Asian Bodywork Therapy Certification Program (Tuina) Inaugural Class
Begins January 3, 2027
Only 8 Seats Available
Program Overview
Become certified in Tuina, an ancient hands‑on healing art practiced for centuries across Asia. This inaugural program from Texas Acupuncture Research Academy prepares you for AOBTA‑CP certification, recognized throughout the United States and the European Union.
Tuina is a powerful manual therapy used to treat pain, restore balance, and support whole‑body wellness. This certification equips you with clinical skills, business foundations, and regulatory knowledge so you can confidently practice in a wide range of professional settings.
Graduates will be eligible for AOBTA‑CP certification.
Open House
Come to our registration Open House on October 27th at our campus in Richardson, Texas — conveniently located just outside of Dallas with easy freeway access and DART transit connections. Meet our instructors, explore our facilities, and see our programs firsthand.
About This Class
This is a great course for those who have a LMT and want to expand their skillset; people with a chiropractor degree, and acupuncturists who want to gain more tools in clinic. This class will include support for starting a business and regulations of practice. We anticipate the credit hours being applicable to our future programs in acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Class Schedule
This program will be taught from January 3rd of 2027 through September 26th, with a break in July. As the inaugural class offering from TARI we’re offering a flexible, interest-free monthly plan of $500 per student for the 8-month program, so you graduate with zero debt!
This is a schedule that fits your lifestyle, with flexible hours and high-quality education. Don’t put your life on hold as you cover the comprehensive curriculum of this program.
Our instructors have extensive experience in Chinese Medicine and Bodywork, with a combined 20 years of experience, four masters degrees, and three doctorates between them.
Licensure requirements
While each state has different requirements to become an ABT practitioner, Texas Acupuncture Research Institute falls under the regulations set by the American organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia. If you would like to learn more about these requirements, you can view this information from the AOBTA website.
Information collection
HHMI collects and processes general information and sensitive information from individuals who are applying for admission to the school or registered students only as necessary in the exercise of the school’s legitimate interests, functions and responsibilities as an institution. Learn more by reviewing our privacy policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve gathered answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about our programs and services. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out. Our administrative staff are always happy to help.
How long is the Asian Bodywork Therapy program?
Program length for our evening part-time schedule takes 8 months, not including a 1 month break in July.
Where are you located?
We’re located at 1651 N Collins Blvd Ste 130, Richardson, Texas. Richardson is a city conveniently located 30 minutes from downtown Dallas. There are major highways and accessible transportation options such as DART.
What do I need to apply to the program?
Students are required to already have the Anatomy and Physiology classes from an accredited institution in order to be eligible for this class, because we will not offer the classes presently.
You will need a form of identification (like a driver’s license), social security number, and previous education transcripts (like your high school transcripts). International students will need to provide financial statements, a passing English proficiency exam score, and a passport.
How do your payment plans work?
We offer interest-free payment plans designed to help you focus less on paying for school and focus more on your education and training. We offer a monthly payment plan of $500 a month. We are currently not offering FAFSA or government subsidized loans as part of our tuition plans. Payments can be made in person or online through our easy-to-access student portal. We also offer taking payments through Zelle.
Do you offer continuing education courses?
Texas Acupuncture Research Academy is preparing continuing education courses not just to alumni, but to outside therapists as well! These courses are not a part of the main class schedule, so feel free to contact our administrative staff if you are interested in joining one of our upcoming continuing education courses.
How long does it take to enroll?
Once an application has been accepted, it can take as little as a week to fill out all the required paperwork and finalize a student’s enrollment. Certain factors can cause your application to become delayed, such as missing information or a rejected payment method. If you have more questions about this process, feel free to reach out to our staff.
How long does it take to receive my license after completing the program?
This can depend on a few factors, however students can have their license within as little as 3 weeks after completing the program and all its requirements. Keep in mind that in order to be eligible to practice in the state of Texas, students must apply to be a AOBTA Certified Practitioner. It may take up to 1 – 2 weeks for you to receive a physical copy of your certification from AOBTA. You can find more information on this process on https://aobta.org/page/CPMembership
What does the coursework include?
Business Practices & Ethics
This course covers professional ethics, boundaries, conflict resolution, and business essentials like marketing, client intake, and financial management for Asian Bodywork Therapists. It fulfills Texas state requirements for Business and Ethics.
Chinese Medical Theory
This course covers the general theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a discussion on Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements & Five Substances. It discusses the organ systems, channels, and effective points, including the four methods of examination. It also goes deep into pathology of the body, looking at both the causes and patterns of disease and imbalance.
Discipline, Techniques, and Practice
This course goes deep into the techniques of Asian Bodywork Therapy, looking at its process and principles of how to treat the body. This is the hands-on portion, and takes the largest amount of classroom time. There will be both lecture and demonstration, of using this too for a treatment oriented application, looking at pathologies likely to be treated by the practitioner.
Clinical Application
This is the supervised clinical practice portion of the course, where students have the opportunity to integrate all of their training and practice by providing sessions for the general public in a supervised atmosphere.