NZCCM undertakes to train practitioners to a high international standard of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and Western Massage Therapies. Applicants to NZCCM programmes should possess the personal and professional qualities appropriate to be a competent and ethical healthcare provider.
All applicants must be onshore in New Zealand for attendance purposes; this is irrespective of the delivery mode for the programme of study for which the student intends to enrol.
Applicants must declare any health issues or disability on a path towards confident, independent professional practice to allow NZCCM to consider whether appropriate support can be provided, and the likelihood of the applicant’s ability to meet professional requirements and practice independently on completion of the programme.
The $200 nonrefundable Enrolment Fee for students must be paid when you lodge your enrolment application. This fee is only refundable if your application is declined or your course does not take place.
All course fees are determined by the Board of NZCCM and will be reviewed annually and in line with Tertiary Education Commission guidelines and approval.
Students are required to pay tuition fees in full prior to the commencement of courses.
Police Vetting is a compulsory part of our admissions process for applicants entering clinical placements or other regulated settings.
Applicants are required to submit a Consent Form for Police Vetting, and any associated costs for vetting are the responsibility of the applicant, unless specified otherwise by NZCCM.
➤ Title: Do I Need to Be Police Vetted?
Start:
⬇️
Are you a domestic or international student?
➡️ Domestic → ✅ Police vetting required
➡️ International → Next step:
⬇️
Are you on a student visa?
➡️ Yes → ❌ No vetting required (Handled via Immigration)
➡️ No → Next step:
⬇️
Have you been in New Zealand for 3 months or more?
➡️ Yes → ✅ Police vetting required
➡️ No → ❌ Vetting not required (yet)
* Applicants with a previous or outstanding criminal record may be unable to register with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand.
** For TCM students, refer to the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand Registration Standards as the responsible authority.
Comprehensive details of the student support services offered are detailed in the Student Handbook that you will receive at Orientation.
All programmes at NZCCM are taught and assessed in English. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate sufficient English language competence to undertake tertiary-level education in New Zealand.
Students’ English language proficiency includes speaking, reading, writing, and listening, and must be appropriate to the level of the programme to support their academic success.
Readiness for Registration with the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ)
Ongoing assessment of students’ communication ability forms part of determining readiness for registration and professional suitability. The CMCNZ requires that applicants for registration demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively and safely in English as a condition of registration.
Meeting the CMCNZ’s English Language Requirement is essential for eligibility to register and practise as a Chinese Medicine practitioner in New Zealand as stipulated below. Students whose first language is not English and who have completed fewer than three or four years of full-time higher education in New Zealand may need to meet the CMCNZ English language proficiency requirements, specifically Pathway 6.
CMCNZ Pathway 6
By the end of the programme, graduates are expected to have achieved the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:
Interview
Applicants will be required to attend an interview to determine their suitability for the programme and to ensure that there is a match between the learner, the learner’s employment and future goals, and the programme.
Where face-to-face interviews are not possible, remote applicants will be required to use technology such as videoconferencing.
During the interview, the applicant will be assessed against the following aspects to determine admission to the programme:
Appeal Against Non-selection
Any applicant who is refused permission to enrol or who objects to any condition of enrolment imposed can, within 10 working days of being notified of the decision, appeal in writing to the Chief Executive Officer.
The minimum age to enter this programme is 20 years.
The minimum entry qualification for the Master of Chinese Medicine is a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture or equivalent (to a bachelor’s degree listed at level 7 on the NZQF).
Admission as an individual to a master’s degree is based on the evaluation of documentary evidence (including the academic record) of the individual applicant’s ability to undertake postgraduate study in the specialist field of Chinese Medicine.
Applicants to the Master of Chinese Medicine (MCM) programme must hold a bachelor’s degree with either a major in Herbal Medicine or Acupuncture with at least 360 credits or equivalent (equivalent means a level 7 Diploma in Acupuncture or Chinese Medicine with at least 360 credits with a minimum recent continuous five years of relevant working experience) from institutions either in Aotearoa New Zealand or abroad.
To meet the Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ)’s standards for registration as a Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioner upon graduation, students holding different bachelor’s or Diploma (level 7) qualifications need to enrol in specific study pathways to fulfil the 180 credits requirement for the MCM programme.
Applicants must have sufficient competence in English to undertake this programme, which is taught and assessed in English.
If a domestic student is not a native English speaker, they must demonstrate that their command of English meets New Zealand university master’s degree entrance requirements or provide evidence of:
Any applicant whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of their English language competency. An IELTS Academic test score with an average of 6.5 and no band less than 6, or equivalent, is required.
