Outline of the national examinations and licenses for anma-massage-acupressure as well as acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners (The examinations are conducted in Japanese only.)
1 Developments of the legislative regulations
Since the revision of laws pertaining to anma-massage-acupressure as well as acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners implemented in May 1988 the national examinations and licenses for a anma-massage-acupressure as well as acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners in Japan the authority for the licensing and the conduction of the examinations has been transferred from the governors of the prefectures to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. Moreover, designated examination institutions, a system of specified registration agencies and the like were also introduced and thus in October 1992 the examinations conducted on the authority of and licenses issued by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare. At the same time our foundation was appointed a designated examination institution and registration agency and thus conducted the first national examination in February 1993.
2 Examinations
(1) Conduction of examinations
The national examinations for anma-massage-acupressure practitioners, acupuncture practitioners and moxibustion practitioners are conducted according to paragraph 2, section 1 of the laws pertaining to anma-massage-acupressure as well as acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners.
(2) Examination
The examinations are held once every year (on one day the national examinations for anma-massage-acupressure practitioners and on another day the national examinations for acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners)
(3) Examination sites
For sighted persons – 6-11 sites
For visually impaired persons – in the individual prefectures
(4) Examination subjects
National examinations for anma-massage-acupressure practitioner (12 subjects)
Outline of medical care(except for the medical history), hygiene/public hygiene, related laws, anatomy, physiology, outline of pathology, outline of clinical medicine, specialized clinical medicine, rehabilitation medicine, outline of oriental medicine/ outline of meridians and acupoints , theory of anma-massage-acupressure, clinical oriental medical.
National examinations for acupuncture practitioners (13 subjects)
Outline of medical care(except for the medical history), hygiene/public hygiene, related laws, anatomy, physiology, outline of pathology, outline of clinical medicine, specialized clinical medicine, rehabilitation medicine, outline of oriental medicine, outline of meridians and acupoints, acupuncture theory, clinical oriental medical.
National examinations for moxibustion practitioners (13 subjects)
Outline of medical care(except for the medical history), hygiene/public hygiene, related laws, anatomy, physiology, outline of pathology, outline of clinical medicine, specialized clinical medicine, rehabilitation medicine, outline of oriental medicine, outline of meridians and acupoints, moxibustion theory, clinical oriental medical.
*Here the subjects for examinees taking the national examinations for acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners simultaneously are common except for the subjects acupuncture/moxibustion theory.
(5) Number of questions
National examinations for anma-massage-acupressure practitioners: 160 questions
National examinations for acupuncture practitioners: 170 questions
National examinations for moxibustion practitioners: 170questions
*For examinees taking the national examinations for both acupuncture and moxibustion practitioners the number of questions is 180 (breakdown: 170common questions and 10 questions each pertaining to acupuncture and moxibustion theory respectively).
(6) Examination method
Written examinations (objective 4-choice selection tests) are performed. For visually impaired persons, however, the following methods may also be approved, if requested.
a) Taking the examination using ordinary letters, enlarged letters, Braille script
b) Use of a DAISY-CD that contains voice recordings of the examination questions either independently or in combination with the text.
However, this applies only to persons for who the principals of the schools or vocational schools approved by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare have acknowledged this measure as inevitable.
c) Use of lighting equipment, reading aids, Braille typewriters etc. during the examination.
d) If persons with marked visual, auditory or else speech impairments wish to take the examination, it is possible to devise appropriate support measures for the specific impairment during the examination.
(7) Required qualifications
a) The examinees must meet the requirements for entering universities set out in paragraph 90, section 1 of the "School Education Act" (being a senior high school graduate), or underwent proper education and training for more than 3 years in the knowledge and skills related to anma-massage-acupressure as well as acupuncture and moxibustion in one of the vocational schools approved by either the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology or the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, or underwent proper education and training in the knowledge and skills related to acupuncture and moxibustion in one of the vocational schools approved by governors of the prefectures,
b)Regarding anma-massage-acupressure practitioners, acupuncture practitioners and moxibustion practitioners with marked visual impairment, as laid out in paragraph 4 of the approval stipulations for vocational schools, these must be persons eligible to enter senior high school (junior high school graduates etc.) as set out in paragraph 57 of the "School Education Act" and who underwent proper education and training for more than 5 years in the knowledge and skills related to anma-massage-acupressure as well as acupuncture and moxibustion in one of the vocational schools approved by either the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology or the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare.
(8) Examination fees
The fee for one certification examination is 19,500 Yen (as of September 26, 2024)
3 License
a) Licenses for anma-massage-acupressure practitioners as well as acupuncture practitioners and moxibustion practitioners are issued by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare to persons who have passed the relevant examinations.
b) In order for anma-massage-acupressure practitioners as well as acupuncture practitioners and moxibustion practitioners to perform their work, these persons must have obtained their respective licenses. (It is not possible to work only with a leaving certificate or a diploma.)
c) Persons who because of physical or mental impairments are not able to perform the work anma-massage-acupressure practitioners, or acupuncture practitioners and moxibustion practitioners appropriately, may based on the stipulations provided in a Health, Labor and Welfare ministerial ordinance exempted from the eligibility to obtain a license on grounds of disqualifying reasons.
d) If disqualifying reasons apply to persons who have obtained licenses, these licenses may be revoked or the person ordered to suspend his/her business for a specified period of time.
4 Limitations of the practice etc.
a) Anma-massage-acupressure practitioners as well as acupuncture practitioners and moxibustion practitioners are not allowed to perform surgical procedures or administer medications.
b) If anma-massage-acupressure practitioners treat the site of injury in cases of dislocations or fractures, they must obtain the approval of a physician and acupuncture practitioners must disinfect their hands and the local sites before the treatment.