Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dongguk University Los Angeles Accredited?
Dongguk University Los Angeles is institutionally accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM).
ACAHM is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the specialized accreditation agency for institutions/programs preparing acupuncture and Oriental medicine practitioners.
ACAHM is located at 500 Lake Street, Suite 204., Excelsior, MN 55331; phone 952/212-2434; fax 301/313-0912; www.acahm.org
Dongguk University Los Angeles (DULA) Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM) in English, Chinese, and Korean are accredited by ACAHM. Institution/program accreditation history, notes, and dates of review may be viewed at: http://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/.
The Dongguk University Los Angeles advanced practice doctoral (DAOM) program has been granted pre-accreditation status by ACAHM. The University has voluntarily ceased enrolling students in the DAOM program after 01 April 2020 and has instituted an ACAHM-approved teach out plan for all currently enrolled students. During the teach-out period, the program maintains the current pre-accredited status.
The Dongguk University Los Angeles professional doctoral (DATM) program, approved to begin enrolling students, is not yet accredited or pre-accredited by ACAHM. Graduates of this program are not considered to have graduated from an ACAHM-accredited or pre-accredited program and may not rely on ACAHM accreditation or pre-accreditation for professional licensure or other purposes.
The DATM program is eligible for ACAHM accreditation, and Dongguk University Los Angeles is currently in the process of seeking ACAHM pre-accreditation/accreditation for the program. However, Dongguk University Los Angeles can provide no assurance that pre-accreditation or accreditation will be granted by ACAHM.
Is Dongguk University Los Angeles Approved in California?
Dongguk University Los Angeles has been granted approval from the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education pursuant to California Education Code Section 94900. Both the MSOM and the DAOM programs have been approved by BPPE. DULA is approved by the California Department of Education under the U. S. Code for Veterans’ education.
Dongguk University Los Angeles’s MSOM program is approved by the California Acupuncture Board. Currently, graduates of DULA’s Master’s program are eligible to sit for the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE). Graduates of DULA’s master’s program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM®) certification exam. NCCAOM is the only national organization that validates entry-level competency in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine through professional certification in other states. NCCAOM certification or a passing score on the NCCAOM certification examinations are documentation of competency for licensure as an acupuncturist by 43 states plus the District of Columbia which represents 98% of the states that regulate acupuncture. Several states, including California, have a governmental agency that governs, supervises and controls the licensure and practice of acupuncture. In California, the Acupuncture Board is responsible for such duties. If you desire to practice in another state, it is recommended that you contact that state’s medical board or other appropriate agency, for licensure requirements. The NCCAOM’s website provides information regarding the various degree and other certification requirements for all fifty states.
DULA is approved by the US Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) for attendance by nonimmigrant foreign students into the master’s program (MSOM) only. The University will evaluate the student’s admissions application and, if the student meets all admissions criteria, DULA will issue the USCIS/SEVIS Form I-20. In April 2002, the USCIS began the process of changing many of its rules relating to the average international applicant for admission. The most significant change that has gone into effect concerns the need to obtain USCIS approval before starting school. This requirement does not affect the student applying for student visas from other countries, as students in such situations have always had to obtain approval from a U.S. Consulate before coming to the United States, and such approval will continue to be sufficient in those situations.
Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
Physical Address: 1747 N. Market Blvd. Set 225, Sacramento, CA 95834
Mailing Address: PO Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818
(888) 370-7589 (T), (916) 574-8900 (T), (916) 263-1897 (F)
California Acupuncture Board
1747 N. Market Blvd, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834
Tel (916) 515-5200, Fax (916) 928-2204
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
2025 M Street NW, Suite 800
Washington DC, 20036
Phone: (888) 381-1140 (toll-free number), (202) 381-1140 (direct phone number)
Fax: (202) 381-1141