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Joining AACMA
| Practitioner Membership |
Student Membership
Thank you for accessing the AACMA webpage for Practitioner Membership.
AACMA is the peak professional body for qualified practitioners of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and other TCM modalities, including TCM remedial massage and Chinese herbal dispensing.
Please click on the links below to access further information about AACMA membership.
About AACMA Practitioner Membership
About 'Member' category
About 'Provisional Member' category
About 'Associate Member' category
Submitting an Application
Fees
Timeframe for applications
Contact AACMA
AACMA offers two main types of practitioner membership:
- Member and Provisional Member - for qualified graduates of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine programs
- Associate Member - for qualified graduates of TCM Remedial Massage and Chinese Herbal Dispenser programs.
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This is the normal method of entry to AACMA and is open to qualified practitioners of acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine who meet the AACMA practitioner accreditation standard.
Members are entitled to all the rights and benefits of membership, including the right to vote and stand for election to the Board.
Members receive health fund rebate status with over 50 health funds in Australia (including Medibank Private, MBF, HCF, BUPA, HBA in Victoria, and HBF in Western Australia), as well as receiving access to ongoing professional education via seminars and journals.
AACMA is a recognised professional association under the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999. This means that members accredited by AACMA in acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine are recognised professionals in relation to the provision of GST-free acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine services.
Membership of an association listed in Schedule One of the Therapeutic Goods Regulations is necessary to ensure access to advertising materials for therapeutic goods, an essential aspect of successful practice. AACMA is a Schedule One-listed body.
Members are entitled to be listed on our Australia-wide practitioner referral database, whereby members of the public can access the names of accredited practitioners in their area via a national 1300 number. This infrmation is also availbale on the web via our Practitioner Search feature on the AACMA homepage.
The Association negotiates benefits for practising members such as low cost broad-form professional indemnity insurance and concessions on clinical supplies and books. The Association has also developed a video tape library of seminars which are available for sale to members.
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Provisional membership may be awarded to an applicant who meets all the qualification requirements for Member, but may be unable to supply all the necessary paperwork.
Most commonly this refers to applicants who have met the requirements for graduation but are awaiting the formal awards ceremony. These applicants may be admitted as Provisional Members pending supply of a copy of the award on graduation.
Provisional Members are entitled to the same practice benefits as Members, but are unable to vote or stand for election until all the conditions on their membership have been completed.
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AACMA has two main Associate Member categories:
- Associate Member (Anmo-Tuina)
- Associate Member (Dispenser).
Associate Members are not entitled to vote or stand for election, but are entitled to participate in all other activities of the association. While Associate Members are not eligible for appointment to executive positions, they may be invited by the AACMA Board to sit on a Committee in an advisory capacity.
Associate Member (Anmo-Tuina)
Graduates of recognised programs in TCM Remedial Massage may apply for Associate Membership of AACMA. To be eligible, applicants must hold an AACMA-recognised Diploma of TCM Remedial Massage under the Health Training Package in Complementary and Alternative Medicine or an equivalent overseas qualification (such as a Bachelor of Medicine with a major in Tuina from the PR China).
AACMA members accredited in acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine who are seeking an additional accreditation in TCM Remedial Massage must satisfy the same criteria as new applicants for membership under the Associate Member (Anmo-Tuina) category.
Members accredited in TCM Remedial Massage are eligible for rebates under the Remedial Massage benefit with over 22 private health funds and to access the AACMA Master Policy for Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Associate Member (Dispenser)
The AACMA Associate Member (Dispenser) category is a new membership category and has two sub-types:
- Associate Member (Dispenser - Registered)
- Associate Member (Dispenser - General).
Membership under the Associate Member (Dispenser - Registered) category is open to:
- Registered Chinese herbal medicine dispensers (in States where there is a State Act to register Chinese herbal medicine dispensers)
- Registered pharmacists who have been authorised under a State Act to use the title 'Chinese herbal medicine dispenser' (or similar ) where the term 'Chinese herbal medicine dispenser' (or similar) is a protected title.
Membership under the Associate Member (Dispenser - General) category is open to:
- Qualified Chinese herbal medicine dispensers in States without registration of the practice of Chinese herbal medicine dispensing
- Registered pharmacists who are qualfied in Chinese herbal medicine dispensing who practise in a State without registration of the practice of Chinese herbal medicine dispensing.
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Application for Membership Form
Applications should be submitted on the Application for Membership Form. This can be obtained from the AACMA national office by emailing execsupport@acupuncture.org.au or phoning 07 3324 2599.
The following documents should be submitted (in triplicate) with the application form and in the following order.
