Licensing

The United States does not currently have a national certification commission to establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of competence and safety for the practice of Tibetan Medicine. Until such a time that national organizations evolve to set standards for certification in the field, all practitioners of Tibetan medicine must research their own local laws and state regulations for practicing according to the legal statutes governing their particular State or practice under the licensure of other related health fields integrating their knowledge of Tibetan medicine into their current practices.

In recent years, a national grass roots effort to recognize consumer’s access to the alternative therapies of their choice has been embraced by a number of US States. Please visit the link http://www.nationalhealthfreedom.org/reports/groups.htm for a list of those States that have passed legislation for unlicensed practitioners of alternative therapies to work within specific guidelines outlined by their respective States.

The Shang Shung Institute is dedicated to creating the best possible opportunities for educational programs in Tibetan medicine while working toward the goal of increased national recognition for the efficacy of Tibetan medicine as a valid complimentary therapy, as well as participating in the conversation regarding the future development of a national commission on Tibetan medicine in the US.

The Shang Shung Institute of America's Tibetan Medicine Program is Licensed as a vocational school by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Education. Details of License:  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education License to Operate a Private Occupational School in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws. License No. 061201B. While the Shang Shung Institute is not yet an accredited or degree granting institution, the Institute is committed to pursuing the necessary criteria to become a candidate for this process in the future. The License to operate as a post secondary proprietary school in the State of Massachusetts is a first step in this lengthy process and a fundamental cornerstone for the Institute's future goals of expansion as a cultural and educational institution with the mission to preserve and promote Tibetan Culture, Arts, Language, History, Medicine, and Philosophy.

The Shang Shung Institute is not currently an accredited post-secondary institution that grants an academic degree. As soon as the conditions for candidacy are optimized, the institute will apply to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges or other US department of education approved agency for candidacy. If prospective students are concerned about receiving either undergraduate or graduate credits for their Tibetan medicine studies, please consult with your host college regarding independent study or institutions that foster independent study degree programs. Some parts of the four-year program are currently approved for Professional Development Activity (PDA’s) by NCCAOM (the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).
The study of Tibetan medicine as presented by the Shang Shung Institute is not intended to substitute for the qualified medical expertise and advice of any primary health system in the treatment of disease or illness.