Registering Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Physicians To Up Standards

08 Dec 2001

Starting 1 January 2002, only registered acupuncturists with valid practising certificates will be allowed to practise acupuncture in Singapore. This requirement is part of the Ministry's regulatory framework for TCM practitioners in Singapore to ensure higher practising standards. The registration of acupuncturists started in February and to date 1,429 acupuncturists have been registered. By year end, the registration will be completed.

Continuing its efforts to ensure that Singaporeans receive safe TCM treatment at the hands of qualified practitioners, the Ministry plans to start the registration process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) physicians in January 2002.

The TCM physicians registration process will be modelled after the registration for acupuncturists. The principle of "Older persons, old method; New persons, new method" which was applied successfully to the registration of acupuncturists will be used for the registration of TCM physicians. MOH has worked with the Singapore TCM Organisations Coordinating Committee (STCMOCC) and the TCM Practitioners Board to draw up the registration guidelines for TCM physicians.

Exemption Criteria During Transitional Period

A person who wishes to register as a TCM physician will be required to pass the Common TCM Qualifying Examination (CTQE). However, under the transitional arrangement, a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore who is practising TCM in Singapore as of 8 Dec 2001, and who applies for registration within the stipulated time period which will be announced later, may be exempted from CTQE. The exemption criteria are as follows:

Full Exemption

Full exemption may be granted to:

(i) A person with a basic TCM degree from a PRC TCM university approved by the TCM Practitioners Board;

(ii) A person who has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for more than 15 years, i.e. since before 8 Dec 1986;

(iii) A person who obtained a diploma for more than 10 years (i.e since before 8 Dec 1991), from a 5-year part-time training course conducted by a local TCM training school approved by the Board, and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for more than 10 years (i.e since before 8 Dec 1991);

(iv) A person who obtained a diploma for 5 or more but less than 10 years (i.e on or after 8 Dec 1991 and before 9 Dec 1996), from a 5-year part-time training course conducted by a local TCM training school approved by the Board, and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for 5 or more but less than 10 years (i.e on or after 8 Dec 1991 and before 9 Dec 1996); or

(v) A person who obtained any other diploma or certificates on or after 8 Dec 1986 and before 9 Dec 1991 from other TCM training courses conducted by local TCM training schools approved by the Board, and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for a period of between 10-15 years (i.e on or after 8 Dec 1986 and before 9 Dec 1991).

Full registration may be granted to those in categories (i), (ii) & (iii) while provisional registration may be granted to those in categories (iv) & (v).

Partial Exemption

Partial exemption may be granted to:

(i) A person who has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for more than 10 years, i.e. since before 8 Dec 1991;

(ii) A person who obtained a diploma for 5 years or less (i.e on or after 9 Dec 1996), from a 5-year part-time training course conducted by a local TCM training school approved by the Board, and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for 5 years or less (i.e on or after 9 Dec 1996); or

(iii) A person who obtained any other diploma or certificates for 5 or more but less than 10 years (i.e on or after 8 Dec 1991 and before 9 Dec 1996) from other TCM training courses conducted by local TCM training schools approved by the Board, and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for 5 or more but less than 10 years (i.e on or after 8 Dec 1991 and before 9 Dec 1996).

A person granted partial exemption is required to pass the TCM Appraisal (TA) examination before he/she qualifies for full registration. A person who fails the TA is required to pass the CTQE before he/she qualifies for full registration.

No Exemption

No exemption from CTQE may be granted to:

(i) A person with no approved qualification and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for less than 10 years, i.e. on or after 9 Dec 1991; or

(ii) A person who obtained any other diploma or certificates for less than 5 years (i.e on or after 9 Dec 1996) from other TCM training courses conducted by local TCM training schools approved by the Board, and has been practising TCM in Singapore continuously for less than 5 years (i.e on or after 9 Dec 1996).

TCM UPGRADING TRAINING COURSE

Those who fall under the transitional arrangement but do not qualify for any exemption will have to attend a prescribed TCM Upgrading Training Course (TUTC) before they are allow to sit for the CTQE.

The TUTC is estimated to last 12 months, commencing sometime in July 2002 and ending sometime in June 2003. The course curriculum will be worked out by STCMOCC with inputs from PRC experts, and approved by the TCM Practitioners Board and MOH.

There is ample time for those who do not meet the criteria to upgrade themselves by going for the relevant upgrading training courses and passing the relevant appraisals and examinations. Details of the upgrading courses and examinations will be finalised and announced later.

Application For Registration

The application for the registration of TCM physicians will be opened in January 2002 and closed in March 2002. Details of the application will be announced later.

Tentative TCM Physicians Registration Schedule

The tentative schedule for the registration of TCM physicians is as follows:

Jan 2002 - Application for Registration Opens

Mar 2002 - Application for Registration Closes

Jul 2002 - TCM Upgrading Training Course starts

Sep 2002 - 1st TCM Appraisal

Nov 2002 - 2nd TCM Appraisal

Jun 2003 - TCM Upgrading Training Course ends

Jul 2003 - 1st Common TCM Qualifying Examination

Sep 2003 - 2nd Common TCM Qualifying Examination

1 Jan 2004 - All TCM physicians registered

Compulsory Registration

From 1 Jan 2004, only registered TCM physicians with valid practising certificates will be allowed to practise TCM in Singapore.