Frequently Asked Questions

The International School of Acupuncture (ISA) is an educational initiative of the Hellenic Corporation of Chinese Medicine (HCCM), which was established in 2011. HCCM is an official member of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS).

The International School of Acupuncture (ISA) is dedicated to promoting high-quality acupuncture education through structured training programmes designed exclusively for healthcare professionals. Our instructors follow international standards and the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for basic training and safety in acupuncture.

Our comprehensive training is tailored specifically for healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists, medical doctors, dentists, nurses, osteopaths, chiropractors, podiatrists, occupational therapists and midwives, providing them with the skills and knowledge to incorporate acupuncture safely and effectively into their clinical practice.

Our programme is structured to honour the traditional approaches of East Asian Medicine and acupuncture while integrating contemporary biomedical understanding, clinical reasoning and evidence-informed practice.

Integrative Clinical Education

The curriculum combines traditional East Asian Medicine, Biomedical Acupuncture, Dry Needling, Applied Channel Theory, acupuncture treatment systems, and supervised clinical training. This allows healthcare professionals to develop a broad and clinically useful understanding of acupuncture.

Bridging East and West

By combining traditional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches with modern biomedical research, the programme helps participants apply acupuncture safely and effectively within their professional scope of practice.

Practical and Clinical Focus

The programme includes point location, needling practice, acupuncture-related techniques, clinical reasoning, treatment planning, and supervised treatment of real patients.

Choose our programme to gain a comprehensive and clinically applicable education in acupuncture, designed specifically for healthcare professionals who wish to expand their therapeutic skills.

The programme is offered by the Hellenic Corporation of Chinese Medicine (HCCM), an official member of the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS).

Certification Details

Upon successful completion, all participants receive a Certificate in Acupuncture for Health Professionals (210 hours) issued by the Hellenic Corporation of Chinese Medicine (HCCM).

Participants may also request a Certificate in Acupuncture for Health Professionals issued by the World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societies (WFAS), subject to the relevant issuance procedure and fee.

IAAPT / IADAPT certification may be available to eligible Physiotherapists / Physical Therapists, subject to the requirements and approval process of the relevant accrediting body.

Third-party certificates or professional registrations are subject to the rules, eligibility criteria, fees and approval procedures of the relevant organisation.

No. The programme is not delivered entirely online.

The theoretical component is delivered through live online teaching, while practical skills training, supervised practice and clinical practice are delivered face-to-face. In some locations, students may attend together in a classroom under the supervision of a local tutor, while the theoretical lecture is delivered live online by the lead faculty. During practical parts of the class, the local tutor supervises demonstration, practice and skills development onsite.

All supervised clinical training is completed face-to-face.

The online component is delivered through live synchronous teaching, usually via Zoom. Classes are conducted in real time and are not pre-recorded.

Students also have access to an online learning portal, such as Google Classroom, where they can access lecture notes, presentations and course materials.

Where local teaching groups are available, students may attend the live online lecture together in a classroom under the supervision of a local tutor, who supports the practical components of the teaching onsite.

Total Course Cost: €2,700. Discounts may be available for early bird registrations and for group registrations of 3 or more participants.

The fees include:

• All scheduled live teaching sessions
• Supervised practical and clinical training included in the core programme
• Lecture notes and course materials
• Access to the student online portal
• Examinations
• Certificate issued by the Hellenic Corporation of Chinese Medicine (HCCM)

The fees do not include:

• Certificates or registration fees from third-party organisations
• Educational books
• Travel and accommodation costs
• Optional clinical training in China

Duration: The programme consists of 210 contact hours and is completed over approximately 7-8 months.

Class Schedule: Teaching sessions are usually held on weekends from 09:00 to 15:00, approximately two weekends per month.

Clinical Practice: The supervised clinical practice component is conducted towards the end of the programme and is completed face-to-face.

Optional Advanced Training: Students may also participate in optional advanced practical seminars, supervised mentorship and clinical training in China.

Yes, tuition fees may be paid in instalments after payment of the initial deposit of €250. The deposit is deducted from the total tuition fee.

Payment Schedule:

• Deposit: Upon registration, to secure your place
• 1st Instalment: Before the first class
• 2nd Instalment: Before 31 January 2027

Classes are not recorded. However, students have access to the online learning portal, where they can find course materials such as presentations, PDFs and additional notes.

To successfully complete the programme, participants must attend at least 80% of all scheduled teaching sessions and must successfully complete all supervised clinical training sessions.

Yes. Students are required to complete the programme assessments successfully.

The written examination is usually conducted during the final part of the programme before clinical practice. A minimum score of 65% is required to pass.

The practical and clinical evaluation takes place during the practical and supervised clinical training components of the programme and includes point location, needling skills, safe practice, clinical reasoning and treatment planning.