NCCAOM Boards

This guide includes reading lists and test preparation resources to help you study for the NCCAOM Boards.

The Library carries a number of test preparation workbooks for the NCCAOM Boards. Most of the test books can be found in the WB 18.2 section, but books on specific subjects such as herbs and biomedicine are found in different areas. You can try searching "nccaom" in our catalog to search for NCCAOM study guides.

Here are our top recommendations (in no particular order):
 
Acupuncture (TCM Study Guide Series) by Shi Cun Wu (WB 18.2 W95a 1995)
Chinese Medicine Study Guide: Acupuncture and Moxibustion by Jiping Zhao and Yanping Wang (WB 369 Z63a 2007)
Preparing for the NCCAOM acupuncture examination by Lei W. Ding (WB 18.2 D613p 1999)
750 questions & answers about acupuncture (Blue Poppy Press) by Fred Jennes (WB 18.2 J434s 2003)
A Question Bank of Acupuncture by Henry Lu (WB18.2 L926c 2013)
One Thousand Questions for the Acupuncture Examination by Canadian Institute of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Research (WB 18.2 C212o 2011)
 
Test prep workbook for the NCCAOM bio-medicine module exam preparation and study guide (Blue Poppy Press) by Zhong Bai-song (WB 18.2 Z63t 2006)
Biomedicine review : a review manual, test prep, and study guide for acupuncturists and East Asian medicine practitioners by Catherine Follis (WB 18.2 F668b 2014)
 
Diagnostics (TCM Study Guide Series) by Shi Cun Wu (WB 18.2 W95d 1998)
Chinese Medicine Study Guide: Formulae by Qingye Li (QV 774 L693f 2009)
Chinese Medicine Study Guide: Materia Medica by Gansheng Zhong, Katrina Beth, Nott Blalack, Andrea Kurtz, Lara Deasy (QV 715 Z63c 2007)
630 Questions and Answers About Chinese Herbal Medicine: a Workbook and Study Guide (Blue Poppy Press) by Bob Flaws (QV 770 JC6 F619s 1999)
Herbology, Volume I (TCM Study Guide Series) by Shi Cun Wu (WB 18.2 W95h 2000)
Herbology, Volume II (TCM Study Guide Series) by Shi Cun Wu (WB 18.2 W95h 2007)
Review and pretest for Chinese herbology licensure exams in U.S.A. by Sidong Chen (WB 18.2 C518r 2007)
 
Test prep workbook for basic TCM theory (Blue Poppy Press) by Zhong Bai-song & You Bing (WB 18.2 Z63t 2007)
Chinese Medicine Study Guide: Fundamentals by Xuesheng Zhou (WB 55.C4 Z63f 2007)
Chinese Medicine Study Guide: Diagnostics by Jiaxu Chen (WB 141 C158d 2007)
 

Check out these two videos from academic counselor Pat LaDouceur on stress management for test-taking.
 

NCCAOM® Candidate Preparation Handbook for Acupuncture Certification
 
Primary Sources

• Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.
• Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Clean Needle Technique Manual Best Practices for Acupuncture Needle Safety and Related Procedures. 7th ed. Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2015. (http://www.ccaom.org/cntmanual.asp) 
• Deadman, Peter, Mazin Al-Khafaji, Keven Baker. A Manual of Acupuncture. 2nd ed. East Sussex, England: Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, 2007.
• Maciocia, Giovanni. The Practice of Chinese Medicine: The Treatment of Disease with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs. 2nd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2007.

