The ITEA Program

The Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture’s (ITEA’s) four-year program teaches the oral tradition of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture (CF-EA) in limited class sizes to ensure the highest quality of learning.

The ITEA educational experience is unique. It is based on the spiral approach to learning of traditional Eastern learning. In traditional Eastern education, the teacher is the guide who helps each student uncover the wisdom inherent within. Practitioners of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture do not diagnose according to symptoms. Rather, they diagnose, as did the ancient Chinese, by discerning energetic disharmony through the subtle and highly refined observational and diagnostic cues of color, sound, odor and emotional content. Through education based on spiral learning, ITEA’s students are thoroughly trained and imbued with skill in the use of these forms of diagnosis. In addition, they also learn western sciences and practice management, and are prepared to sit for the national acupuncture exam given by the NCCAOM. Ninety-five percent of students graduated from the program are practicing acupuncturists.

Program Format

The program of the Institute of Taoist Education and Acupuncture is structured into Intensives. The four Intensives of the first and second years of training are 15 days in length, and it is not necessary for students to live near the school. The third and fourth years contain two Intensives of 16 days, with short class sessions of one to four days interspersed, usually on Fridays and/or weekends. Intensives are offered August-September, October-November, January-February and April-May.

YEAR ONE: fundamentals of CF-EA, principles and diagnostic skills, surface anatomy and point location, medical terminology, nutrition and pharmacology are introduced.

YEAR TWO: deeper understanding of point location, the diagnostic skills, and the ability to have rapport with all types of individuals are covered. Pharmacology is continued and pathology taught. A seminar with Judy Worsley, Master of CF-EA lineage, is held if possible. Elisabeth Rochat speaks on the history and philosophy of Chinese medicine.

YEAR THREE: treatment is begun in the ITEA Student Clinic. Classroom experience focuses on skills of practice management, professionalism, interaction with other healthcare providers and specific treatment situations. Pharmacology is continued and western medical testing is taught. A seminar with Judy Worsley, Master of CF-EA lineage, is held if possible. Elisabeth Rochat speaks on the history and philosophy of Chinese medicine.

YEAR FOUR: clinical training continues, and includes biomedical homework. Preparation for taking the national exam begins.

For more information please contact us at (720) 890-8922 or info@itea.edu.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our Master teacher — the late Professor J.R. Worsley (left), and to J.B. Worsley (right), his Master Elect, now the foremost authority on Classical Five-Element Acupuncture.

Without their teachings and inspiration, this school would not exist, and we are very grateful they have shared their knowledge with us.

Photo: Stephen Flores