TCM in the UK: Why Qualifications, Professional Standards and Public Trust Matter

Kit Li

Did you know that the title 'Dr' in the UK is not limited to PhD holders? Qualified medical doctors also use it without needing a PhD. However, TCM qualifications alone do not entitle a practitioner to present themselves as a medical doctor.

I therefore describe myself as a 'TCM practitioner' rather than a 'TCM doctor', in line with UK advertising guidance and to avoid implying that I am a medical doctor registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) (1). Membership of a TCM professional association is different from GMC registration.

Today, I had a very interesting discussion with my mentor and one of his patients about the question: 'Should TCM be regulated in the UK?'

Before we began, I briefly shared how a distressing experience had led me to study TCM. It involved someone who introduced herself as a TCM professor at her own clinic, where I was one of her patients,  but whose knowledge and competence I later came to question. When I encountered her again at my TCM school’s open day, I was told that she was not a professor and had not passed her TCM examinations, so she had not qualified as a TCM practitioner. The incident was formally reported and investigated.

I found this experience alarming. Misleading claims of expertise can damage the reputation of TCM and undermine public trust in qualified practitioners and their abilities.

This brought our discussion back to the importance of professional standards, accountability and patient protection.

Understanding professional membership

In the UK, professional associations and voluntary registers play an important role in setting standards for TCM practitioners. However, voluntary registration is different from the statutory regulation that applies to medical doctors. Acupuncturists are not currently required to join a statutory professional register.

I am a member of the Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Alliance (CAHMA), the Academy of Scalp Acupuncture UK (ASA), and the Chinese Medicine Alliance (CMA). These memberships support my professional development and connections within the TCM community.

A membership or registration number allows patients to check a practitioner’s membership status with the relevant organisation. It should be considered alongside their qualifications, insurance and scope of practice, rather than treated as proof of competence on its own.

Choosing a professional body

Different organisations focus on different areas of practice. Examples include:

• 1) British Acupuncture Council (BAcC): a professional body for traditional acupuncturists, with a register accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. (2) 

• 2) Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM): a professional body for Chinese herbal medicine practitioners. (3) 

• 3) Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK (ATCM): represents practitioners working in areas including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and tuina. (4)

• 4) Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (FTCMP): represents TCM practitioners and sets professional standards for its members. (5)

• 5) Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Alliance UK (CAHMA): a professional membership organisation for acupuncturists and Chinese herbal medicine practitioners. (6)

• 6) Academy of Scalp Acupuncture UK (ASA): a specialist academy focused on scalp acupuncture training and practitioner development. (7)

• 7) Chinese Medicine Alliance UK (CMA): a professional organisation supporting Chinese medicine and acupuncture practitioners, with CPD and academic discussions. (8)

Each organisation has its own membership categories, admission requirements and professional codes.

Qualifications and professional standards

Depending on the organisation and membership category, applicants may need to provide evidence of recognised qualifications, supervised clinical training and relevant experience. Those trained outside the UK may need to have their qualifications assessed. Some organisations also require an interview, examination or other assessment.

Requirements for practising members may also include professional indemnity insurance, continuing professional development (CPD), and agreement to follow codes of professional conduct and safe practice. Fees vary, so applicants should check directly with the organisation.

Checking doctoral qualifications

For TCM practitioners who obtained their doctorate in China, readers can search for their doctoral thesis through the National Library of China (9), using their Chinese name, thesis title or university.

To verify the degree itself, ask the practitioner for an official degree verification report from CHSI (10), which can be checked using its verification code or QR code.

If the thesis cannot be found, ask for the awarding university, research topic, graduation year and official degree verification. Without verifiable evidence, the claimed qualification remains unverified.

Finding a qualified practitioner

If you are considering TCM treatment, check the practitioner’s qualifications, current professional membership, insurance and experience in the treatment they offer. Where available, consult the organisation’s public register and check its complaints procedure.

For me, this discussion highlighted why clear qualifications and professional accountability matter. Patients should be able to make informed choices and understand who is providing their care.

Links:

1) GMC-registered medical doctor means a doctor whose name appears on the medical register maintained by the General Medical Council (GMC), the organisation that regulates medical doctors in the UK.  To practise medicine in the UK, a doctor must also hold a licence to practise, registration alone is not enough. GMC-UK.org

2) British Acupuncture Council: BAcC

3) Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine: RCHM

4) Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK: ATCM

5) Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners: FTCMP

6) Chinese Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Alliance (CAHMA)

7) Academy of Scalp Acupuncture UK – (ASA)

8) https://www.thecmauk.org/home (CMA)

9) National Library of China(中国国家图书馆)

10) CHSI (学信网)

© 2026 Kit Li. All rights reserved. Please obtain permission before reproducing this article. Referenced materials remain the property of their respective rights holders.