Essentials of Veterinary Chinese Herbal Medicine
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Essentials of Veterinary Acupuncture - NZVA

Courses
Duration:

10 Weeks

Six week course with ten weeks access; 30 hours
Course will start on

September 22, 2025

Price:

FREE

Enquire

About the Course

Essentials of Veterinary Acupuncture is designed for veterinarians with no prior experience of acupuncture. You will learn techniques and some of the most powerful acupuncture points to get you started in treating musculoskeletal disorders in small animals (also with some application in equines).

As a veterinarian you can get started with what you already know - acupuncture improves patient well-being in ways you already understand - influencing autonomic activity, relieving pain and changing blood flow patterns, through techniques and mechanisms that the veterinarian can learn quickly and easily.

This six week course will get you started and the positive results with patients will inspire you to obtain in-depth acupuncture training. CIVT also offers a Certification in Equine Acupuncture, Certification in Small Animal Acupuncture, Advanced Certification in Veterinary Neuroacupuncture and higher level qualifications.

To watch a short video of Dr Steve Marsden discussing the ‘Science behind Veterinary Acupuncture’ please CLICK HERE.

Registrants for this course will be eligible to register for a live acupuncture workshop to be held in New Zealand. 

"The Essentials of Veterinary Acupuncture course was a fantastic course for getting started with acupuncture. The platform was user friendly with open communication forums between tutors and colleagues doing the course. Seamlessly designed for online learning when it suits you. I’m excited to do more courses with CIVT." Dr Rachael Parsons, Australia, BVS (Hons)

Please note that this is an evidence-based course delivered by qualified and experienced practitioners but is not an Australian government-accredited qualification.

Communication and course materials

We will provide self-paced learning content and activities within the myCIVT classroom online. You will receive a log in and password to access this room. From myCIVT you can access course content as well as submit assessment tasks and complete online quizzes. Tutor support is available throughout the course. Email/Zoom support is available.

  • Online classroom
  • Lectures and tutorials
  • Readings

Assessments

  • Forum participation
  • Quizzes
  • Pulse log for five patients
  • Case log for three patients

Course Outcomes

  • Use some of the most powerful acupuncture points used to treat small animals for a variety of common musculoskeletal disorders
  • Use a technique that makes point selection easy and effective
  • Tell in advance that the patient will go home and improve
  • Explain the basics of how acupuncture works from both an Eastern and Western perspective to any of your clients or colleagues
  • See for yourself the efficacy and ease of integrating acupuncture into your practice

Credits

  • 10 RACE Credits
Dr Susi Lam
Dr Jodi Van Tine
Dr Steve Marsden
Dr Sara Baldey

Meet the Tutors and Lecturers

Dr Susi Lam
DVM, GDVA, GDVCHM
Dr Susanne Lam studied at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna when she was first exposed to acupuncture through Dr Oswald Kothbauer. After being based in Hong Kong for 17 years, Susi moved back to Austria permanently in 2012 with...
2 Webinars and 12 Courses
MA DVM ACVNA CVFT GDVA GDVCHM FACVBM
Dr. Jodi Van Tine received a Masters Degree in Cellular Immunology from San Jose State University in 1990. She earned the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the University of California, Davis, in 1994. For three years she practiced mixed...
2 Webinars and 10 Courses
DVM ND MSOM FACVBM GDVA GDVCHM Dipl.AC Dipl.CH AHGDr
Dr Steve Marsden received his doctorate in veterinary medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in 1988. At the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon he obtained a doctorate in Naturopathic medicine, a Master's of Science...
37 Webinars and 16 Courses
BSc (Hons), BVMS, CVA, Cert IV TAE
Sara completed a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry and Biochemistry) in 1997 and Post Graduate Honours in Organic Chemistry in 1999 at the Northern Territory University, Darwin, Northern Territory. In 2004, she completed her veterinary qualifications...
1 Webinar and 3 Courses

What will you Learn

History of Veterinary Acupuncture

  • What is acupuncture?
  • A brief history of acupuncture

The science behind Veterinary Acupuncture

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Mechanisms of analgesia
  • Review of the research

Overview of traditional Chinese medicine

  • Concepts of meridians and channels
  • Internal medical theory
  • Terminology and the...

History of Veterinary Acupuncture

  • What is acupuncture?
  • A brief history of acupuncture

The science behind Veterinary Acupuncture

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Mechanisms of analgesia
  • Review of the research

Overview of traditional Chinese medicine

  • Concepts of meridians and channels
  • Internal medical theory
  • Terminology and the language of acupuncture.

