Cost, Discounts & Registration
Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) Program
Our Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) program is the most advanced training available to acupuncturists who want to excel at understanding and treating sports and orthopedic injuries. The SMAC program is over 250 hours of advanced Sports Medicine Acupuncture training that includes many successful integrative Eastern and Western approaches and is designed to provide the highest level of instruction in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
Instructors of the SMAC Program are all practicing and licensed Acupuncturists with experience teaching at the collegiate level. In addition, every class in the SMAC Program has qualified graduate assistants that are all C.SMA practitioners. The SMAC assistants have been specially trained to help provide a very unique learning experience that emphasizes more one on one practical supervision.
Graduates of the program that have passed the final practical exam have the distinction of being a licensed practitioner of Sports Medicine Acupuncture®. The SMAC program continues to evolve and change with ongoing research and development, enhanced assessment and treatment techniques and tested applications for the clinical practitioner.
PROGRAM FORMAT
The Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) program is designed as an intensive curriculum with a sequential learning format that consists of four modules, each containing advanced acupuncture training (refer to the Program Description tab for more information).
It is now being offered as two tracks:
- ALL IN-PERSON TRACK: 12 in-person classes
- HYBRID TRACK: 10 recorded webinars and 4 live, in-person classes
You have two entire program years to complete all required classes if you are pursuing the certification track, and do not need to start with any particular module or take modules in order. Participants also have the option to matriculate in SMAC Program classes at any time and to take individual courses either in-person or online. All live, in-person and recorded courses are NCCAOM and CAB CEU/PDA approved!
The four SMAC Program modules include:
- MODULE I—The Spine
- MODULE II—The Low Back, Hip and Groin
- MODULE III—The Lower Extremity
- MODULE IV—The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity
Please visit our Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification Program Class Descriptions pages—HYBRID & ALL IN-PERSON—for a more complete description of the classes in each online and in-person Module.
Each module consists of didactic and practical acupuncture workshops taught by qualified Sports Medicine Acupuncture instructors. Additionally, each live, in-person course is staffed with licensed C.SMA practitioners acting as assistants to ensure ample individualized attention for each program participant.
Licensed or registered acupuncturists can enroll in any SMA continuing education class in the SMAC program, online or in-person, without committing to the entire program or to either certification track.
Participants pursuing the SMA certification will need to take the entire program either HYBRID or ALL IN-PERSON, pass the four online examinations, and pass the final practical exam all within two program years.
2023-2025 ALL IN-PERSON SMAC PROGRAM LAYOUT
Postural Imbalances and Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP)
Myofascial Techniques & Therapeutic Exercise (MTTE)
Huatuojiaji Points: Vertebral Fixations and Facilitated Segments (ATI)*
*2 DAY INTENSIVE Required for both tracks (Live, In-Person Only)
Postural Imbalances and Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP)
Myofascial Techniques & Therapeutic Exercise (MTTE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI)*
*5 DAY INTENSIVE Required for both tracks (Live, In-Person Only)
Postural Imbalances and Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP)
Myofascial Techniques & Therapeutic Exercise (MTTE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI)*
*5 DAY INTENSIVE Required for both tracks (Live, In-Person Only)
Postural Imbalances and Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP)
Myofascial Techniques & Therapeutic Exercise (MTTE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI)*
*5 DAY INTENSIVE Required for both tracks (Live, In-Person Only)
***We will offer two sections of the Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) classes, both in San Diego, CA and Bloomfield, NJ. Please refer to the LOCATION & SCHEDULE tab for the exact location and dates.
HYBRID TRACK
The hybrid track consists of 10 recorded webinars and 4 in-person only ATI classes:
Anatomy/Palpation/Cadaver (APC) Lab (ONLINE)
Postural Assessment and Corrective Exercise (PACE) I (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) (2-DAY IN-PERSON INTENSIVE)
Anatomy/Palpation/Cadaver (APC) Lab (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of the Channel Sinews (ATS) (ONLINE)
Postural Assessment and Corrective Exercise (PACE) II (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) (5-DAY IN PERSON INTENSIVE)
Anatomy/Palpation/Cadaver (APC) Lab (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of the Channel Sinews (ATS) (ONLINE)
Postural Assessment and Corrective Exercise (PACE) III (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) (5-DAY IN PERSON INTENSIVE)
Anatomy/Palpation/Cadaver (APC) Lab (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of the Channel Sinews (ATS) (ONLINE)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) (5-DAY IN PERSON INTENSIVE)
To apply live webinar classes or recordings towards your certification requirements, email a copy of your CEU certificate to acusportinfo@gmail.com.
LOCATION & SCHEDULE
- ALL IN-PERSON TRACK: 12 in-person classes spread out over 16 months
- HYBRID TRACK: 10 recorded webinars and 4 live, in-person classes
You have two entire program years to complete all required classes if you are pursuing the certification track, and do not need to start with any particular module or take modules in order. Participants also have the option to matriculate in SMAC Program classes at any time and to take individual courses either in-person or online without pursuing certification. All live, in-person and recorded courses are NCCAOM and CAB CEU/PDA approved!
The entire 2023-2025 SMAC Program will be held at the Marina Village Conference Center San Diego, CA. Additionally, we will offer a second section of each of the four Assessment and Treatment of Injury classes in Bloomfield, New Jersey at the Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine.
