With Spring in full swing, I figured it was time for an update in my Acuvida world...here is what's going on since my last post: I graduated with my Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine this past December 2015. Yay finally! A very long (6 years!) and one of the most challenging and arduous endeavors I have ever taken on, but alas, I did it. 1st step done.

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I passed CALE in March 2016! Woo Hoo! 2nd step done.

Wait, what's CALE? California Acupuncture Licensing Exam, a board exam administered by the California Acupuncture Board, the governing body over licensed acupuncturists in California. This exam MUST be successfully passed in order to practice acupuncture in the wonderful state of California. It's a long day of written exam questions that you prepare for months, or up to a year in advance if you're serious about passing the first time. I took an online review class, and was part of an amazing study group, two key things that helped me pass. Oh, and I pretty much sequestered myself in my home for those 3 months prior to the exam; doing nothing but studying for hours, yoga, meditation, eating, studying some more and repeating this everyday up until the exam...no joke. It paid off!

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(Did I mention the LONG wait to find out your results for CALE? It takes about a month to get those results...torture!)

I paid my licensing fee and submitted my Livescan in April 2016...awesome! 3rd step done.

...and now, I wait.

I am waiting to receive my license in the mail to practice. I am waiting to receive my license number to apply for malpractice insurance, apply for an NPI number and waiting for this number for a whole bunch of other things. The CAB states that it can take 4-6 weeks to receive the license in the mail, it's only been 2 so far.

In the meantime, I am also in the midst of taking National Board Exams through NCCAOM- The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The NCCAOM is the national governing body for Acupuncture; being NCCAOM certified is a requirement to practice in certain states and also grants you the coveted title of Diplomate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I have passed 2 out of 4 so far!

Lastly, I am also in the process of setting up my business. As Healthcare Practitioners, we are also business owners and that involves a whole other set of skills and legalities that can get confusing and downright frustrating at times. Luckily, I had great business and marketing training in undergrad and many resources available to aid my business savvy. Here's hoping that all goes smoothly!

I also keep reflecting on why I am on this path, and the journey that has led me to where I am. It was rough, it was tough and it has been worth it so far. I absolutely love the feeling when a patient tells me they are feeling better, or that they are making healthier choices after a treatment or consult with me. Like one of my mentors would say, "You feel like a million bucks!"

Oh yeah, and this is also happening:

I have been accepted into the Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Program this Spring at Emperor's College of Traditional Oriental Medicine.

I have also been accepted into a Study Abroad Course hosted by the University of New Mexico. An Introduction to Mexican Traditional Medicine will take place May through June of 2016 in Oaxaca, Mexico. This course will allow me to delve deeper into another form of the healing arts and another passion of mine, all in the name of healing and wellness.

The journey continues...

Spring Forward