The State of Things in California State

Yesterday was the official Five Branches incoming student orientation day. A day in which an absolutely absurd amount of information is transmitted by kindly school administrative staff speaking as rapidly as is humanly possible for five hours straight. I enjoyed myself. And I am eager.

I also learned that, if you are going to get acupuncture, you had probably better try and find a practitioner from California. In this state, acupuncture is included in many healthcare insurance packages and it is widely considered acceptable to have a Chinese physician as your primary care provider. And I know you may be thinking-- Is this just another random decision by wacky Californian lawmakers? I mean, Arnold Schwarzenegger is at the helm of this ship! Did you know, marijuana is legal for medical use? I admit that it seems strange for herb to be illegal, but is it uneducated to think that marijuana has about as much medical application as a bottle of tequilia? (ok. except for glaucoma. it seems to really help glaucoma)

In fact, the recognition of Chinese medicine as legitimate and its growing niche in the heathcare industry at large is due to the VERY INTENSE, very thorough testing and training of Oriental medicine students here. Most states require that a students take and pass the NCCAOM national licensing exam upon graduation from whatever medical school they attended. California has its own test. And the tests are so far apart in levels of difficuluty and depth of knowledge that students here, at the Five Branches University often take the national test before graduation.

The California exam, however, is a different story.

The fame of the California acupuncture licensing exam (CALE) proceeds it. It's mention is enough to strike fear in the hearts of students and faculty alike... I mean, the damn thing is already difficult. And California already boasts a line-up of Traditional Chinese Medicine's hardest hitters university wise... But the test designers were clever and evil and figured out a way to make the schools compete and to make the standards quite a lot higher.

No matter how brilliant the pool of graduates taking the test, no matter what schools send them, the CALE will only pass 50% of those students taking the exam. Period. They score the test, find the median score, pass all students scoring about the median grade, and fail the rest. Students can take the test again and again. But it is always scored the same way.

Crazy, huh? So all the schools are competing for the most excellent statistics. As in, what percentage of graduates successfully pass the CALE on the first try? Five Branches had the honor of passing 100% of graduates for years... that percentage is down this year to 73... I think, due in part to their acceptance of a greater number of students. The acceptance rate for applicants in the fall is still pretty small (around 30%) but they have added a spring semester start, some extra classrooms, and some certificates of special focus (things not covered by the exam- specialties). But it's totally serious! It makes me happy!

I doubt that my patients will know what California licensure will mean for the efficacy and thoroughness of their care. But I'll know.




Oh, and today we went on a really nice bike ride and Rob bought me a big cookie. You may not understand the significance of this.... I really LOVE cookies (and Rob doesn't) and it was a PEANUTBUTTER cookie (Rob's allergic to peanutbutter).

And check out this crazy late night cookie delivery service! http://www.niteowlcookies.com/
They don't cook them until you call and order... And delivery is free!