2023-2025 IN-PERSON SMAC PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Postural Imbalances & Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP) (LIVE, IN-PERSON Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) September 26-27, 2023 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States (14 CAB CE & NCCAOM PDA hours pending) Instructor: Matt Callison
Postural Imbalances & Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP) (LIVE, IN-PERSON Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) January 17-19, 2024 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States (21 CAB CE & NCCAOM PDA hours pending) Instructor: Matt Callison
Postural Imbalances & Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP) (LIVE, IN-PERSON Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) June 5-7, 2024 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States (21 CAB CE & NCCAOM PDA hours pending) Instructor: Matt Callison
Postural Imbalances & Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP) (LIVE, IN-PERSON Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) October 23-25, 2024 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States (21 CAB CE & NCCAOM PDA hours pending) Instructor: Matt Callison
Please visit the SMAC Online Learning Registration page and the SMAC Live, In Person Registration page for more purchase and registration information including dates, location, cost, enrollment requirements, as well as discounts!
Visit the Current Class Schedule Date & Location Page that lists all SMA Foundational and SMAC courses!
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) program significantly expands upon the fundamental Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) assessment and treatment approaches for orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions. TCM is far from an antiquated medical system, but instead imbued with powerful tools of differential diagnosis and acupuncture and moxibustion (zhenjiu) treatment techniques.
This program does not stack TCM modalities and Western biomedical facts side-by-side with the intention of combining these two paradigms. Rather, it applies TCM principles to Western biomedical facts and uses Western biomedical facts to illustrate TCM principles, thereby truly integrating the salient principles of both medical practices. As a result, the assessment and treatment strategies learned in this program will bring long-lasting and successful outcomes. For more information, refer to Student Reviews.
Participants in the SMAC program will develop the skills and competencies necessary to:
- Implement Sports Medicine Acupuncture approaches to assessing and treating the patient and the patient’s injury.
- Manage the patient’s health care with SMA approaches.
- Perform a differential diagnosis using orthopedic evaluation and manual muscle testing to help identify the musculoskeletal injury.
- Formulate a working assessment of the patient and their injury.
- Understand functional anatomy and identify the mechanism of the injury for over 80 orthopedic conditions.
- Assess postural alignment and functional movement to better understand the significance of postural and muscle imbalances that are contributing to musculoskeletal pain; these imbalances are examined through the lens of the sinew channels (jingjin).
- Generate a Sports Medicine Acupuncture treatment plan and protocol.
- Learn and apply innovative needle techniques that are used in combination with TCM acupuncture points and motor points to change muscle imbalances, increase range of motion, markedly decrease pain and treat the patient’s constitution.
- Combine acupuncture point prescriptions, myofascial therapy techniques and therapeutic postural exercises to effectively balance the human structure and decrease musculoskeletal pain.
- Prescribe therapeutic postural exercises and interdermal point prescriptions for enhanced treatment outcomes.
- Learn to re-evaluate assessment and treatment outcomes.
CERTIFICATION BENEFITS
The C.SMA practitioner who completes our Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) Program receives:
- Distinguished right to use the Sports Medicine Acupuncture® license
- A listing in the C.SMA Practitioner Directory, including practitioner photo and clinic contact information
- Exclusive access to the C.SMA Library that contains articles/abstracts and videos
- Discounts on AcuSport Education seminars and products
- Discounts from our partner—Lhasa OMS
- Many C.SMA practitioners have received website-based referrals, job opportunities from sports teams, physical therapists, sports chiropractors and integrated clinics (refer to the Student Reviews and the C.SMA Practitioner of the Month pages)
If you still have questions, please visit our FAQ page or send us a message.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
In order to register for individual Sports Medicine Acupuncture (SMA) online courses and live, in person courses, the licensed practitioner must understand and agree to the AcuSport Education Agreement Form (found on the Registration page).
For all live, in-person courses, the participants must be a licensed or registered acupuncturist and provide proof of having graduated from an ACAOM accredited or equivalent Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture school. Participants must have a minimum of 2,000 hours of acupuncture and TCM training and provide proof of having an active license and malpractice insurance.
Acupuncture students are eligible to enroll in all online courses and attend the live, in-person class Myofascial Techniques & Therapeutic Exercise without participating in needling. Acupuncture students cannot attend the live-in person Postural Imbalances & Acupuncture Protocols (PIAP) or Assessment & Treatment of Injury (ATI) courses due to the extensive amount of acupuncture needling.
Individual classes can be taken online or in-person for continuing education credit without committing to the entire program or a certification track. For those pursuing the certification track, you have two program years to complete all attendance and examination requirements before becoming certified in Sports Medicine Acupuncture®️.
ACOMMODATIONS
SAN DIEGO PROGRAM
The 23-25 SMAC Program will take place at the Marina Village Conference Center in San Diego, CA. Nearby hotels include the Dana on Mission Bay (check out this calendar for SMAC student discounted prices) and the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, but there are more affordable options a short uber ride away! Airbnb and/or VRBO rentals found in the North Ocean Beach area are about a 15-20 minute walk to Marina Village.
Rentals found in Mission Beach are in close proximity to Marina Village. Request the rental be near or preferably south of the Belmont Park Roller Coaster. Many rentals in Mission Beach will have a bike to use or you can rent a bike at many different businesses nearby. Marina Village is a close bike ride away on safe bike paths that overlook Mission Bay.
BLOOMFIELD, NJ CLASSES
Additionally, we will offer a second section of each of the four Assessment and Treatment of Injury classes in Bloomfield, New Jersey at the Eastern School of Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine
The school is located 440 Franklin Street, 5th Floor, Bloomfield, NJ 07003. Great accommodation and restaurant options are available in nearby neighborhoods like Montclair, NJ, which is a short uber ride away! AirBNB and VRBO are good options to explore.
