AOM First Professional Doctorate Q&A

Transcription

1 AOM First Professional Doctorate Q&A What is the First Professional Doctorate(FPD)? The first degree one receives (doctorate) upon completing a professional program of study. (MD, DC, ND are also FPDs). How does that differ from the DAOM Post-Doc? The DAOM is a laddered degree that requires students to first complete a Master s-level degree in AOM. A First Professional Doctorate is a degree where students enter a graduate program to receive a doctoral degree without having to first complete a Master s degree in AOM. What will happen to the current DAOM, the doctorate degree that one can get after getting master s degree? The DAOM will remain a post-graduate program that is designed for existing practitioners to develop areas of clinical specialization. It is for those that really love the deeper study of AOM within an academic setting, and it would continue to play a significant role contributing to the science and knowledge of the AOM profession. Is the FPD an Academic Degree, Professional Degree, other? Professional Degree. What is the difference between USDE, Regional Accreditation and ACAOM Accreditation? Programatic accreditation is for a specific field of education/training; ACAOM does this for AOM. Regional accreditation is institutional accreditation for the whole college/university. USDE approves accrediting bodies such as ACAOM and regional accrediting bodies to accredit educational programs/institutions. What accreditation(s) will be required? ACAOM would accredit the FPD, but needs approval from the USDE to expand its scope in order to do so. What is a "terminal degree"? The highest degree in a given field of study. The FPD would be a terminal degree. What is an "entry-level degree"? The degree required to enter the profession - this is determined by individual states. Currently for most states the masters is the entry level degree required for the AOM field. Will the FPD be an entry-level, terminal degree when adopted? If not, when is it intended to be? No, the FPD would not be entry level if it were adopted, as entry level standards are determined by state legislatures and/or regulatory boards. Yes, it would become the terminal degree, and the current DAOM would become a postgraduate program. How much will the FPD cost? The additional costs for the FPD vary depending on what type of program is being upgraded - whether its an acupuncture masters, OM masters, or California Acupuncture Board (CAB) approved OM masters.

2 These additional costs include meeting the minimal number of clinic hours and academic years required, along with additional infrastructure costs. These infrastructure costs include upgrading a key Admin to doctoral level (+$40K/year) and paying new faculty that teach biomedicine/systems subjects more (+$25K/year). Assuming 100 full time students attending for 3 calendar years, these additional admin/faculty costs would increase student tuition by $1,650, [=(40K(3) + 25K)/100]. These costs could be less for stronger schools that already have some of this infrastructure in place. Based on median tuition/faculty/admin expenses we can extrapolate what the additional tuition costs for the proposed FPD would be: OM Masters: A non-cab approved ACAOM accredited Masters OM program needs the same number of academic years (4) as the proposed FPD and requires 130 hours less of clinic (870 vs. 1000). The increase of 130 hours would cost $2,058; the additional admin/faculty costs of $1,650 brings the total to $3,708. Acupuncture Masters: An acupuncture Masters would need to increase 3 to 4 academic years to upgrade to the proposed FPD for acupuncture. The increase in tuition cost for an additional academic year would be about $10,000, and the additional admin/faculty costs of $1,650 bring the total to $11,650. Another 8-9 months of student living expenses for the additional academic year (~$10K) brings the overall total of additional expenses including tuition up to $21,650. CAB-approved OM Masters: As it stands with the current proposed FPD, a CAB (California Acupuncture Board) approved AOM program needs the same number of academic years (4), and requires 50 hours less clinic (950 vs. 1,000). The increase of 50 clinic hours would cost about $790, the additional admin/faculty costs of $1,650 bring the total to $2,440. Given that a majority of students receive financial aid, we can assume that debt amortization would roughly double these costs over a 30 year period. Will practitioners who have a Masters degree be grandfathered? Grandfathering is not conducted in academia. It belongs to the area of licensure. For example, New Mexico uses the license title Doctor of Oriental Medicine, in Florida it is Acupuncture Physician, and in Rhode Island, it is Doctor of Acupuncture. The practitioners in those states were grandfathered. Successful legislation in this area requires an astute state association with resources and the right timing. Grandfathering is a term that is used for changes in licensing titles, which are usually determined by state regulatory boards. Changes in licensing titles are more easily facilitated by changes in entry-level requirements, e.g. if a state were to make the FPD the requirement for entry into the profession, they might consider changing the professional title from something like "Licensed Acupuncturist" to "Doctor of Acupuncture". For those currently licensed there usually aren't additional program requirements for those that choose to be "grandfathered". Nobody would be required to go back to school if there were a change in licensing title, and one could keep practicing with their old licensing title. What about the degree title? Would I have to go back to school if I wanted to get a doctoral degree?

