NCCAOM Acupuncture case studies
NCCAOM Acupuncture · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The NCCAOM Acupuncture Certification Examination - historically administered under the NCBAHM name - is a national board examination that a candidate must pass to earn Diplomate status in acupuncture and, in most states, to qualify for licensure. It is built for graduates of ACAOM-accredited acupuncture programs who have completed more than 2,000 hours of education and clinical training and who have already completed the CCAOM clean needle technique course, a prerequisite for certification. The NCCAOM Acupuncture case studies are 5 cases and about 2,049 words.
1Fatigue, Edema, and the Spleen-Kidney Question
A 47-year-old woman presents with 6 months of fatigue, 3–4 loose stools per day, cold intolerance, and bilateral ankle edema rated 2+ on compression. She reports nocturia 2–3 times nightly, a dull low back ache, and bloating after meals.
436 words, about 2 min2Shoulder Pain After Mastectomy: Where Not to Needle
A 55-year-old woman, 3 years post right mastectomy with axillary lymph node dissection, seeks acupuncture for chronic right shoulder pain and tightness. Her right arm circumference is 4 cm larger than the left, consistent with lymphedema; the skin is intact, with no redness or fever.
362 words, about 2 min3Dark Stools on Warfarin: A Red Flag in the Clinic
A 68-year-old man with atrial fibrillation on warfarin comes for acupuncture for low back pain. His INR was last checked 6 weeks ago.
375 words, about 2 min4Needlestick in an Acupuncturist Who Is Pregnant
A 34-year-old acupuncturist who is 8 weeks pregnant sustains a needlestick while removing a needle from a patient's hand. The needle had been inserted at LI-4 and penetrated her glove and skin.
414 words, about 2 min5A Child Who Refuses Needles and a Parent's Request for Secrecy
A 42-year-old mother brings her 9-year-old son for acupuncture for asthma. She requests needles at Dingchuan (EX-B1) and Feishu (BL-13) and says the child's pediatrician does not need to know.
462 words, about 2 min