301 E. Bethany Home Road
Suite A-100
Phoenix, AZ 85012

Phoenix Institute of Herbal medicine and acupuncture (PIHMA) is the only accredited college of acupuncture and oriental medicine in the Salt River Valley area. A group of teachers, students and administrators founded PIHMA in 1996. Their goal was to bring the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine to Arizona by creating an educational program that met national standards. Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture is licensed by the Arizona Private Post Secondary Education Board and offers Master's degrees in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. The degree programs at Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture prepare students for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the primary requirement for licensing in most states (including Arizona).

Students study the various tools of Oriental medicine, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, acupressure, bodywork, tai qi exercise, Oriental nutrition and meditation. They must also complete a number of prerequisites before earning their graduate degree, including general chemistry, general biology, introduction to physics and psychology 101.

The numerous faculty members at Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture have years of professional experience and advanced degrees in their fields. Alumni of Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture now work in both private and integrated practice, and are also affiliated with various hospitals in the Phoenix area. Students at Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture also have the opportunity to complete an overseas internship at China's Chengdu University.

Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture's s mission-style campus is surrounded by creeks and waterfalls and centrally located in Phoenix with easy access to interstates and highways. Students and faculty worked together to design Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture's alternating weekend schedule. The schedule, along with flexible clinic shifts accommodates the work schedules of most students. Faculty and staff are approachable and responsive to student needs. PHIMA offers students financial aid in the form of both federal and nonfederal loans, and payment plans are also available.

Quick Facts

Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture's president and founder is the co-author of Arizona's 1998 acupuncture law, which requires acupuncturists to be licensed and have completed 2,500 to 3,500 hours of training.

Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture is the largest schools of acupuncture, Oriental and alternative medicine in Arizona.

Students administer treatments to paying clients at PHIMA's community clinic.

People interested in learning more about Oriental medicine can enroll in some special classes at Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine & Acupuncture without applying to the school's four-year degree program.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.