ATCMA
ATCMA Seminar | Jan 18 – The Predictable Profit Framework for TCM Practitioners
The Predictable Profit Framework: Building a Sustainable TCM Practice
Jan 18, 2026 | 2:00–3:30 PM | 1.5 CEU-ZOOM | English
Learn practical strategies to grow a profitable, sustainable TCM practice, attract and retain patients, and make decisions that support long-term success
ATCMA Members: Free | Non-Members: $30
How Advocacy Works: Why Some of Our Work Happens Behind the Scenes
Advocacy is rarely as simple--or as fast--as any of us would like. As a professional association, ATCMA understands the frustration many in our community feel when change is happening around us and information seems limited. We want to take this opportunity to explain how advocacy work actually unfolds, why some conversations cannot be shared publicly in real time, and how ATCMA has been working consistently and strategically on behalf of the profession.
Defending Safe Herbal Practice: ATCMA Board Members Join Protest Against Regulatory Changes
ATCMA board members, Charity Cheng and Dr. Virginia Ding, attended a rally today to protest the BC government's removal of the restricted activity of prescribing, compounding, and dispensing Chinese herbal formulas, currently set to come into action on April 1, 2026.
Act Now To Protect Public Safety and Professional Standards
With the implementation of the new Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) and our new Regulations, forthcoming changes will remove the restricted activity of prescribing Chinese herbal formulas beginning April 1, 2026. The consequence? An opening for unregulated individuals to prescribe, compound, and sell Chinese herbal medicine without oversight, training, or professional accountability.
Removing this vital protection is not just a bureaucratic change — it’s a fundamental threat to public safety and the integrity of our profession. Take action!
3 Ways to Act to Regain Our Restricted Activity of Prescribing Chinese Herbs
The prescribing of Chinese herbal formulas requires specialized education, clinical judgment, and regulatory oversight. ATCMA is sharing these options for practitioners and public to support the reinstatement of prescribing, compounding, and dispensing of Chinese herbal medicine as a restricted activity in British Columbia.
Federal Government Cut Grants to Students Attending Private Institutions
President of Central College and ATCMA committee member, Bruce Pan, R.TCM.P., attended a meeting held on Saturday December 6 to discuss the federal government's removal of federal grants to students at private schools across Canada. Neil Dou, ATCMA Vice President, also attended and expressed, on behalf of ATCMA, the concerns regarding the current issues facing the TCM profession in BC.
Myths and Facts about working with ICBC Prepared for ATCMA
To support our members, the ATCMA has gathered some of the most common myths surrounding ICBC coverage for acupuncture and compared them with the actual facts. Our goal is to provide clarity, reduce administrative frustration, and help you feel confident navigating ICBC processes so you can focus on what matters most: patient care.
Potential Loss of Federal Student Grants to Most TCM Schools
Earlier today, we received new information from the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada (CMAAC) regarding an upcoming town hall discussion in Richmond, hosted by MP Garnett Genuis, Shadow Minister for Employment. This meeting will address a proposal in the 2025 federal budget that would limit access to Canada Student Grants to students attending public institutions or not-for-profit private institutions. If implemented, this change would remove grant eligibility for students enrolled in private career colleges—including all Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture programs in BC.
How to Connect with Your MLA About the Impacts of the HPOA on the TCM Profession
British Columbia’s health-regulation landscape is undergoing a historic shift. With the new HPOA, the Complementary Health Professions Regulation, the CCHPBC Bylaws, and the new CCHPBC Professional Standards, the entire framework governing TCM and acupuncture practice is being re-written.
ATCMA has serious concerns about several impacts on Traditional Chinese Medicine. These issues affect not only practitioners, but also patient access, cultural continuity, and the integrity of TCM as a distinct profession.
This is a crucial moment for TCM professionals to engage. Read on to learn what you can do!
