Common Degrees in Alternative Medicine
<%@ LANGUAGE="JSCRIPT" %>Common Degrees in Alternative Medicine
You're familiar with an M.D.--but what about an M.Ac. or a D.Hom.? These are just two of the many degrees that are granted by a wide variety of the boards, schools and associations of alternative medicine. The list below gives you many of the alternative degrees that are currently available and should help you tell whether an alternative practitioner is well-trained or not.
A.P. (Acupuncture Physician)
Signifies state certification in Florida. The state now grants the title certified acupuncturist.
B.A.M.S. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery)
Indian college degree equivalent to an M.D. but in Ayurvedic medicine; requires four years of graduate studies. There are no state-recognized certification exams or titles in the United States. Most Ayurvedic practitioners have either an N.D. or an M.D. degree and practice under that title.
C.A. (Certified Acupuncturist)
Signifies board certification in acupuncture and licensure to practice granted by the state medical board.
C.A.M.T. (Certified Acupressure Massage Therapist)
Qualifications depend on the school from which the degree is received. No state or federal regulation.
C.A.T. (Certified Acupressure Therapist)
One thousand hours of training are required to become an acupressure therapist. An additional 150 hours of training at a fully approved school are needed for certification.
C.M.T. (Certified Music Therapist)
The American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT) grants this designation to graduates of music therapy programs at AAMT-approved schools who complete clinical internships of 900 hours.
D.Ac. (Diplomate of Acupuncture)
Indicates that the acupuncturist has passed an exam given by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists.
D.H.A.N.P. (Diplomate of Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians)
N.D.'s who pass the certification exam given by the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians may use these initials to indicate that they are also homeopaths. A minimum of one year in practice is required before one may sit for the D.H.A.N.P. exam.
D.Hom. (Diplomate of Homeopathic Medicine)
This degree, along with an M.D., used to be granted by Hahnemann Medical College (now Hahnemann University School of Medicine) in Philadelphia, the last medical school to offer training in homeopathy. It has not been granted since the late 1940s.
D.Ht. (Diplomate of Homeotherapeutics)
This designation is awarded to M.D.'s and D.O.'s after they pass an exam consisting of a presentation of ten cases treated with homeopathic medicine with three years of follow-up, a written exam, an oral exam and a casetaking supervised by a panel of doctors.
D.O.M. (Doctor of Oriental Medicine)
Synonymous with O.M.D. Both abbreviations are used.
L.Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist)
Indicates a state license or a diploma from a European school. Synonymous with C.A.
L.M. (Licensed Midwife)
Indicates state licensing; requirements vary greatly between states.
L.M.T. (Licensed Massage Therapist)
The national certification exam is given by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Body Work, which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Most states require a minimum of 500 hours of in-class training.
M.Ac. (Master of Acupuncture)
Graduate of an M.Ac. education program. This usually requires two years of study plus a year of supervised practice.
M.A.Sc. (Master of Ayurvedic Science)
Indian college degree that requires three years of post-graduate studies, including an internship of two years. This is in addition to the four years of graduate work necessary to earn a B.A.M.S.
Ms.T., M.T. (Massage Therapist)
A generic term that doesn't necessarily entail certification or licensure.
N.D. (Doctor of Naturopathy)
N.D. licensure laws require a resident pre-med course of at least four years and 4,000 hours of study at a college recognized by the state examining board. N.D.'s are considered the general practitioners of the natural healing world.
O.M.D. (Oriental Medical Doctor)
This title generally indicates some additional training beyond state licensure to practice acupuncture. It also is sometimes taken by Chinese M.D.'s who are licensed medical doctors in China but not in the United States and by U.S. practitioners who complete O.M.D. degree programs at foreign schools. If you are considering treatment from someone who calls himself an O.M.D., note if he also uses the initials C.A., L.Ac., Lic.Ac. or R.Ac., all of which usually indicate state licensure or qualification.
R.Ac. (Registered Acupuncturist)
State registration; in Vermont, registration does not include a review of qualifications.
R.M.T. (Registered Music Therapist)
Requirements for this title, granted by the National Association for Music Therapy (NAMT), include a four-year degree in music therapy from an NAMT-approved school and a six-month, full-time supervised clinical internship (1,040 hours total). Use of this designation does not indicate state licensure.