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 270 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, which is now being offered as live, in-person classes, as well as recorded webinars. It is a sequential learning format that consists of four modules, each containing advanced acupuncture training (refer to the Program Description tab for more information).
Participants can enroll in the SMAC Program at any time or can register to take individual courses. All live, in person and recorded courses are NCCAOM CEU/PDA approved and count towards earning your Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification!
The SMAC Program has the following modules:
- MODULE I—The Spinal Column
- 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 page for a more complete description of the classes in each Module. Keep in mind, about 75% of the SMAC Program can now be taken online, too—scroll down to learn more!
Each module consists of didactic and practical acupuncture workshops taught by qualified Sports Medicine Acupuncture instructors and assisted by licensed C.SMA practitioners. Each live, in-person course will have enough assistants to ensure individualized attention for each program participant.
Licensed or registered acupuncturists can enroll in any acupuncture continuing education courses in the SMAC program without committing to the entire program. Participants enrolling for the SMA licensure will need to take the entire program, pass the four online examinations, and pass the final practical exam.
NEW & IMPROVED 2022-2023 SMAC Program
CHANGES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS:
- We now have four Sinew Channel Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM) classes (previously called the Assessment & Treatment of Channel Sinews (ATS). Due to popular demand, there will be one SAM class per Module so four classes instead of only three!
- To streamline the curriculum for the Postural Assessment & Corrective Exercise (PACE) classes, they now start in Module II instead of Module I.
- The Anatomy, Palpation and Cadaver lab allows for TWICE as much practical time with the cadaver, palpation and motor point location and needle technique!!! Matt and Brian are not lecturing in the morning session, and instead are diving directly into the practical lessons that are divided into morning and afternoon sessions. Registrants are now required to watch the online recording of these didactic lectures prior to attending the live, in-person class (included in the cost of the class).
- The Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) classes for Modules II-IV are now five days to allow for more practical time. The Module I live, in-person only ATI class Huatuojiaji: Vertebral Fixations and Facilitated Segments continues as a two-day course.
- The entire 2022-2023 SMAC Program is being offered in person at the Marina Village Conference Center in San Diego, CA.
2022-2023 SMAC PROGRAM LAYOUT
Anatomy, Palpation and Cadaver Lab (APC)—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Sinew Channels Assessment & Myofascial Techniques (SAM)—Live, In-Person (New class! Recording not yet available)
Huatuojiaji Points: Vertebral Fixations and Facilitated Segments (ATI)—Live, In-Person only
Anatomy, Palpation and Cadaver Lab (APC)—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Sinew Channels Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM) (formerly Assessment & Treatment of Channel Sinews (Jingin))—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Postural Assessment & Corrective Exercises (PACE) I—Live, In-Person (Recording also available—listed as part of Module I online recording)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI)—Live, In-Person only 5-day intensive course
Anatomy, Palpation and Cadaver Lab (APC)—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Sinew Channels Assessment & Myofascial Techniques (SAM) (formerly Assessment & Treatment of Channel Sinews (Jingin))—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Postural Assessment & Corrective Exercises (PACE) II—Live, In-Person (Recording also available—listed as part of Module I online recording)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI)—Live, In-Person only 5-day intensive course
Anatomy, Palpation and Cadaver Lab (APC)—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Sinew Channels Assessment & Myofascial Techniques (SAM) (formerly Assessment & Treatment of Channel Sinews (Jingin))—Live, In-Person (Recording also available)
Postural Assessment & Corrective Exercises (PACE) III—Live, In-Person (Recording also available—listed as part of Module I online recording)
Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI)—Live, In-Person only 5-day intensive course
AVAILABLE FORMATS
RECORDED WEBINARS:
The following classes are now offered as recorded webinars:
- Assessment & Treatment of the Channel Sinews (ATS)—now known as Sinew Channels Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM) (Modules II-IV). Same great class content, just a name change.
- **Keep in mind our new 2022-2023 SMAC Program class, Module I: Sinew Channels Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM 1) has not yet been offered online. To earn your certification, you must take SAM 1 when we offer it as a live or recorded webinar or in person.
- Postural Assessment and Corrective Exercise (PACE) (Modules II-IV)
- ***Although the course content has not changed, the PACE series of classes now appear in different modules in the 2022-2023 SMAC Program compared to the online bundles.
- PACE 1-available in the Module I series/bundle online recording is being offered in person in Module II
- PACE 2-available in the Module II series/bundle online recording is being offered in person in Module III
- PACE 3-available in the Module III series/bundle online recording is being offered in person in Module IV
- ***Although the course content has not changed, the PACE series of classes now appear in different modules in the 2022-2023 SMAC Program compared to the online bundles.
To apply live webinar classes or recordings towards your certification requirements, email a copy of your CEU certificate to acusportinfo@gmail.com.