Practitioner Responsibility Questionnaire (PRQ)
Applicants must submit a completed and signed PRQ. This can be obtained from the AACMA office or downloaded from this website.
Certified copy of award(s)
All awards that relate to your qualifications should be submitted. This includes all awards for prior study that formed the basis of any exemptions or recognition of prior learning in subsequent qualifications.
Australia-trained applicants who have met the requirements for graduation but have not yet been issued with the award should submit a letter or statement from their institution's student administration stating that they are eligible for graduation. A certified copy of the award certificate is later submitted when the award has been formally conferred.
Certified copy of transcripts of academic record
All academic transcripts that relate to your qualifications should be submitted. This includes all academic transcripts for prior study that formed the basis of any exemptions or recognition of prior learning in subsequent qualifications.
Overseas qualifications
Overseas-trained applicants should supply a certified copy of the awards and transcripts in the original language, together with any English translations provided by the issuing institution or the overseas government PLUS a certified copy of an authorised translation in English.
Translation of documents into English is to be provided by an Australian Government authorised translator/interpreter service. It is acceptable if a copy of the English translation already provided by the issuing institution or government authority is amended and notated as required and stamped as an accurate translation (or accurate as amended) by the Australian Government authorised translation service.
China-trained applicants should obtain a qualifications assesment from vetassess as to the authenticity of their qualfications and arrange for the report to be sent directly to AACMA by vetasses. China-trained applicants should also submit certified copies of any notarised documents relating to their education and qualifications assessment issued by the Chinese authorities.
Applicants from North America should submit evidence of state licensing or NCCAOM accreditation if held.
Applicants from Japan should submit evidence of acupuncture licensing (if held).
Proof of recency of practice
Applicants who qualified more than five years prior to the date of application should submit documentary evidence about their history of practice (if any). Proof of recent practice must be demonstrated via at least two of the following categories per year for at least five out of the previous ten years:
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evidence of professional indemnity insurance cover
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evidence of active health fund provider registration (that is, claims were actually made for the practitioner's services)
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skin penetration licence (acupuncture only)
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relevant continuing professional education (CPE) of at least 20 hours per year
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statutory declaration from a relevant employer
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other evidence deemed relevant by the Accreditation Committee.
China-trained applicants should also submit certified copies of any notarised documents relating to their employment history issued by the Chinese authorities.
Certified copy of First Aid Certificate
Applicants must hold a current Senior First Aid Certitifate (or equivalent). A certificate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not sufficient.
Applicants who are registered as a medical practitioner or nurse (qualified nurses only) under an Australian State/Territory Act are exempt from submitting a first aid certificate but must provide a certified copy of the certificate of registration.
Proof of English language competence
Applicants who completed their studies primarily in a language other than English must supply evidence of their English language competence. AACMA requires an IELTS Overall Band 6 or equivalent as evidence of suitable English language competence.
Other documents
Applicants may also submit evidence of accreditation or membership with other professional bodies, accreditation agencies or statutory boards.
Checklist
Applicants should go through the Application Checklist to ensure all items have been completed and submitted.
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Application Fee
Applications should be accompanied by a non-refundable Application Fee of $165.00.
The Application Fee is waived for applicants who are Student Members at the time of application.
Payment may be made by cash or EFTPOS (in-office payments only), personal cheque/bank cheque/money order payable to AACMA, or Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, AMEX or Diners Club).
Membership Fee
The first year's membership fee is payable after acceptance for membership. An invoice will be posted to you. Discounts apply when these fees are paid within 30 days of the invoice date.
New graduates who apply for membership within 9 months of the end of the semester of course completion are entitled to a further reduction on the first year's membership fee.
In 2009, the standard first year membership fee is $490.00 (if paid within 30 days) or $540.00 (if paid after 30 days).
The first year membership fee for new graduates is $120.00 (if paid within 30 days) or $220.00 (if paid after 30 days) in 2009.
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Graduates of AACMA-recognised programs
For graduates of AACMA-recognised programs, the process takes two to four weeks after all necessary documents have been received.
Other applicants
For all other applicants, the process usually takes about 6 to 8 weeks once all necessary documents have been recieved. Delays will occur if all necessary documents are not submitted, if uncertified copies of documents are submitted or where authorised translations into English have not been supplied.
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Please contact the membership department at the AACMA office, 07 3846 5866 (extension 12 or 14), if you have any enquiries about your application or the application process in general.
All enquiries regarding an application should be directed through the AACMA office. Applicants must not, under any circumstances, contact any member of the Accreditation Committee or the Accreditation Co-ordinator about their application.
For full AACMA contact details, please click here.
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