Final approval is made by the Programme Management Committee and is subject to:
Candidates must demonstrate they meet the University Entrance requirements as defined by NZQA or fulfil one of the following modes of entrance:
NCEA Level 3:
Cambridge International Examinations:
May be deemed equivalent to the university entrance standard either on their own or in combination with NCEA (as specified by the NZ Universities Vice Chancellors Committee).
Assessment of Prior Learning (APL):
Applicants must hold the New Zealand Diploma in Wellness and Relaxation Massage (Level5) with NZQA Ref #2740 or can demonstrate international/national equivalent qualification that has been endorsed by professional membership or currency of status through annual practicing certificates.
Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age, have passed at least 60 credits at NCEA Level 2 in one year or equivalent preferably including Biology, and have no communicable diseases, physical or psychological impairments which may adversely affect their ability to undertake the programme of study or work with people in a clinical setting.
Applicants must be able to communicate in English. Internationals students or residents whose first language is neither English nor Maori must have a minimum overall IELTS score of 5.5 with no band lower than 5 or equivalent evidence of English language proficiency.
All applicants must undergo an interview to confirm their suitability for the programme.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above, but present evidence of ability to succeed (eg maturity , life experience, other study ) and are enthusiastic and motivated to achieve, and provide evidence of prior learning and experience will be considered.
Applicants must be a minimum of 18 years of age, have passed at least 60 credits at NCEA Level 2 in one year or equivalent preferably including Biology, and have no communicable diseases, physical or psychological impairments which may adversely affect their ability to undertake the programme of study or work with people in a clinical setting.
Applicants must be able to communicate competently in English. International students or residents whose first language is neither English nor Maori must have a minimum overall IELTS score of 5.5 with no band lower than 5.0 or equivalent evidence of English language proficiency. All applicants must undergo an interview to confirm their suitability for the programme.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above but present evidence of ability to succeed (e.g., maturity, life experience, work experience, or other study), or are enthusiastic and motivated to achieve, or provide evidence of relevant prior learning and experience may be accepted at the discretion of the Programme Management Committee.
undergo an interview (face-to-face or via video conference) to confirm their suitability for the programme.
To be admitted to the NZCEL 5 programme at NZCCM, all candidates must meet the following requirements:
Note: This programme is solely delivered face-to-face. International students must have a valid visa to enrol in the NZCEL 5 programme. Students are not able to study online from their home country, and student visa holders are not permitted to study this programme solely via online delivery.
In order to be accepted into the NZCEL 5 programme at NZCCM, a candidate must meet one of the following English language requirements:
To be admitted to the NZCEL 5 programme at NZCCM, all candidates must meet the following requirements:
Note: This programme is solely delivered face-to-face. International students must have a valid visa to enrol in the NZCEL 5 programme. Students are not able to study online from their home country, and student visa holders are not permitted to study this programme solely via online delivery.
In order to be accepted into the NZCEL 5 programme at NZCCM, a candidate must meet one of the following English language requirements:
| STEP | DESCRIPTION |
| Step 1 |
Application Please read all the information provided in this section of the Prospectus. Then fill in the Enrolment Form and compile all the required attachment documents. |
| Step 2 |
Enrolment Fee and Interview Send us or bring in your completed Enrolment Form and Enrolment Fee of $200 as soon as you can together with the required documents to avoid missing out on your place of study. The interview is designed as an opportunity for you to ask any questions and find out information you require to assess the course meets your personal career and study goals and for NZCCM to see that the intended qualification is suitable for you, any special needs you may have, and your likely ability to complete the study requirements, including English language ability. |
| Step 3 |
Conditional Offer of Place After your interview, we will complete the selection process and write to successful applicants with an offer of place which means your enrolment will be complete once you pay the invoice and submit necessary documents included with the letter. |
| Step 4 |
Enrolment Completed If you are accepted to the desired course you will receive a timetable , and a letter welcoming you to orientation after your fees have been paid and the required documents have been received. Where the College declines an application for enrolment the applicant is informed in writing. The Enrolment Fee will be refunded in full to all declined applicants. If your application was declined because your English language does not meet the entry level, your can undertake an assessment with an appropriate provider and/or enrol with NZCCM or with another appropriate English Language training college. |
| Step 5 |
Documentation Completed Public Trust documentation must be signed and initialled before any tuition fee is paid to NZCCM. This must be completed within five working days of starting the course – ie during the first week. Students who do not complete the fee payment documentation will be suspended from class, unless they have written exemption from NZCCM. |
0064 9 5802376
auck@chinesemedicine.ac.nz
321 Great South Road, Greenlane,
Auckland, New Zealand
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