The Education Behind Your Licensed Alberta Acupuncturist

As per the Government Organization Act, Schedule 7.1, acupuncture is a restricted activity. Performing acupuncture without appropriate authorization is a breach of the Government Organization Act.  Many people do not realize the hours of education and training required to become a licensed acupuncturist; its not a weekend course. Education is the very cornerstone and foundation upon which a profession is built.  Any job in the health field comes with responsibility, and only those that have completed the necessary education are equipped to accurately and safely administer treatment; most people wouldn’t go to a doctor that didn’t attend medical school, and it’s no different with acupuncture. Dr. of Acupuncture is a title for registered acupuncturists in Alberta.  

To be an acupuncturist is a privilege, it is an intricate practice, requiring discipline along with many responsibilities; to provide the right services for Albertans’ health and wellness.  Given acupuncture’s potential to assist the human body to heal so many ailments, acupuncturists need to be very familiar with the body’s systems and be well-versed on the strategic placement of needles to access these systems. The requirments of education and training required to become a registered acupuncturist are unlike similar holistic practices that only require a certification. Acupuncture licensing requires an acupuncture diploma program that includes many hours of in-depth classes.

In Alberta, acupuncture education is typically a three-year, full-time duration college program, approved by the Acupuncture Committee of Alberta, Alberta Health and Wellness. Programs include courses on various topics like fundamental theories of traditional Chinese medicine, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, diagnostics of traditional Chinese medicine, pathology, pharmacology, herbology, tui na, clinical observation, acupuncture and moxibustion. Other topics covered include internal traditional Chinese medicine, external traditional Chinese medicine, Western medical terminology, Western medical diagnostics, special clinical case studies, traditional Chinese medicine gynecology, pediatrics, integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine. A course on Clean Needle Technique is also required. Typically acupuncture students will complete over 2668 hours of didactic course work and 904 clinical hours of hands-on training with many schools requiring more of each.

Upon completion graduates may apply for a license with the respected governing body. The profession of acupuncture has been regulated in Alberta since 1988 under the Health Disciplines Act and the Acupuncture Regulation. It used to be regulated by the Acupuncture Committee under the Health Disciplines Board. Effective January 1, 2011, the College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta, the “CAAA” was designated by the Minister of Health to regulate the acupuncture profession in public interest. The vision of the CAAA is to serve the public interest and support the acupuncture profession by setting high standards of practice, education, competence and ethical conduct. 


To obtain a license, successful completion of the Alberta Acupuncture Registration Examination (AARE) is an important requirement to be registered as an acupuncturist. The purpose of the AARE is to ensure applicants for registration meet the entry-level standards to practise safely and competently in Alberta. Currently, the AARE consists of five components: 1) Pan-Canadian Written Examination. 2) Pan-Canadian Clinical Case-study Examination. 3) Safety and Jurisprudence Examination. 4) Modalities Examination. 5) Acupuncture Points Examination. 

Registered acupuncturists in Alberta complete ongoing Continuing Education Programs to ensure professional competency and provide quality services to the public.  As such, each applicant for registration renewal is required to have completed 50 hours of continuing education program and has worked as an acupuncturist for at least 1360 hours within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of application for registration renewal, in addition to other requirements prescribed in the Acupuncture Regulation.

Registered acupuncturists have the experience, knowledge and passion for the job as a result of their strenuous training. The extensive process of becoming licensed provides acupuncturists with the expertise to skillfully guide their clients down the best path to better health and well-being.

Thomas Nerbas is a fully licensed/ registered acupuncturist in St. Albert, Alberta dedicated to ensuring his patients receive top-quality acupuncture and traditional Chinese medical care.  

Discover how holistic acupuncture treatments address not only the symptoms, but also the primary cause of disease. Guiding Needle Acupuncture solutions are safe, non-toxic and work in a way that respects you as an individual.  

First time patients receive a free of charge 60 minute thorough acupuncture assessment. Reserve a complimentary acupuncture assessment with Thomas today.

Enjoy the convenience of scheduling Classical Chinese Acupuncture and fire cupping appointments online in real-time, 24/7

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Resolving The Underlying Root Cause Of Disease

Discover how classical acupuncture and fire cupping treatments address not only the symptoms, but also the primary cause of disease. Guiding Needle Acupuncture solutions are safe, non-toxic and work in a way that respects you as an individual.

Save During The Month Of July 2018: Purchase Pre-Paid Acupuncture Packages

• Enjoy these acupuncture savings.

• Pre-paid packages offer discounts and flexibility for patients who expect to visit 1-2 times or more per week.

• Save time: avoid the hassle of waiting in line and making 6 or 12 individual payments; when you have the option of making a one time payment plan per package.

• Offer valid from July 1, 2018 through July 31, 2018.

Helping You Design a Personal Plan for Robust Health and Vitality!

Stress affects a person in the weakest area of their body. If you experience a weak shoulder, stress will affect the muscles, strength, nerve and blood supply to and from the shoulder. If you have a weak stomach, stress can affect you there causing ulcers, acid reflux, and other digestive troubles.

Clinically, Thomas has found that there is a particular type of radial artery pulse associated with exhaustive stress. Whenever he finds this pulse the patient will almost always be over-active and hyper-vigilant in the hope that nothing bad happens, and is almost always tired. Thomas also employs blood pressure testing in order to determine adrenal fatigue presenting as postural hypotension (also known as orthostatic hypotension) a drop in blood pressure that occurs upon rising from a horizontal position. It is commonly expressed as a feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness, a "head rush", or "standing up too fast".

With these diagnostic results Thomas will be able to deliver the appropriate countermeasures.
Acupuncture promotes deep relaxation by activating the body’s parasympathetic nervous system; “rest, digest and recover” functions. Reaching this state is essential to restoring as well as maintaining robust health and vitality. That's why Dr. Thomas Nerbas recommends scheduling regular proactive acupuncture as part of your wellness plan.

Experience a holistic integrative medical approach to feeling better. Your body produces millions of healing substances and knows exactly how to use them. Acupuncture is the most advanced technique for modulating the nervous system which controls and coordinates every function of the body; directing your own innate healing and transformation.

Some patients report feeling up to 50% better within 3 weeks, and up to 80-90% better within 6 weeks. The most common response after treatment is that the patient feels calm and strong for the first time in a very long time. Our clinic offers free hypoadrenia testing, pulse and tongue diagnosis to anyone curious about our clinic or his or her condition.

If you feel that you are suffering from chronic stress, then please schedule a free appointment to have your pulse, tongue and blood pressures examined and to allow Thomas to answer any questions you might have about traditional Chinese medicine.

Enjoy the convenience of scheduling appointments online in real-time, 24/7

The Guiding Needle Acupuncture wellness process is designed to help you achieve your personal health and wellness goals. First time patients, begin by conveniently scheduling a comprehensive initial acupuncture assessment/treatment online. 

At your FREE initial 60 minute comprehensive acupuncture assessment, you meet one-on-one with Thomas to discuss your case in a no-pressure environment. This gives you the opportunity to see if Thomas' services are an ideal fit for you, and Thomas will have the opportunity to determine his ability to help your unique case.

An acupuncture treatment fee of $80 applies for treatment following this free initial 60 minute acupuncture assessment.

Thank you for choosing Guiding Needle Acupuncture as your provider of quality traditional Chinese medicine. Best success of robust health and vitality throughout the Summer season and beyond, may the blessings be.

Thomas Nerbas R.Ac, PFT