About the College of Traditional Acupuncture

Why CTA?

There’s no doubt that if you’re thinking about studying acupuncture that you’ll have many questions – from what are the different styles of acupuncture and what courses are available through to the more practical questions of how will studying fit in with your life now and is funding help available? We’ll try to answer as many of these as possible in plain, simple terms to allow you to make an informed decision that’s right for YOU.

On this page and throughout the site, you’ll discover more about the College, its history and what it can offer you as a student. If you still have questions or would like to take things a step further, why not join us on a Preview Day where you can meet our staff, see the College and get answers to any remaining questions you have.

Our students come from all backgrounds, all age groups and they all have different reasons for wanting to study acupuncture. We’ve got flexible courses that run at weekends or weekdays and can help you get funding for your course fee, so no matter what you’re looking for, there’s a course here for you.
 

College Ethos and Values

In the BA(Hons) programme, we aim to promote the development of professional artistry and technical excellence, including the personal attributes of integrity, humility, caring, trust, responsibility, respect, confidence and professionalism. All of the College’s activities and working practices are informed by this ethos and we model as individuals and as an institution the ethos and values that we expect our students to learn.

" I was at the turning point in my life and looking for something new to do. The idea of practicing acupuncture hit me and stuck. The subject was a big mysterious unexplored void that pulled me in. I listened to my heart and took the leap of faith, and have been riding the waves ever since.
Studying acupuncture is a life-changing journey of self-discovery and universal awareness. The rewards are certainly worth the sacrifices" more

Our Profile

Since its establishment, the College has gained international recognition as a leading centre for the study of traditional acupuncture. The College is a registered charity bringing organisational, personal and financial benefits, which are welcomed by staff, students and patients alike.

The college is fully accredited by the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board and our Licentiate programme is validated by Oxford Brookes University, giving our students the honour of graduating and obtaining the degree award of B.A. (Hons) in Traditional Acupuncture.

The college regularly uses the services of external guest speakers, both from the UK and overseas, to hold workshops and present lectures.

CTA is registered with the UK Government's Department for Education and Skills (DfES). This not only ensures continual assessment of standards, it also enables overseas students to study at the College and to qualify for a full student visa. More information on the register can be found here. Registration means we’re also the only private Acupuncture College whose students can apply for Student Loans of up to £3,000 per year to help fund their study. More details can be found on our Funding page.

Upon receiving their BA(Hons) degree, our graduates are eligible to join the British Acupuncture Council, the lead professional body regulating traditional acupuncture in the UK. The acupuncture profession is currently finding an appropriate route towards statutory regulation. The current indicators are that acupuncture will be regulated by the Health Professions Council, with the title of acupuncturist being protected by law. CTA graduates will be very well placed as the profession undergoes these changes, both professionally, academically and clinically.
 

Tall Trees

The College of Traditional Acupuncture is set in 6 acres of beautiful parkland, the whole aspect of the college provides a tremendous feeling of tranquillity yet provides large spacious modern facilities, all geared to help our students through their programme of study.

To date, over 3000 people from all walks of life have graduated though the doors of our College, and the majority of these are now running their own successful practices, not only in the UK but around the world.

The College is proud of its reputation as the leading provider of Five Element traditional acupuncture training, and we have the honour of having trained the vast majority of top praticitioners and lecturers in the country.

We run a very successful clinic from the college, giving our recent and past graduates the chance of utilising our tremendous facilities and treatment rooms, providing them with a very desirable base from which they can operate their own practices.

As part of our dedication to continuing education, we run a comprehensive package of events and lectures. These are open to all our graduates and members of the British Acupuncture Council, in which we encourage practitioners to further their knowledge and skills to a level of excellence and mastery.

The College Staff

The College has a team of highly qualified and experienced practitioners as members of its teaching faculty, all of whom are members of the British Acupuncture Council. The faculty are all involved in a continuing staff development programme and meet regularly to review the programmes being offered. The College also invites guest lecturers, from this country and abroad, to give lectures and run workshops.

There is a real sense of teamwork and excitement from the staff, who are committed to providing an ever-evolving programme of study which will develop the skills required of a student practitioner.

Click here to see profiles of the College staff and faculty.