Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

What Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine does

The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM), legally known as the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1982 and headquartered in Centennial, Colorado. It governs and serves 50+ accredited and pre-accredited acupuncture and herbal medicine colleges across 22 U.S. states that offer Master's and Doctorate degree programs. The organization's core product is the Clean Needle Technique (CNT) course, exam, certification, and manual — a nationally recognized standard for acupuncture needle safety that is a prerequisite for NCCAOM certification and licensure in most states. Supporting products include the CNT Review Course (PDA/CEU), the CCAHM Connect member portal, faculty development programs, legislative advocacy services, and Spring/Fall member conferences. All CNT courses are delivered 100% online.

CCAHM operates on a membership-based, community-led GTM motion. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: recurring membership dues from member colleges, one-time/perpetual license fees for CNT course registrations and certifications, and professional services revenue from conferences, workshops, and faculty development. The CNT Review Course is publicly priced at $80 per individual for perpetual access; other pricing (membership dues, conference registration) is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by an elected Executive Committee drawn from member institutions, with Kristin Richeimer, CAE serving as permanent Executive Director since April 2024. Notable strategic partnerships include the AHM Coalition (alongside ACAHM, ASA, and NCCAOM), APWA membership, and content contributions aligned with CDC, OSHA, and Joint Commission standards. The organization adopted a 2026-2028 Strategic Plan in December 2025 and is actively engaging on the U.S. Department of Education's AHEAD/STATS proposed rule to protect federal student aid access for AHM students.

Name

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Legal name

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

Website

https://ccahm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership association serving 50+ accredited acupuncture and herbal medicine colleges across 22 U.S. states, administering the nationally required Clean Needle Technique certification and providing advocacy, faculty development, and member services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Centennial

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: CCAHM operates as a membership-based association for acupuncture and herbal medicine colleges. Member institutions pay dues to access benefits including CNT certification, conferences, resources, and advocacy.
2. CNT Course and Certification Fees: Revenue from Clean Needle Technique course registration, exams, and certifications. The CNT course is required for NCCAOM certification and licensure in most states. CNT Review course provides PDA/CEU credits.
3. Conference and Event Fees: Spring and Fall conferences, workshops, and training sessions for member schools, faculty, and administrators. Includes professional development and faculty development sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CCAHM is the sole developer and administrator of the Clean Needle Technique (CNT) course, exam, and manual — the nationally recognized standard for acupuncture safety required for NCCAOM certification and licensure in most U.S. states. It also operates a member-based association for 50+ accredited and pre-accredited acupuncture and herbal medicine colleges, providing CNT training, conferences, faculty development, and legislative advocacy.

