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Pan-Canadian Entry-level Examinations for Acupuncturists — Information & Free Practice

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Exam Review

About Pan-Canadian Entry-level Examinations for Acupuncturists

Pan-Canadian Entry-level Examinations for Acupuncturists · CA

Key exam facts

Provider
CARB-TCMPA administers the national Pan-Canadian Examinations; For Good Measure is its exam administration partner.
Format
In-person computer-based examination with an independent multiple-choice component and a clinical-case component containing case-based and independent multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. The components belong to one examination and each contributes 50% of the total mark.
Exam questions
Total questions: 165; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.
Time limit
2.5 hours of examination time per component (MC and CC), 5 hours total across both components; approved accommodations may alter individual arrangements.
Passing score
A total scaled score of at least 400 is required to pass; this is a scaled score, not 400 marks or a raw percentage.
Exam fee
CAD 942 examination fee, as listed by CARB-TCMPA. Provincial application charges are separate; applicable taxes may apply (NLCHP explicitly lists $942 plus tax). Each retake requires purchase of a new examination.

Topics covered

The authority publishes percentage ranges for each content area. The practice percentages below use the midpoint of each range, normalized to 100%; they are not exact percentages published by the authority. Practice question counts may differ slightly because of rounding.

  • Interpersonal Skills, Professionalism, Practice Management — Official range: 5–9% (Practice allocation: 7%)

    • Utilize professional communication.
    • Develop and maintain effective inter-professional relationships.
    • Develop and maintain effective relationships with patients.
    • Comply with legal requirements.
    • Practice in a manner that accords patient dignity and reflects patient rights.
    • Maintain practitioner self-care.
    • Practice with professional integrity.
    • Maintain patient records.
    • Utilize effective business strategies.
    • Speak effectively, using appropriate terminology.
    • Write effectively, using appropriate terminology.
    • Comprehend written information.
    • Comprehend information presented orally.
    • Ensure effectiveness of communication.
    • Communicate with professional integrity.
    • Respond to non-verbal communication.
    • Respond to sources of interpersonal conflict.
    • Adapt communication style in response to needs of recipient.
    • Work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary health care setting.
    • Develop productive working relationships.
    • Recognize the variety of health and social services commonly available and direct patients appropriately.
    • Show respect toward patients as individuals.
    • Exhibit compassion toward patients.
    • Maintain practitioner / patient boundaries.
    • Facilitate honest, reciprocal communication.
    • Encourage patient to take responsibility for his / her health.
    • Apply to practice current, relevant federal and provincial / territorial legislation.
    • Apply to practice current requirements of regulatory body.
    • Apply to practice current, relevant requirements of municipal and other local authorities.
    • Ensure that patient is aware of treatment plan, its benefits and risks.
    • Ensure ongoing, informed consent.
    • Respect patient rights to privacy and confidentiality.
    • Terminate course of treatment when appropriate.
    • Maintain personal health and wellness in the context of professional practice.
    • Exhibit professional deportment.
    • Practice within limits of expertise.
    • Modify practice to enhance effectiveness.
    • Exhibit professional behaviour.
    • Engage with colleagues in professional activities related to the practice of TCM.
    • Critically assess personal performance and set goals for improvement.
    • Undertake professional development activities aimed at enhancing practice.
    • Remain current with developments in acupuncture practice.
    • Ensure complete and accurate records.
    • Ensure security and integrity of records.
    • Ensure sound financial management.
    • Employ ethical business practices.
    • Establish office procedures and supervise staff accordingly.

  • Traditional Chinese Medicine Foundations — Official range: 23–33% (Practice allocation: 28%)

    • Apply fundamental knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine principles in diagnosis and treatment.
    • Display knowledge of the origin and value of the TCM Classics.
    • Apply fundamentals of acupuncture in diagnosis and treatment.
    • yin yang
    • wu xing (five elements)
    • zang xiang (organ theories)
    • jing luo & shu xue (channels, collaterals, and acupuncture points)
    • qi, xue, jin ye, jing, & shen (qi, blood, body fluid, essence, spirit)
    • ti zhi (constitution)
    • bing yin (etiology)
    • bing ji (pathogenesis)
    • yu fang (prevention)
    • zhi ze (principles of treatment)
    • yang sheng (health preservation)
    • Characterize the following points.
    • Apply knowledge of the following special groupings of points, in treatment planning:
    • Select points for assessment.
    • Select points or areas for therapy.
    • Select stimulation techniques.
    • Apply knowledge of precautions and contraindications for application of stimulation techniques.
    • Apply knowledge of adjunct techniques:
    • jing xue (points of the 14 channels)
    • jing wai qi xue (extra points)
    • wu shu xue (five transporting points)
    • yuan xue (source points)
    • luo xue (connecting points)
    • xi xue (cleft points)
    • bei shu xue (back shu transport points)
    • mu xue (front / mu points)
    • xia he xue (lower he-sea points)
    • ba mai jiao hui xue (eight confluent points)
    • ba hui xue (eight (influential) points)
    • zi mu xue (mother / child points)
    • jiao hui xue (channel crossing points)
    • a shi xue (ah shi points)
    • ear and scalp acupuncture
    • tui na / an mo (acupressure)
    • qi gong / tai ji
    • gua sha

  • Fundamentals of Biomedicine — Official range: 11–17% (Practice allocation: 14%)

    • Apply basic biomedical concepts to TCM practice.
    • Relate biomedical diagnostic and treatment approaches to TCM practice.
    • Integrate TCM and biomedical concepts.
    • human anatomical structures
    • biochemical processes
    • control mechanisms
    • infectious diseases and infection control
    • dysfunctions and common diseases
    • diagnosis and treatment methods
    • pharmacology
    • Relate biomedical information concerning patient’s condition and treatment to TCM state of health.
    • Communicate TCM diagnostic and treatment information for use by other health care workers, and to third parties.