IN-PERSON ONLY CLASSES
The following classes are offered live and in-person only and must be taken within two program years if you wish to earn your certification:
- MODULE I—The Spinal Column: Assessment & Treatment of Injuries – Huatuojiaji Points: Vertebral Fixations and Facilitated Segments
- MODULE II—The Low Back, Hip and Groin: Assessment & Treatment of Injuries
- MODULE III—The Lower Extremity: Assessment & Treatment of Injuries
- MODULE IV—The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity: Assessment & Treatment of Injuries
LOCATION & SCHEDULE
2022-2023 SMAC Program
We are now offering about 75% of the SMAC program as online classes. By offering these recorded webinars, our goal is to provide you with the tools to help support your practice from the comfort of your own home, on your own time, and with the ability to use these recordings as a study tool!
These classes also prepare you for our live, in person only practical classes and provide a useful study tool for students who have already taken live classes or are preparing to take these classes live and in person as a tool to prepare and review!
Discounts are available for students who have taken online classes and wish to take classes in person (listed on the Live, In Person Registration Page), as well as for students who have taken classes live, in-person and want to also purchase the recordings (discount codes provided in the live class).
The 2022-2023 SMAC PROGRAM is being held at the Marina Village Conference Center in San Diego, California (U.S.).
For students who have or plan on taking all offered online webinars, the only (4) live, in-person classes you will still need to earn your C.SMA are:
- Module I Huatuojiaji: Vertebral Fixations and Facilitated Segments
- Module II, III and IV Assessment & Treatment of Injuries
***Keep in mind our newest myofascial class in Module I (The Spinal Column): Sinew Channels Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM) is currently being offered in person only, but we hope to offer this class in the next year as an online recording too!
Module IV (The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity): Anatomy/Palpation/Cadaver Lab (APC) (Live, In-Person at Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) April 25-26, 2023 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States INSTRUCTORS: Callison, Lau
Module IV (The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity): Sinew Channels Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM) (Live, In-Person at Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) April 27-28, 2023 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States INSTRUCTORS: Callison, Lau
Module IV (The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity): Postural Assessment & Corrective Exercises (PACE) III (Live, In-Person at Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) April 29-30, 2023 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States INSTRUCTORS: Armstrong, Callison, Lau
Module IV (The Neck, Shoulder and Upper Extremity): Assessment & Treatment of Injuries (ATI) (Live, In-Person at Marina Village Conference Center, San Diego, California) June 14-18, 2023 9:00am-5:00pm PST-United States INSTRUCTORS: Callison, Lau
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 partners—Lhasa OMS and Unified Practice.
- 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. If a participant’s insurance does not provide coverage in the state where the course is being held, they may be added to AcuSport Education’s group policy for a $30 fee.
Acupuncture students may attend the live, in-person classes Anatomy, Palpation and Cadaver Lab (APC) and Sinew Channel Assessment and Myofascial Techniques (SAM) without needling as well as all the Postural Assessment and Corrective Exercise (PACE) classes. Acupuncture students cannot attend the live-in person Assessment & Treatment of Injury (ATI) courses due to the extensive amount of acupuncture needling.
Participants may register to take individual courses and earn CEU’s, but must complete the SMAC program and fulfill all attendance and examination requirements before becoming certified in Sports Medicine Acupuncture®️.
ACOMMODATIONS
2022-2023 Sports Medicine Acupuncture Certification (SMAC) Program
This NEW and IMPROVED 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.
Crown Point is a great area to stay and has a few house rentals that are 25-30 minute walk to Marina Village and a quick Uber ride. Crown Point is a unique community surrounded by Mission Bay.
Hotels found in the Hotel Circle region of West Mission Valley are affordable and a 5-7 minute Uber ride to Marina Village. Click this link for more information about Hotel Circle.
Bring the family or make your educational stay into a romantic adventure and stay at Paradise Point located just north of Marina Village. Paradise Point is a 20-25 minute walk to Marina Village or a quick Uber ride away.
If you are interested in sharing accommodations with other attendees, let us know and we’ll do our best to connect you! Please contact Patricia Botet at acusportinfo@gmail.com.
Eateries
Walking
- Aquarius Bar and Grille (5-minute walk to the south of Marina Village Conference Center)
- The Dock House Deli (2-minute walk south of the Marina Village Conference Center)
- Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Hotel (8-10 minute walk west of the Marina Village Conference Center)
- Sportsmen’s Seafood Restaurant (6-8 minute walk west of the Marina Village Conference Center)
Driving
- Paradise Point (a 5-minute car drive north of Marina Village. 20-25 minute walk)
- There are many restaurants to choose when driving to the surrounding beach communities, south to Ocean Beach and north to Pacific Beach.
