Acupuncture Schools

Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine



Mission Statement

The mission of the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine is to provide students with a program that prepares them to become qualified independent practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)/Oriental Medicine. ATOM students will be trained to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics for the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine in the United States. 

In keeping with its mission, ATOM sets forth seven educational objectives. The graduates of the institute will be able to: 

  • Practice in a professional and ethical manner. 
  • Exercise appropriate clinical judgment with regard to assessment, diagnosis and decisions relating to therapeutic modalities, prognosis, and referral. 
  • Become proficient in the theory and practice of acupuncture and in the preparation and prescription of Chinese herbal therapy. 
  • Become proficient in the theory and practice of nutrition and preventative care and to incorporate these principles and practices of traditional Chinese medicine/Oriental medicine and to be prepared to counsel patients on elements of health. 
  • Promote the delivery of health care in the United States by fully recognizing the complementary functions of traditional Chinese medicine, Oriental medicine and contemporary Western medicine. 
  • Meet the requirements of the Florida Board of Acupuncture and the National Commission for Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) including the ability to pass the state and national acupuncture and herbal certification examinations. 
  • Demonstrate the commitment to traditional Oriental medicine by participating in professional continuing education as a lifelong learning process. 

History

The Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine is a nationally accredited, not-for-profit educational corporation. ATOM received its license on October 1, 1994, under the laws of the state of Florida. It now operates exclusively as a professional, private, and independent college offering academic programs and degrees in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and Oriental medicine. The institute is exempt for federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. ATOM also maintains tax exempt status with the state of Florida. 

ATOM received accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) on May 4, 1999, and was reaccredited for another four year period by ACAOM on May 7, 2002. It will be reviewed by ACAOM again in the spring of 2006. 

Programs Offered

The program offered by ATOM is in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)/Oriental medicine. Its curriculum requires a minimum of 2762 hours or 158 credit hours of study, and corresponds to four academic years completed in a minimum of 36 months. It prepares students for a career in TCM and qualifies them to sit not only for the Florida licensure examination, but also for the national certification examinations required by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) in acupuncture and herbology. The skills acquired through this curriculum introduce students to the concepts and foundations of traditional Chinese medicine and help them to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western medicine. 

ATOM has designated a portion of its Master's level curriculum to be applied toward a Bachelor's degree in health sciences in addition to the coursework that applies toward a Master's degree in Oriental medicine. Both degrees are conferred at the completion of the entire four-academic-year program. 

The courses in the curriculum are presented over a three-year span in a required course sequence as outlined on the school's Web site. The minimum required time for the full program is three calendar years. The maximum time, including any possible interruptions, that a student can be enrolled to fulfill the Institute's program is eight calendar years. 

Contact Information

For more information on the Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine, contact:

Atlantic Institute of Oriental Medicine
100 East Broward Boulevard, Suite 100
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Tel: (954) 763-9840
Fax: (954) 763-9844
E-mail: atom@atom.edu 
Web site: http://www.atom.edu