Product overview

The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM) operates as a professional association offering a suite of education-focused products centered around its core Clean Needle Technique (CNT) program. The CNT certification course, review course, and manual form the foundational product line, required for NCCAOM certification and state licensure. Supporting services include a member collaboration portal (CCAHM Connect), faculty development programs, legislative advocacy, and annual conferences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clean Needle Technique (CNT) Course A 100% online, nationally recognized certification course in acupuncture safety required for NCCAOM certification and state licensure in most U.S. states. Designed for students enrolled in accredited acupuncture and herbal medicine programs and for practitioners pursuing national certification.
• CNT Review Course (PDA/CEU) A continuing education review course that can be completed for PDA/CEU credits for both the NCCAOM and California Acupuncture Board. Aimed at licensed practitioners refreshing their needle safety knowledge for credential renewal.
• Clean Needle Technique Manual (7th Edition) The foundational safety training manual for acupuncturists — Best Practices for Acupuncture Needle Safety and Related Procedures. Currently in its 7th Edition, it was developed with consultation from CDC and OSHA experts to address the evolving landscape of acupuncture practice, including expansion into hospitals and integrated medical centers.
• CNT Certificate and Verification Service Digital certificate and badge issuance, plus verification request processing for practitioners who have completed CNT certification. Used by employers, state boards, and credentialing bodies to confirm CNT completion.
• CCAHM Spring and Fall Conferences Annual member conferences (Spring and Fall) featuring committee meetings, educational sessions, faculty development workshops, and general business meetings for administrators and faculty at member acupuncture and herbal medicine colleges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 accredited and pre-accredited colleges in 22 states
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• AHM Coalition (Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Coalition)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2024The AHM Coalition is a collaboration of the four major national acupuncture organizations (ACAHM, ASA, CCAHM, and NCCAOM) to advance professional standards of acupuncture and herbal medicine through education, advocacy, and research. The coalition conducts town halls, coordinates policy responses, and advocates for the profession at the federal level.
• Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ACAHM is the accreditation body for acupuncture and herbal medicine programs. CCAHM works closely with ACAHM on accreditation standards, program development, and regulatory engagement.
• Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CCAHM joined APWA as a voting member. APWA is a national coalition of primarily healthcare education and professional organizations working to protect access to federal student aid and strengthen the healthcare workforce.
• American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASA represents licensed acupuncturists. Through the AHM Coalition, CCAHM collaborates with ASA on professional standards, advocacy, and practice advancement.
• National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCCAOM provides national certification for acupuncturists. CCAHM's CNT certification is required for NCCAOM certification. The organizations collaborate through the AHM Coalition.
• World Health Organization (WHO) ICD11 Reference GroupsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSamuel Collins serves as a member of the WHO ICD11 Traditional Medicine Reference Group and Functional Disability Reference Group, contributing to international acupuncture documentation standards.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNT Manual was developed with consultation of CDC experts to ensure recommendations meet current public health standards.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CNT Manual was developed with consultation of OSHA experts to ensure safety recommendations meet workplace standards.
• The Joint CommissionstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCAHM published a white paper demonstrating alignment between Clean Needle Technique standards and Joint Commission Standards for hospital accreditation settings.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM): National certifying body for acupuncturists whose certification requirements effectively mandate CCAHM's CNT course. Closely intertwined with CCAHM through the AHM Coalition and the regulatory architecture of the profession.
• Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM): The U.S. Department of Education-recognized accreditor for acupuncture and herbal medicine programs. It is the most directly comparable organization to CCAHM: same profession, same member institutions, complementary accreditation-and-education mandate, and a co-member of the AHM Coalition.
• American Society of Acupuncturists (ASA): National professional association for licensed acupuncturists. Peer in mission (advocacy, standards, member services) and a fellow AHM Coalition member, representing the practitioner side of the same ecosystem CCAHM represents on the education side.
• Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC): Membership organization for accredited naturopathic medical colleges in North America. Closely comparable as an association representing a small number of CAM/allied-health colleges that administers shared education standards and advocacy.

Broad incumbents

• National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT): Certification body for occupational therapists with a similar 'required-for-licensure' certification monopoly model. Useful comparand for how a single credentialing organization sustains itself through recurring certification and continuing competency products.
• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT): Nonprofit that supports PT licensure boards and administers the National Physical Therapy Examination. Comparable as a multi-state allied-health standards and assessment organization with member boards rather than colleges.
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM): Membership association for colleges of osteopathic medicine. Similar institutional-membership, advocacy, and faculty-development model to CCAHM but in a larger, federally aligned profession.
• Council of Chiropractic Education (CCE): Accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for chiropractic programs. Comparable in role and structure as the upstream accreditor in a small CAM profession, much as ACAHM is for AHM.

Emerging players

• Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH): Consortium of councils and colleges representing licensed integrative health professions (including AHM). Directly comparable as a peer membership organization advancing shared competencies and faculty development across CAM disciplines.
• National University of Health Sciences: An accredited integrative medicine institution that offers acupuncture and related programs. Comparable as a downstream institutional member of the AHM education ecosystem that relies on CCAHM-administered standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CCAHM.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/council-of-colleges-of-acupuncture-and-herbal-medicine-ccahm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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