generate and balance one another: one of the first frameworks a student learns, and one that returns in diagnosis, point selection and herbal formulas.
Wood
Growth and movement. Spring, the Liver and Gallbladder channels. Wood feeds Fire.
Fire
Warmth and expression. Summer, the Heart and Small Intestine channels. Fire creates Earth.
Earth
Nourishment and center. Late summer, the Spleen and Stomach channels. Earth bears Metal.
Water
Storage and depth. Winter, the Kidney and Bladder channels. Water feeds Wood.
The generating cycle, as taught in the Traditional Chinese Medicine courses of the master's programs.
The teaching clinic
Where training becomes practice
TSIIM runs an on-site acupuncture and herbal medicine teaching clinic in Marlton. Students complete their clinical internship here under faculty supervision: treatment rooms with professional tables, lamps and clinical tools, an herbal dispensary for the herbal programs, Clean Needle Technique compliant equipment and an electronic health record system.
- clinical hours in the MAc
- 690
- clinical hours in the MAcHM
- 930
- acupuncture treatments, at least, by the end of the internship
- 250
- Clinic hours
- Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Hours may vary by trimester with the internship schedule.
Admissions
How to apply
Five steps, the same for the three programs.
1Application and fee
The official application for admission and a non-refundable $100 application fee.
2Transcripts
At least two academic years (60 semester credits) of undergraduate education at an accredited institution, with grades of C or better, sent directly by the issuing institution. Education completed outside the United States needs an official credential evaluation from a NACES or AICE member.
3English proficiency
If English is not your first language: TOEFL iBT 61 or more (speaking 26, listening 22), IELTS 6.0, or two years of undergraduate education conducted in English.
4Personal statement
A 300-word essay on what inspired you to apply to acupuncture and Oriental medicine school.
5Interview
A conversation with the Academic Dean or the Director of Admissions about academic readiness, communication and program expectations.
Questions
What applicants ask
Is TSIIM licensed in New Jersey?
TSIIM filed a petition for initial licensure with the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education in August 2026. It is under review, and the 2026 to 2027 catalog lists the programs as proposed New Jersey programs.
Do I need a bachelor's degree to apply?
No. The requirement is at least two academic years, 60 semester credits, of undergraduate education at an accredited institution with grades of C or better.
Can I transfer credits from another school?
Up to 50 percent of the program credits and up to 25 percent of the clinical hours, for coursework completed with a B or higher at an ACAHM accredited or regionally accredited institution. Courses older than five years may need additional documentation. The evaluation fee is $300.
What does the program cost?
Tuition is $375 per credit for every program: $55,125 for the MAc (147 credits), $71,250 for the MAcHM (190 credits) and $16,125 for the certificate (43 credits), plus a $100 application fee. Books, supplies and living expenses are separate.
Can I take single courses without enrolling in a degree?
Qualified applicants may take select courses as non-matriculated students, subject to prerequisites and space, under the same academic and conduct standards as degree students.
Does the curriculum prepare for the licensing exams?
The master's programs are designed to prepare students for NCCAOM certification requirements and New Jersey licensure standards, and the MAcHM also for the NCCAOM herbal medicine certification. Passing the comprehensive and board exams is one of the stated program objectives.
Where is the campus?
999 Route 73 North, Suite 200, Marlton, New Jersey 08053: classrooms, the teaching clinic, the herbal dispensary, the library and the administrative offices on one campus.
Is instruction in English or in Chinese?
TSIIM runs a bilingual English and Chinese model. English is used in the clinical and biomedical coursework when required, and classroom etiquette applies in both languages.
Request information
Tell us which program you are considering
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