  • Diagnostics and Treatment — Official range: 26–36% (Practice allocation: 31%)

    • Establish priorities for assessment and treatment planning.
    • Assess patient.
    • Analyze assessment information.
    • Establish treatment plan based on diagnosis.
    • Provide acupuncture treatment.
    • Monitor effectiveness of treatment plan and modify where necessary.
    • Educate and counsel patient.
    • Identify chief complaint.
    • Initiate assessment based upon chief complaint.
    • Recognize conditions that require urgent medical treatment, and direct patient appropriately.
    • Modify assessment strategy based upon emerging information.
    • Initiate collaboration, consultation or referral as appropriate.
    • Recognize support needs beyond the scope of TCM, and advise patient accordingly.
    • Collect information using wang zhen (TCM diagnostic inspection method).
    • Collect information using wen zhen (TCM diagnostic inquiry method).
    • Collect information using wen zhen (TCM diagnostic auscultation and olfaction methods).
    • Collect information using qie zhen (TCM diagnostic palpation method).
    • Measure vital signs.
    • Conduct relevant non-invasive physical examination.
    • Organize and interpret the collected information using the following TCM syndrome differentiation methods:
    • Incorporate information obtained from biomedical diagnostic data, medical and health history.
    • Make TCM diagnosis.
    • ba gang bian zheng (eight principles differentiation)
    • zang fu bian zheng (organ theory differentiation)
    • wu xing bian zheng (five elements differentiation)
    • san jiao bian zheng (triple warmer differentiation)
    • wei qi ying xue bian zheng (four levels differentiation)
    • liu jing bian zheng (six stages differentiation)
    • qi xue jin ye bian zheng (qi, blood, body fluid differentiation)
    • bing yin bian zheng (pathogenic factors differentiation)
    • jing luo bian zheng (meridian differentiation)
    • Determine TCM treatment goals and strategies.
    • Take into account precautions and contraindications.
    • Adapt treatment according to patient characteristics and needs.
    • Select appropriate points, point combinations and / or treatment areas.
    • Select appropriate course of acupuncture treatment and therapeutic modalities.
    • Adapt clinical setting to enhance comfort and safety.
    • Position patient for treatment.
    • Locate selected points on patient.
    • Apply treatment techniques.
    • Monitor and respond to patient condition during treatment.
    • Evaluate effectiveness of treatment plan on an ongoing basis.
    • Modify treatment plan to enhance effectiveness.
    • Explain etiology and pathogenesis of condition.
    • Explain TCM concepts as they apply to patient condition.
    • Inform patient of possible side effects and reaction to treatment.
    • Advise patient on yu fang and yang sheng (prevention and health preservation).
    • Counsel patient on compliance with treatment recommendations.

  • Acupuncture Techniques — Official range: 10–16% (Practice allocation: 13%)

    • Perform needling.
    • Perform moxibustion.
    • Perform treatment utilizing supplementary devices.
    • Perform cupping.
    • Perform tui na.
    • Perform filiform needling.
    • Perform dermal (plum blossom, seven star) needling.
    • Perform intra-dermal tack needling.
    • Perform three edged needling.
    • Perform direct moxibustion.
    • Perform indirect moxibustion.
    • Perform needle warming moxibustion.
    • Perform stimulation using heat lamps.
    • Perform stimulation using electro-acupuncture devices.

  • Safety — Official range: 5–9% (Practice allocation: 7%)

    • Evaluate patient risk profile relative to acupuncture treatment.
    • Provide a safe working environment.
    • Manage risks to patients: adverse reactions, medical emergencies, blood exposure, spills and fires.
    • Ensure that equipment is safe and functional.
    • Determine risk profile relative to acupuncture treatment.
    • Maintain current knowledge of communicable diseases and infection control techniques.
    • Apply universal precautions for infection control.
    • Ensure effective supervision of staff and / or students.
    • Inspect facilities for electrical hazards, fire risk and physical hazards that may cause accidents, and take action to minimize.
    • Establish procedures and route for emergency evacuation of facilities.
    • Establish procedures to maximize protection of self, staff and patients in the event of abusive or violent behaviour.
    • Manage adverse reactions and accidents resulting from treatment.
    • Respond appropriately to medical emergencies.
    • Manage blood-to-blood contact and provide direction for post exposure follow up.
    • Clean spills of blood and other body fluids.
    • Control and extinguish small fires.
    • Select equipment that enhances patient safety.
    • Maintain equipment in good working order.
    • Clean equipment regularly, and disinfect as appropriate.

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

What is the exam format?

In-person computer-based examination with an independent multiple-choice component and a clinical-case component containing case-based and independent multiple-choice and multiple-select questions. The components belong to one examination and each contributes 50% of the total mark.

How many questions are on the exam?

Total questions: 165; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.

How long is the exam?

2.5 hours of examination time per component (MC and CC), 5 hours total across both components; approved accommodations may alter individual arrangements.

What is the passing score?

A total scaled score of at least 400 is required to pass; this is a scaled score, not 400 marks or a raw percentage.

How much does the exam cost?

CAD 942 examination fee, as listed by CARB-TCMPA. Provincial application charges are separate; applicable taxes may apply (NLCHP explicitly lists $942 plus tax). Each retake requires purchase of a new examination.

Official sources and references

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.