• Prospective Students
  • How to Apply
  • Criteria & Requirements
  • International Students
  • Transfer Students

Ever wonder what leads someone to study Chinese Medicine?

Following are some characteristics consistent in all our students and graduates. If you have questions or would like to explore the possibilities of an acupuncture career in your future, please call our admissions office in Bradenton, Florida at (941) 289-0450 and someone can help get you sorted out.

Curious about Acupuncture?

You might be a great Oriental Medicine practitioner if…

  • You are caring and compassionate
  • You have a strong desire to help others
  • You are interested in improving people’s health and wellness
  • You are committed to learning and sharing knowledge
  • You are interested in using Chinese herbs for health and wellness
  • You are excited about delving deeper into the essence of Chinese Medicine
  • You would like to make money doing something you love
  • You have a desire to be passionate about what you do
  • Transform your life!

If you would like to get the application process started right away, you may fill out an online application now, including uploading supporting documentation, and mail the remaining required items to us in the next few days.

You may also download, print out and complete the application by hand.

Direct all materials to:

Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine
4815 14th St. W.
Bradenton, FL  34207
ATTN: Admissions

Applications received after the beginning of the semester (January, May, August) will be considered on an individual basis.

The applicant must submit the following to the Dragon Rises Admissions Office:

The first 6 items must be completed and submitted by the applicant. Each individual item may be sent separately. Once Dragon Rises College receives the first item of an application packet, a folder is created (digital or paper), so subsequent items may be added. Be sure to send in your application and fee first.

  1. A completed application, with a $50 application fee. This fee is non-refundable and can be paid online using PayPal here (accepts all credit cards and PayPal funding)
  2. A word-processed document containing relevant biographical data, basic philosophy of health care, and a statement relating how applicant became interested in the field of acupuncture and natural health care.
  3. The Applicant Health Certification concerning applicant’s current state of health.
  4. Copies of all professional licenses.
  5. Two (2) recent passport photos
  6. Copies of current driver’s license and social security card

The remaining items must be sent directly to Dragon Rises by the person/organization you’ve requested to provide information. The applicant SHOULD NOT collect the items listed below, but instead should request the person/organization mail the documents directly to the college.

  1. Two (2) letters of personal recommendation mailed directly to the College
  2. Official transcripts from all academic institutions, sent directly to the College.
    1. Foreign transcript documents written in a non-English language must be accompanied by the original and
    2. a notarized English translation along with an evaluation by a credential evaluation service.

A representative of the College will schedule a personal interview with the Director of Admissions at a mutually convenient time. In the case of extreme distance or handicap, a phone interview or video appointment may be arranged.

Prospective students applying for admission must meet the following entrance requirements:

  • Completion of an associate’s degree or sixty (60) semester/ninety (90) quarter academic post-secondary credits at the Baccalaureate level with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
    • Of these 60 credits, twenty (20) semester/thirty (30) quarter credits are required in general education courses, and must include at least three (3) credit hours from each of the following four (4) categories: (a) English & Communication; (b) Science & Mathematics; (c) Social & Behavioral; (d) Humanities and Fine Arts. Biology and Chemistry are also strongly recommended.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years of age when they begin the program
  • Submission to Dragon Rises of a completed application, with an application fee of $50

The Admissions Committee will approve acceptance of students based on the following criteria:

  • Academic background and performance
  • Strong motivation to learn acupuncture and Chinese herbology
  • Commitment to healing as a profession
  • Relevant life experience
  • Financial planning
  • Personal letters of recommendation
  • Non-Discrimination Policy

 

Dragon Rises College encourages applications from qualified applicants of all sexes from all cultural, racial, religious and ethnic groups. The College is committed to nondiscrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliations or opinions, and veteran status in the admissions, educational policies, financial aid, employment or in any program or activity.

Requirements for International Admission Compliance:

Currently Dragon Rises College is not issuing student visas.

English Language Requirements

  • Unless exempted by the Admissions Committee, students who are not native speakers of English must take the Tests of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a minimum score of 500 on the (TOEFL) paper version, 173 on the computerized TOEFL, or 61 on the Internet based TOEFL. The result of the examination determines if a student must take special courses in English prior to enrollment.

Transfer students are admitted and accepted using the same criteria as non-transfer students.

Transfer credit is granted at the discretion of the Academic Dean. It is the responsibility of the student to request a transfer of credit at enrollment and to provide necessary documentation in addition to official transcripts, such as catalog course description, syllabi, and any other documents the Academic Dean may request. In no case may graduate credit be given for coursework designated as solely undergraduate by the institution where the coursework was completed.

No partial credit can be given. Oriental medicine coursework and clinical hours may be transferred from an ACAHM accredited or candidate college. Western medicine coursework may be transferred from a college that is accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The student may be required to take the final exam for the transfer credit being requested. All transfer credits must be requested and granted by the end of the first academic year of enrollment.

A minimum of one academic year of study at Dragon Rises College, on a full course-load basis, is required for graduation and the granting of a degree. However, all Dragon Rises College program requirements must be met, and most students will need more than one year.

Transferability of Credits

Dragon Rises College neither implies nor guarantees that credits earned while enrolled will be accepted by other institutions. Each campus has policies that govern the acceptance of credit from other institutions. Transfer of credit is a privilege granted by the institution to which a student may seek admission. Students seeking to transfer credits earned at Dragon Rises College to other post-secondary institutions should contact the college or university to which they seek admission to inquire about that institution’s policies on credit transfer and acceptance.