Secondary Sources

• Anzaldua, David. An Acupuncturist's Guide to Medical Red Flags & Referrals. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Enterprises, Inc., 2010.
• Beresford-Cooke, Carola. Shiatsu Theory & Practice. 3rd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2011.
• Bisio, Tom. A Tooth from the Tiger's Mouth: How to Treat Your Injuries with Powerful Healing Secrets of the Great Chinese Warrior. New York: Fireside Books. 2004.
• Chirali, Llkay Z. Traditional Chinese Medicine Cupping Therapy. 3rd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2014.
• Hicks, Angela, John Hicks, and Peter Mole. Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture. 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone, 2011.
• Kailin, David C. Acupuncture Risk Management: The Essential Practice Standards & Regulatory Compliance Reference. Corvallis, OR: CMS Press, 1998.
• Legge, David. Close to the Bone: The Treatment of Painful Musculoskeletal Disorders with Acupuncture and Other Forms of Chinese Medicine. 3rd ed. Sydney: Sydney College Press. 2000.
• Maciocia, Giovanni. The Channels of Acupuncture: Clinical Use of the Secondary Channels and Eight Extraordinary Vessels. 1st ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2006.
• Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.
• Nielsen, Arya. Guasha: A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice. 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone, 2013.
• O’Connor, John, and Dan Bensky, Trns. and Ed. Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text. Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 1996.
• Pirog, John E. The Practical Application of Meridian Style Acupuncture. Berkeley, CA: Pacific View Press, 1996.
• Wu, Yan, and Warren Fischer. Practical Therapeutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ed. Jake P. Fratkin. Brookline, MA: Paradigm Publications, 1997.
• Xu, Xiangcai. Chinese Tui Na Massage: The Essential Guide to Treating Injuries, Improving Health & Balancing Qi, Boston, MA: YMAA Publication Center, 2002.
• Zhang, Ting Liang, and Bob Flaws. Trns. A Handbook of Traditional Chinese Gynecology. 3rd ed. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press, 1987.

NCCAOM® Candidate Preparation Handbook for Chinese Herbology Certification: PDF
   
Primary Sources

• Bensky, Dan, Steven Clavey, Erich Stoger, and Andrew Gamble. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Third edition. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 2004.
• Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., 2008.
• Chen, John K., and Tina T. Chen. Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press, Inc., 2004.
• Scheid, Volker, Dan Bensky, Andrew Ellis, and Randall Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies. 2nd ed. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 2009.

Secondary Sources

• Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.
• Fratkin, Jake Paul. Chinese Herbal Patent Medicines: The Clinical Desk Reference. Boulder, CO: Shya Publications, 2001.
• Lu, Henry C. Chinese System of Food Cures: Prevention & Remedies. New York: Sterling Publishing, 1986.
• Maciocia, Giovanni. Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine. 2nd.ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2011.
• Maciocia, Giovanni. TThe Foundations of Chinese Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.
• Wu, Yan, and Warren Fischer. Practical Therapeutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ed. Jake P. Fratkin. Brookline, MA: Paradigm Publications, 1997.​

Websites:
Websites Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration [Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP)]

NCCAOM® Candidate Preparation Handbook for Oriental Medicine Certification: PDF
 

• Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.
• Clavey, Steven. Fluid Physiology and Pathology in Traditional Chinese Medicine (also available: online version). 2nd ed. Churchill Livingstone, 2003.
• Deng, Tietao. Practical Diagnosis in Traditional Chinese Medicine. London: Churchill Livingstone, 1999.
• Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Maciocia, Giovanni. Diagnosis in Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2004. -
• Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.
• Maciocia, Giovanni. TThe Practice of Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2007.
• Scheid, Volker, Dan Bensky, Andrew Ellis, and Randall Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies. 2nd ed. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, 2009.
• Wiseman, Nigel, and Andy Ellis. Fundamentals of Chinese Medicine. Revised Edition. Brookline, MA: Paradigm Publications, 1995.
• Wu, Yan, and Warren Fischer. Practical Therapeutics of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Ed. Jake P. Fratkin. Brookline, MA: Paradigm Publications, 1997.

Biomedicine

• Anzaldua, David. An Acupuncturist's Guide to Medical Red Flags & Referrals. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Enterprises, Inc., 2010.
• Bickley, Lynn S. Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. 11th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers, 2012.
• Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Clean Needle Technique Manual Best Practices for Acupuncture Needle Safety and Related Procedures. 7th ed. Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, 2015. 
• Fischback, Frances and Marshall B. Dunning. A Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests . 9th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers, 2014.
• Kailin, David C. Quality in Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Corvallis, OR: CMS Press, 2006.
• Katzung, Bertram G., Susan B. Masters, and Anthony J. Trevor, eds. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. 13th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Medical, 2014.
• Magee, David J. Orthopedic Physical Assessment, 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2013.
• Papadakis, Maxine A., Stephen J. McPhee, and Michael W. Rabow. Current Diagnosis and Medical Treatment. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Education. (Current Edition)
• Porter, Robert S. (Ed.). The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 19th ed. West Point, PA: Merck & Co. Inc., 2011.
• Pitchford, Paul. Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition. 3rd Edition. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2002.