3 Yes, degree titles are earned. Methods, subject to review and consideration by ACAOM and relevant state authorities, may be put into place that take into account practice experience and reduce the amount of required study. Physical therapists recently transitioned to a first-professional doctorate and represent one model for the AOM profession. Their experience could provide some insight into the process (link to AOM Rising, Physical Therapist Transition to a Professional Entry-Level Doctorate). There are many ways for a profession to accommodate emerging needs and this is one example. The PTs required an additional 21 units (1 unit equals about 1 weekend of class plus study time) for the master s level practitioner to achieve a Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy (tdpt). Other forms of demonstrating competency might be possible, such as exams or portfolios. But that would be determined at a later time depending on the institution, the standards and the state environment. What is a transitional doctorate? On the academic side, other professions have developed mechanisms for current practitioners and students to earn a transitional doctorate. If done correctly these programs should be convenient (including distance learning), relevant, inexpensive, and take into account competencies learned though their professional experience. ACAOM has not yet engaged a discussion about what a transitional doctorate would like. How long will it take to obtain an FPD? For new students the draft FPD requires 3 years of undergraduate education to enter the program, and then 4 academic years to complete (8 semesters/12 quarters/3 calendar years). For new students the current masters degree requires 2 years of undergraduate work to enter, and takes 3 academic years for the acupuncture-only Masters and 4 academic years for the full scope AOM Masters. For those that have already completed a Masters degree, the length time to complete a FPD has not yet been determined. Other factors such as practice experience, length and content of masters program may affect how large the program would be. For Physical Therapists transitioning from a masters to FPD, about 21 units was needed. If my state begins to require a FPD to gain licensure, will I have to go back to school in order to keep my license? No. There is no precedent for professionals to return to school to maintain licensure when there is an upgrade in a state s professional degree requirements. When a state adopts a doctoral title by license, can licensed practitioners use the new title without going back to school? It is rare for any state that upgrades a profession s title to require that practitioners go back to school. Grandfathering is the normal process. There can always be a first, however. It depends on legislative changes to the practice act. Licensees who are not interested in a title change should be able to keep and continue practicing under their old title. If a state does place strict requirements regarding doctoral level education for entry, does this risk bifurcating the profession into two parts? Initially, it does. It is a temporary situation, lasting only as long as it takes for those with the old titles to retire or cease practicing. The legislature can take such a split into account by minimizing the grandfathering requirements for licensing title changes by using practice experience.

4 Will there be recommended differentiations in scope of practice between different degrees? There is no change in scope of practice between the Masters and FPD. There will still be the differences in scope of practice that currently exist between the acupuncture-only and full scope OM degrees. Will the FPD be a nationally/internationally recognized degree? The FPD would be a nationally recognized degree. Will the FPD require additional biomedical curriculum? The biomedical requirements are slightly increased for the FPD, more significantly are the entirely new competencies in systems-based medicine (i.e., how to coordinate and deliver care in hospitals/multi-disciplinary settings). Will the FPD require a bachelors degree? No, it will require 3 years of undergraduate education, which is similar to other health professional doctorates. Will the FPD require pre-med curriculum prior to entering school? No, the draft FPD has no such requirements. Will the FPD have a positive or negative effect on job opportunities? The FPD should have a positive effect, particularly given the additional medical systems based competencies. Will the FPD have a positive or negative effect on obtaining research grants? The FPD should also help open doors to research opportunities that have been closed to those with just masters degrees. Will the FPD have a positive or negative effect on reimbursement rates from insurance companies? Reimbursement rates are determined more by other factors and won't necessarily be affected by the FPD. Will current licensed acupuncturists be economically threatened by newly minted practitioners with a FPD? Not likely. Word-of-mouth advertising and referral are the primary drivers building and maintaining a practice, and senior practitioners would have a distinct advantage due to their experience in the market. Why might I be interested in pursuing a higher degree title such as the FPD? To augment knowledge, skills, and attitudes in a way that creates opportunities in an uncertain health care environment. To engage in collegial inquiry with others who bring a wealth of experience to the development of the science and art of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. To achieve degree parity with graduates of other first professional doctoral education programs in both primary and allied modes of care. To prepare the practitioner and to gain the rights, privileges, and obligations associated with being a member of a doctoring profession.

5 Would there be changes in the day-to-day for private practitioners if the FPD is implemented? Aside from the only constant in life being change, the FPD shouldn't have too much of an immediate impact on those currently practicing. Over time, especially as AOM practitioners more successfully infiltrate hospitals and the health care system and the safe, costeffective, and efficaciousness of our medicine become better known, increased awareness and referrals will benefit those in private practice as well. Would practitioners be required to use electronic medical records (EMR) if the FPD is implemented? No. While part of the systems based competencies in the FPD include EMR, as this is the direction that hospitals and medical clinics are headed, implementing the FPD itself would not make licensed acupuncturists be required to use EMR.