NCBAHM Mock Exams & Practice

Guide to the NCBAHM National Board Examinations
 

Formerly the NCCAOM Certification Examinations

Effective January 2026, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) changed its name to the:

National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM)

The name change does not invalidate existing certifications. The national examinations, certification standards, and recertification system continue during the transition. Applicants may still see the former NCCAOM name in handbooks, examination portals, state laws, and older regulatory documents.

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National Certification and State Licensure Are Different

NCBAHM evaluates applicant eligibility, administers national board examinations, and awards professional certification. However, NCBAHM certification is not a state license and does not automatically guarantee permission to practice in any state.

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Each state establishes its own requirements for acupuncture and herbal medicine licensure. Requirements may include:

• Specific NCBAHM examinations or certifications

• Educational and clinical-training standards

• Clean Needle Technique certification

• Background checks

• State law or jurisprudence examinations

• Language or documentation requirements

• Separate authorization to practice Chinese herbal medicine

• State-specific scope-of-practice limitations
   

Before applying for NCBAHM certification, applicants should verify the requirements of the state in which they intend to practice.
 

NCBAHM Certification Options
 

1. Certification in Acupuncture

The required examination modules generally include:

• Foundations of Oriental Medicine (FOM)

• Acupuncture with Point Location (ACPL)

• Biomedicine (BIO)
   

2. Certification in Chinese Herbology

The required examination modules generally include:

• Foundations of Oriental Medicine (FOM)

• Chinese Herbology (CH)

• Biomedicine (BIO)
   

3. Certification in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

Older documents may refer to this credential as Oriental Medicine Certification. It generally requires all four examination modules:

• Foundations of Oriental Medicine (FOM)

• Acupuncture with Point Location (ACPL)

• Chinese Herbology (CH)

• Biomedicine (BIO)
   

Certification titles and professional designations are being updated during the 2026 name transition. Applicants should use the exact certification name displayed in their NCBAHM account.

Basic Eligibility Pathways

Applicants must satisfy NCBAHM educational eligibility requirements before they can be approved to test.
 

U.S. Formal-Education Pathway

Applicants generally must graduate from a master’s or professional doctorate program in acupuncture or herbal medicine that is accredited by, or in candidacy status with, the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM).

A U.S. formal-education applicant may submit a certification application no more than 60 days before the anticipated graduation date. The school must send the final official graduation transcript directly to NCBAHM before the applicant can be approved to test.
 

International-Education Pathway

Applicants educated outside the United States must complete an international education review.
 

International applicants generally need to:

1. Create an account in the NCBAHM Certification Portal and obtain an NCBAHM ID.

2. Enter the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD) evaluation process through the International Verification section of the account.

3. Submit the required degree or diploma, complete transcripts, course hours or credits, clinical-training hours, and course descriptions or syllabi.

4. Provide acceptable English translations of documents issued in another language.

5. Complete a course-by-course comparability evaluation.

6. Complete the Clean Needle Technique requirement and arrange for verification of the CNT certificate.

7. Follow NCBAHM instructions regarding when to submit the certification application after the ICD report and CNT verification have been received.

ICD verifies document authenticity and evaluates educational comparability. An ICD evaluation does not itself guarantee eligibility for NCBAHM examinations. International reviews may take several months, so applicants should begin early.

Combination of Formal Education and Apprenticeship

NCBAHM currently maintains a pathway that combines formal education and supervised apprenticeship. This is not an experience-only pathway.
 

The pathway:

• Is primarily available for initial Acupuncture certification

• Includes detailed requirements for formal coursework, supervised contact hours, clinical training, documentation, and preceptor qualifications

• Requires official NCBAHM apprenticeship forms and workbooks

• Is evaluated individually
   

Prospective applicants should contact NCBAHM and obtain the current apprenticeship workbook before beginning or continuing training under this pathway.

Clean Needle Technique Requirement

Applicants are generally required to complete the Clean Needle Technique (CNT) program offered or approved through the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM).
 

Important points include:

• CNT verification must be submitted to NCBAHM in the required manner.

• The CNT completion date generally must fall within six years of the certification application date.

• Applicants with an older CNT certificate may need to complete an approved review course or repeat the CNT program.

• CNT is a certification requirement and should not be described simply as another NCBAHM theory examination.
   

Application and Examination Process

Step 1: Verify State Requirements

Identify the state in which you plan to practice and review that state’s examination, certification, education, and scope-of-practice requirements.
 

Step 2: Select a Certification

Choose Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, or Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine certification based on your education and the requirements of your intended licensing state.
 

Step 3: Create an NCBAHM Account

Create an account in the official certification portal, obtain an NCBAHM ID, and make sure your name exactly matches your passport or government-issued identification.
 

Step 4: Complete the Education Review

U.S. graduates must arrange for their school to submit an official transcript. International graduates must complete the ICD education-evaluation process.
 

Step 5: Complete the CNT Requirement

Complete the required Clean Needle Technique program and confirm that valid verification has been received in your certification account.
 

