Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, VUIM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), recognized by the Department of Education and certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), is approved by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for the State of New Jersey (OSHE), and by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission in Georgia (GNPEC).

VUIM has three campuses: 

• Virginia Main campus – 1980 Gallows Rd, Vienna, VA 22182

• New Jersey  – 1010 Edgewater Ave, Ridgefield, NJ 07657

• Georgia – 3525 Mall Blvd NW. 5A,B, Duluth GA 30096

Students can complete 100% of their qualifying degree programs at the location of their choice.

Yes, you can work full time and attend classes at VUIM. Our schedule is designed to provide as much flexibility as possible. As with all advice on this subject, the answer to this question will be more nuanced when we learn the details of your full-time employment. For example, is full-time a standard 40-hour workweek or is it 50-60. And what additional responsibilities do you have?

Yes, you can work part-time and complete our programs within the expected time frame.

Current class sizes average around 14 students. Some are as low as 8-9 students per class and as large as 30 students per class.

VUIM operates on a 10-week quarter-based calendar system – where courses are offered, Monday through Sunday in blocks; 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm, and 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Yes, you may transfer credits under the transfer of credit, exemption, and advanced standing policy. The policy is guided by ACAHM’s standards. You can find information on those details in the Academic Catalog.

The review of transfer of credit typically takes about 7 business days but may take up to 14 business days, depending on the complexity of your request, as well as other factors such as staff availability, proximity to the start of your entrance term, and others. The fee for the evaluation is $400. As per VA policy, students using VA benefits to pay for their education will not be charged this fee.

Students may begin taking national board exams (NCCAOM) after the completion of their Master of Science in Acupuncture degree, which includes the completion of all courses, clinical work, and VUIM graduation exams. A student will need an official transcript stating the conferral of their degree to begin taking NCCAOM exams.

Yes, ACAOM requires students to have completed their degree within 200% of the expected time frame. For example, the MAc degree’s expected time frame is 3 years, and its maximum time to completion would be 6 years.

As a licensed medical professional (Medical Doctors, Naturopathic Doctors, Physicians Assistants, Registered Nurses [including Associates, Bachelor, and Masters level], Nurse Practitioners, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy Assistants, Internists, and Osteopathic Doctors), you will automatically earn 40 credits of advanced standing by providing a copy of your active medical license. You can request an additional transfer of credit, up to the limitations expressed in the Transfer, Exemption, and Advanced Standing policy.

VUIM enrolls approximately 400 active students at this time.

Yes, VUIM master’s program students are eligible to apply for Federal Financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – enter the school code 042395 – www.fafsa.ed.gov

Patients are seen in clinical internship through both the efforts of the administrative marketing team, as well as their own recruitment efforts.

Funding will be sent within 14 days of approval. Students must submit their application within the deadline (TBD) and confirm acceptance of funds before they will be released.

No, The U.S. Department of Education has confirmed that this funding is not considered Estimated Financial Assistance.

No, the institution may not use CARES funding to directly satisfy a student’s outstanding account balance.

Yes.

As announced in the Department’s final rule, “Eligibility To Receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Under HEERF” (May 14, 2021, 86 FR 26608) (final rule), the term “student,” for purposes of the phrases “grants to students,” “emergency financial aid grants to students,” and “financial aid grants to students” as used in the HEERF programs, is now defined as any individual who is or was enrolled (as defined in 34 CFR § 668.2) at an eligible institution (as defined in 34 CFR § 600.2) on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus (85 FR 15337). Thus, students are no longer required to be eligible for Title IV student financial aid in order to receive HEERF grants to students.

VUIM does not offer exclusively online programs at this time.

Yes, students must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program, taking at least 6 credits to be considered for emergency assistance funding.

Yes. As of May 14th, 2021.

Yes. The Department’s final rule on student eligibility for HEERF states that all students who are or were enrolled in an institution of higher education during the COVID-19 national emergency are eligible for emergency financial aid grants from the HEERF, regardless of whether they completed a FAFSA or are eligible for Title IV. That includes citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students.

International students may also receive HEERF. However, as noted in Questions 11 and 12, institutions must ensure that funds go to students who have exceptional need. The Department encourages institutions to prioritize domestic students, especially undergraduates, in allocating this funding. This includes citizens, permanent residents, refugees, asylum seekers, DACA recipients, other DREAMers, and similar undocumented students

All enrolled, degree/certificate seeking students.

As announced in the Department’s final rule, “Eligibility To Receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students Under HEERF” (May 14, 2021, 86 FR 26608) (final rule), the term “student,” for purposes of the phrases “grants to students,” “emergency financial aid grants to students,” and “financial aid grants to students” as used in the HEERF programs, is now defined as any individual who is or was enrolled (as defined in 34 CFR § 668.2) at an eligible institution (as defined in 34 CFR § 600.2) on or after March 13, 2020, the date of declaration of the national emergency due to the coronavirus (85 FR 15337). Thus, students are no longer required to be eligible for Title IV student financial aid in order to receive HEERF grants to students.

Yes, VUIM received this funding in disbursements from the federal government on January 13th, 2021 and on May 25th, 2021.

Yes, under the CARES Act, VUIM will be provided with $217,805.00 to be made available to students with financial hardship needs.

• Credit and debit card payments are only accepted online through the student platform Populi or in person with our Registrar and every credit/debit card payment will incur a convenience fee of 3.5%

• The convenience fee charged by the card company covers the cost of processing credit and debit card payments

• VUIM will not receive any part of the convenience fee

• For students who previously were able to pay by credit card without a convenience fee, the costs VUIM incurred for processing were large and rising. The savings VUIM will achieve will be used to fund new programs and enhance services

• Paper check payments via mail, and both cash and check payments in person 

• Wire transfer payments.

You may make student account payments using Populi with all major credit and debit cards (MasterCard, Discover, Visa and American Express)

• The convenience fee of 3.5% for payments made is non-refundable, even if the student account payment to which it relates is canceled, refunded, credited, or charged back

• Any convenience fee disputes must be taken directly to your credit card company

• VUIM is required to refund any overpayments made by a credit card back to the credit card account used to make the payment

• The convenience fee will not be refunded for the portion overpaid

• Yes.  

• VUIM offers payment by credit card as an option because we believe in the highest degree of flexibility for our students and their authorized users, and we believe that our students and their authorized users are financially savvy enough to know when payment by credit card is the right option for them

• The convenience fee of 3.5% for payments made will almost invariably be a greater cost than any benefit (points, cash back) that is awarded by your card company

• The convenience fee is not the rate at which you will pay interest on the balance due on your credit card. It is a one-time charge on top of the payment amount that will be added to your credit card balance

• You may be able to obtain a federal or private student loan that compares more favorably to carrying credit card debt. Please contact your financial aid office for more information

• Credit card interest rates can vary greatly. Review your card agreement and determine whether any promotional interest rate applies, for how long, what your standard interest rate is, and what the penalty interest rate is

• As referenced above, paying by electronic check is the same as paying by debit card for users with US-based checking or savings accounts (both are direct debits to your bank account), but paying by electronic check does not incur the convenience fee

• Credit and debit card payments are confirmed at the time of payment, much like wire transfers and cashier’s checks (and unlike electronic checks and paper checks)