Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

About Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

ICAOM is a small, specialized professional school whose institutional purpose is closely tied to preparation for acupuncture and herbal-medicine practice. Its official 2026–2027 catalog says it was established in Honolulu in 1996. The school initially awarded a completion diploma, enrolled its first master’s cohort in 1999, and gained specialized accreditation in 2002. It now awards the Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, with no undergraduate programs accredited by ACAHM. The institution’s main campus is on the second floor of Chinatown Cultural Plaza in downtown Honolulu. The catalog describes classrooms, administrative offices, a specialized library, a teaching clinic, treatment rooms, and an herbal dispensary within the premises. ICAOM also identifies an additional facility at Waimea Town Plaza on Hawaiʻi Island. The official website was advertising Fall 2026 and Spring enrollment and accepting applications as of August 2026. Oversight is important in this professionally regulated field. The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs lists ICAOM among current authorized institutions through March 6, 2028. The 2026–2027 catalog identifies ACAHM accreditation for both degree programs and the doctoral completion track. Prospective students should still compare the curriculum with the licensing requirements of every jurisdiction where they may practice, because graduation does not itself guarantee examination success or licensure.

For 2026–2027 entry, ICAOM applies different prior-education thresholds to its two programs. Master’s applicants need at least 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits of suitable baccalaureate-level study from an appropriately accredited institution. A completed bachelor’s degree is preferred. The stated minimum is normally a cumulative 3.0 GPA, although applicants with a 2.5–2.9 GPA may be considered after explaining their circumstances. Doctoral applicants need at least 90 semester or 135 quarter credits of appropriate baccalaureate-level education, with the same stated GPA framework. Prior study in fields such as biology, chemistry, physiology, nutrition, and psychology is recommended rather than universally described as a prerequisite for the entry-level programs. Applicants must submit the application, official transcripts, recommendations, identification materials, photographs, and a personal statement or essay. Health documentation required before attendance includes a physical examination, tuberculosis clearance, and specified immunization records, subject to the catalog’s stated exemptions. The official homepage lists July 31 as the fall application deadline and November 30 as the spring deadline; applicants should confirm the intended entry year directly. International applicants must arrange English translation and recognized evaluation of foreign credentials, document funds for at least one year of tuition and living expenses, and satisfy English-language requirements. The 2026–2027 catalog accepts several routes, including prior qualifying education in English or test results such as TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS Academic 6, or Duolingo 90. ICAOM indicates that an I-20 is issued after all admission requirements are met.

ICAOM’s two principal programs share a substantial core in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, biomedical science, and supervised clinical practice. The 2026–2027 catalog lists the Master of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine at 180 credits and 3,240 hours. Its academic structure covers theoretical foundations, acupuncture, herbal medicine, biomedicine, and clinical medicine. Topics described in the catalog include diagnostic theory, point location, channel theory, moxibustion, tui na, microsystems, dietary therapy, ethics, practice management, and recognition of conditions requiring referral to other health professionals. The Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine is a professional doctorate totaling 192 credits and 3,450 hours. It extends the master’s-level curriculum through advanced clinical competencies, collaborative care, evidence-informed practice, biomedical diagnosis, diagnostic testing, research appraisal, and longer-term case management. The institution also offers a completion track intended for appropriately qualified licensed practitioners with prior accredited graduate education. Clinical preparation is central rather than incidental. The catalog specifies 1,080 clinic hours in the master’s curriculum and 1,140 in the doctoral curriculum. Students progress toward supervised patient care through the school’s teaching clinic and, for doctoral students, opportunities in a hospital-setting clinic. An elective three-week China externship is described, but applicants should confirm whether it will be offered during their enrollment. ACAHM permits the accredited programs to offer some courses by distance education, although the hands-on programs require in-person clinical residency.

Key Highlights

• Established in Honolulu in 1996
• Authorized by Hawaii through March 6, 2028
• Offers only specialized graduate professional education in acupuncture and herbal medicine
• Main campus includes a teaching clinic and herbal dispensary

Student Life & Environment

Student experience at ICAOM is shaped by a compact professional-school setting rather than a residential undergraduate campus. The main Honolulu premises combine teaching, study, administration, and patient care. Students have access to the institution’s specialized library, which contains resources in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, natural sciences, biomedicine, nutrition, and complementary medicine. The catalog also identifies computer workstations, wireless internet, an online catalog, and a reference collection available near the classrooms and clinic. The teaching clinic is a defining part of student life. Students move from academic study into supervised encounters with community patients, gaining experience with acupuncture, herbal medicine, tui na, cupping, moxibustion, and lifestyle counseling as appropriate to their training. The school also operates an herbal dispensary. These responsibilities mean attendance, professional conduct, health documentation, and clinical readiness are practical parts of enrollment. ICAOM does not provide on-campus housing. Students must arrange their own accommodation and should budget explicitly for Honolulu living costs and transportation. The official materials do not document conventional residence halls, varsity athletics, or a broad portfolio of clubs. Applicants seeking a traditional university social environment should recognize that ICAOM instead offers a focused community organized around graduate professional training, clinic work, and relationships with faculty and fellow practitioners.

Location & Surroundings

ICAOM’s main campus is at 100 North Beretania Street in Chinatown Cultural Plaza, downtown Honolulu. The setting places classrooms and the teaching clinic within a commercial and cultural complex containing shops, restaurants, and other services. The catalog notes that the Hawaii State Library is within walking distance, giving students an additional nearby study resource. Honolulu offers an urban island setting, but prospective students should plan carefully for daily travel and living expenses. The catalog describes Oʻahu’s public bus network as extensive and identifies parking in Chinatown Cultural Plaza and on nearby streets; it nevertheless recommends reliable personal transportation. Parking rates and availability should be confirmed directly because they can change. ICAOM also lists a facility at Waimea Town Plaza in Kamuela on Hawaiʻi Island. Applicants should not assume that every course or full degree can be completed there: the official homepage describes it as an additional facility, while Honolulu is explicitly identified as the main campus. Students interested in Hawaiʻi Island clinical activity should ask the institution which components are offered in Waimea and how frequently travel between islands might be required.

Costs & Career Outcomes

ICAOM’s 2026–2027 catalog sets full-time tuition at $380 per credit for students taking at least 12 credits per trimester and part-time tuition at $410 per credit. It estimates total program cost at $70,000 for the master’s and $75,000 for the doctorate. These figures are institution estimates, not individualized cost-of-attendance budgets. The catalog warns that tuition and fees may rise annually and are also subject to Hawaii general excise tax. Students should additionally plan for registration and clinical fees, examinations, approximately $500 per trimester for books and supplies, housing, food, transportation, and other living costs. No campus housing is provided. The catalog says eligible students can use federal Title IV student loans and that approved veterans’ education benefits are available. It identifies 12 credits as full-time enrollment for financial-aid purposes. Prospective borrowers should request a current aid estimate and compare total borrowing with realistic early-career earnings; the institution does not publish a current salary guarantee. Both programs are designed for professional acupuncture and herbal-medicine practice. The catalog states that graduates meet educational preparation goals for national certification examinations and identifies eligibility for the relevant national and California examinations. Hawaii licensure requires completion of qualifying education and passage of the national board examinations. Requirements differ across states, and ICAOM expressly does not guarantee examination success or licensure. Students should verify the school’s current professional-disclosure determination with the licensing board in the state where they intend to work before enrolling.