Step 6: Submit the Certification Application

Submit the online application and pay the applicable application fee. Submission does not automatically establish examination eligibility. NCBAHM must review and accept all required documents.
 

Step 7: Receive Authorization to Test

After approval, the applicant receives an Authorization to Test Letter (ATT). The ATT contains important instructions for scheduling, rescheduling, cancellation, identification, and test-center admission.
 

Step 8: Schedule Through Pearson VUE

After receiving the ATT, schedule the required examination modules through Pearson VUE. Testing is offered throughout the year, and the modules may generally be taken in any order.
 

Step 9: Pass the Required Examinations

Complete all examination modules required for the selected certification within the certification application period.
 

Step 10: Obtain Certification and Apply for State Licensure

After all certification requirements are completed, NCBAHM awards the applicable credential. The candidate must then follow the licensing process of the intended state and request that NCBAHM send examination or certification verification directly to the state regulatory agency.
 

Examination Format

According to the currently published Certification Handbook:

• Examinations are delivered through Pearson VUE computer-based testing centers.

• Testing is offered throughout the year.

• The examinations are currently offered in English.

• Each module contains 100 multiple-choice questions.

• The examinations use a computer-adaptive format.

• One question appears at a time.

• Candidates cannot return to a previous question after moving forward.

• Candidates have 2.5 hours to complete each module.

• A scaled score of 70 is required to pass.

• A preliminary pass/fail result is generally provided after the examination.

• Official results are normally uploaded to the certification account within 7–10 days.
   

Language, format, timing, and testing policies may change. Applicants should review the current ATT and official examination instructions before scheduling.
 

Application Period, Retesting, and Examination Attempts

• A certification application is generally valid for four years from the submission date.

• Candidates must pass all examinations required for their selected certification within the application period.

• A candidate who fails an examination must generally wait 45 days before retaking the module.

• Candidates initially have five opportunities to pass each examination.

• Sixth and subsequent attempts require additional authorization and may require remedial education.

• Longer waiting periods, including 90 or 180 days, may apply after repeated unsuccessful attempts.
   

Candidates should schedule an examination only when adequately prepared.

Fees

The currently published Certification Handbook lists the following fees:

• Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine certification application: US$625

• Acupuncture certification application: US$525

• Chinese Herbology certification application: US$525

• Each examination module: US$325
   

Application fees are generally nonrefundable. Examination fees are paid to Pearson VUE when an examination is scheduled. International applicants may also incur fees for ICD evaluation, translation, transcript delivery, CNT training, and state licensure.
 

Fees may change. The amount displayed in the NCBAHM portal or Pearson VUE payment system controls at the time of payment.
 

Examination-Day Requirements

• Arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes before the required reporting time.

• Bring the Authorization to Test Letter.

• Bring a valid government-issued identification containing a photograph and signature.

• Bring a second signed form of identification if required by the ATT.

• The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the ATT.

• Late arrival, expired identification, or a name mismatch may result in denial of admission and forfeiture of the examination fee.

• Personal property must be stored as directed by the testing center.

• Audio recording, video recording, photography, and identity-verification procedures may be used.

• Candidates must verify their identity and examination module and accept the nondisclosure agreement within the time allowed on the testing computer.

• Examination questions and content may not be recorded, copied, discussed, published, or transmitted.
   

Testing Accommodations

Applicants who qualify for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should submit the required request and documentation to NCBAHM in advance.

Do not schedule a Pearson VUE appointment until the accommodation request has been approved. Scheduling before approval may require the appointment to be canceled or rescheduled.
 

Maintaining Certification

NCBAHM certification is generally renewed every four years. Diplomates must earn at least 60 Professional Development Activity (PDA) points during the four-year cycle and properly report continuing education, CPR, and other required activities.

State-license renewal and continuing-education requirements are separate and must also be satisfied.

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Important Notices

• NCBAHM certification is not the same as state licensure.

• Do not rely solely on training companies, social-media posts, or older articles to determine eligibility.

• International education must undergo formal review.

• Do not assume that professional experience alone establishes examination eligibility.

• Current examinations are administered in English; candidates should prepare using the official content outlines and appropriate professional terminology.

• Application, examination, and evaluation fees may be nonrefundable.

• Keep the name, email address, and contact information in the certification account current.

• Scheduling and cancellation rules in the ATT and Pearson VUE notices control.

• Certification, state licensure, employment authorization, and U.S. immigration status are separate matters. Certification does not provide employment authorization or immigration status.
   

Official Sources

• NCBAHM Official Website

• Certification Eligibility

• Board Examination Process

• State Licensure Requirements

• Certification Renewal

• Currently Published Certification Handbook
   

This page provides general information only and does not guarantee examination eligibility or eligibility for state licensure. The current requirements of NCBAHM, Pearson VUE, ICD, CCAHM, and the applicable state regulatory agency control.

Information reviewed: September 2026