To Apply
- Confirm that you meet the admission requirements. Please contact us if you’re not sure.
- Submit the completed application form and essay responses
- Mail official transcripts from all colleges attended, directly to POCA Tech
- Request two Letters of Recommendation mailed directly from the recommender to POCA Tech*.
- $100 application fee
- 2 Passport sized photographs
For International Applicants
In addition to the above documents you will also need:
- Official transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org)
- Copy of official TOEFL scores (Non-native English speakers only)
Mail everything to:
POCA Tech Admissions
3526 NE 57th Ave.
Portland, OR 97213
Once the above requirements are received or met, applicants will be contacted for an interview with an Admissions Representative. After the interview applicants will be notified of their admission decision within 45 days.
FAQ
What are rolling admissions?
Once an application is complete, we will let applicants know whether they are accepted within 45 days. We will continue this process until all available spaces are filled. We make an application decision based on its own merits, not by comparing it to the entire pool of possible applicants. Applying early greatly improves your chances of being accepted. Once all available spaces are filled, admissions for this cohort will be closed. Future applicants will be placed on a waiting list.
What are the admission requirements and how do they relate to the co-requisite science classes?
Education Requirement for ADMISSION: Satisfactory completion of at least two academic years (60 semester credits or 900 classroom hours) of education at the baccalaureate level that is appropriate preparation for graduate-level work. The school must be accredited by an agency recognized by the Department of Education.
Education Requirement for GRADUATION (aka Co-Requisites): 420 hours (28 semester or 42 quarter credits) of Western Bio-Medicine / Science are required to graduate from POCA Tech and must be completed before graduation. These classes are not taught at POCA Tech.
Required classes are Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Medical Terminology and Pathophysiology are recommended but not required. Additional classes may include: Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Statistics, Nutrition, Physics, Psychology and relevant social sciences such as sociology, anthropology, gerontology, global health, etc. (Please consult the registrar.) Please note: Students who plan to practice in Washington must include a class in microbiology and biochemistry; students who wish to practice in New York must have a total of 9 semester credits in biology. These co-requisite classes are IN ADDITION to the Basic Education Requirement. Additional co-requisite classes are Clean Needle Technique, First Aid, and CPR. Clean Needle Technique must be completed before Clinic Observation, and First Aid and CPR must be completed before graduation.
Do you care where I took my classes?
We will accept classes as long as you took them at an accredited institution accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education. We recommend community college classes when possible to save money.
I would love to be a community acupuncturist but I have no college/not enough college classes. What should I do?
We recommend you check out University of the People, particularly their Associate in Health Sciences or Associate in Business Administration.
Is it a good idea to take all my co-requisite classes while at POCA Tech?
We recommend you take as many co-requisite classes as you can before starting POCA Tech. The program is very demanding and getting your science co-requisites out of the way ahead of time means you will have a better school experience.
Why don’t you teach the bio-medicine co-requisite classes at POCA Tech like other acupuncture schools?
We believe that you will get a better Western Bio-Medicine education at a community college with expert science teachers. So far this approach seems to be working well to prepare students for the NCCAOM Bio Med exam.