All in the context of cutting-edge medical research

Acupuncture diagnosis

  • Assessing the patient
  • Hemodynamics and acupuncture

Points for common conditions

  • Acupuncture points for knee problems
  • Acupuncture points for neck pain
  • Acupuncture points for hip pain
  • Acupuncture points for back and hind limb pain

Getting started: Your first treatment

  • Types of needles
  • Appropriate cases
  • Observations and follow up
  • Resources
Read More
Essentials of Veterinary Acupuncture - NZVA

Before you take the course

Below requirements are needed before you can take this course.
  • You should have independent computer skills and be able to access the internet
  • This course is restricted to qualified veterinarians, others will be considered on an individual basis
  • You must have access to a minimum of five dogs/cats

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more about the questions that our students asked?
Is online study right for me?

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. Online or distance learning is not for everyone. Think carefully before you enroll. To succeed in online learning and distance education you will need:

  • A commitment to study and enquiry
  • To be capable of self directed learning with our guidance and support through your course
  • Motivation to pursue your course of study
  • Access to the internet and a printer
  • A good internet service that provides a good speed for downloads
  • An enthusiasm for engaging with your tutors and peers
  • The ability to work on your own or collaborate in a team
  • The capability of an independent level of written and spoken English
  • An appointment by phone may be requested prior to course commencement- we don't want you to start if we think we can't provide the right experience for you
  • If you are not sure contact us, we can help you gain a  full understanding of our courses before applying.

What you won't need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

All our courses are available to enrol at any time.  Our courses are part time, self paced within the course timeframe, and fully online.  Sometimes there is a scheduled start date for a course, in which we accept a group intake of enrolments. This encourages a cohort of students to move through the course together, making for a more interactive learning experience.

Although some courses have live sessions available, there are no live sessions that you are required to attend for any of our courses.  Our courses are delivered online and are self paced within the course timeframe, to give you the greatest flexibility with your study. You can study anywhere, anytime that suits you. We have great learning tools such as lectures, comprehensive course notes, videos, online resources, discussion forum and continuous support from our highly qualified and experienced tutors to help you can get the most out of your course.

Please refer to our enrolment terms and conditions when seeking extra time in a course, https://civtedu.org/enrolment-terms-and-conditions 

If you take a "leave of absence/deferral" from a course this freezes your progress in the course.  You will have no access to the course during this time.  A request for a leave of absence/deferral can be made for up to 3 months, initially.  Longer periods of time away from the course can be reviewed after this time.  If you want to use any course resources whilst you are taking your leave of absence/deferral you will need to download the material (such as documents, course notes, reading material) beforehand.  There is no fee to take a leave of absence/deferral, however your regular payment instalments for the course will continue.

If you request an "extension" for a course, you may be given extra time in a course and still have full access to the course.  An extension can be granted for up to, or equal to, the maximal period of study for that course.  There is a fee involved in applying for an extension, this varies according to the amount of extra time requested and is found on the link provided.

 

This depends on the type of course you enrol in.

Our introductory or short courses require approximately 3-5 hours per week.  Our Certifications and Graduate Diplomas require approximately 5-10 hours per week.  This will vary amongst individuals, depending on the pace in which they learn.  More time may be needed each week, depending on how long an individual needs to spend on completing assignments. 

If you are a registered Veterinarian, you are eligible to enrol in any of our courses, https://civtedu.org/courses 

If you are a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse or Animal Health Professional you may be able to apply to enrol in selected courses for Veterinarians, however you will need to go through an eligibility process first. Otherwise, you can apply for our courses for Animal Health Professionals, https://civtedu.org/courses/animal-health-professionals 

If you are a Pet Owner, you can apply for our courses designed for Pet Owners, https://civtedu.org/courses/pet-owners 

 

Earn your own CIVT certificate of completion

The College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies offers courses that are both challenging and rewarding. You can learn at your own pace under the tutelage of experts in their field. What you won’t need is to pay airfares, travel, hotel bills by participating in green education!

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements.

What's next after taking this course

Recommended courses after you completed this course
11048NAT-Graduate Diploma of Veterinary Acupuncture
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Extend your knowledge with our Webinars

Access webinars in your preferred time or join with our upcoming live webinars
Integrating Veterinary Acupuncture in Clinical Practice
Integrating Veterinary Acupuncture in Clinical Practice
March 2023
Dr Sara Baldey BSc (Hons), BVMS, CVA, Cert IV TAE
Light Speed! Clinical Application of Laser Acupuncture in Veterinary Medicine
Light Speed! Clinical Application of Laser Acupuncture in Veterinary Medicine
July 2023
Dr Emily Mangan DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVFT, CVTP, CCRV, CVMMP