Registration Requirements for the Registration of TCM Physicians

1. A TCM graduation certificate of the 7-year part-time or 5-year full-time undergraduate course conducted by one of the following local TCM institutions:
   1. Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine;
   2. Institute of Chinese Medical Studies

2. A 5-year full-time bachelor's degree in TCM (conducted in Chinese) from one of the following TCM institutions from the People's Republic of China:

   1. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine;
   2. Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine;
   3. Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine;
   4. Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine;
   5. Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine;
   6. Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine;
   7. Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

1. Singaporeans with Recognised Foreign TCM qualifications
   1. Singaporeans with no valid foreign registration certificate and practising certificate:
      
      Complete at least 1 year of clinical attachment, including at least 403 hours of structured TCM Clinical Training at an approved local TCM educational institution* before taking the qualifying examination for TCM physicians. 
   2. Singaporeans with valid foreign registration certificate and practising certificate:
      1. Hold valid registration certificate and practising certificate from the country of practice and current certificate of good standing (within 3 months from date of issue);
      2. Complete at least 1 year of TCM clinical attachment under conditional registration at an approved local TCM establishment** before taking the qualifying examination for full registration.
2. Foreigners and Permanent Residents with Recognised TCM qualifications
   1. Hold valid registration certificate and practising certificate from the country of practice and current certificate of good standing (within 3 months from date of issue);
   2. Show proof of potential employment as a TCM physician to practise TCM full-time in Singapore;
   3. Have sufficient TCM clinical experience at approved TCM establishments in the country of practice accepted by the Board*** and hold the appointment of "Deputy Chief Physician" (副主任医师) or higher;
   4. Complete at least 3 years of TCM practice in Singapore under conditional registration at an approved local TCM establishment**.

3. Foreigners with Outstanding Skills and Expertise

   1. Have outstanding TCM skills and expertise acceptable to the TCM Practitioners Board;
   2. Hold valid registration certificate and practising certificate from country of practice and current certificate of good standing (within 3 months from date of issue);
   3. Show proof of potential employment as TCM physician to practise TCM full-time in Singapore;
   4. Have at least 15 years of TCM clinical experience at recognised TCM institution(s) in the country of practice, with at least 5 years as "Chief Physician" （主任医师）; or specific considerations by the Board on a case by case basis based on the particular outstanding skills and expertise.

Notes

1. Singapore College of TCM
2. Institute of Chinese Medical Studies
3. Thong Chai Medical Institution
4. Nanyang Technological University

A local TCM clinic with at least 3 TCM physicians on full registration and one of whom shall be the TCM physician-in-charge responsible for the supervision of TCM physician on conditional registration as follows:

1. The TCM physician-in-charge must have qualifications approved by the Board and has at least 15 years of local TCM practice experience; and
2. The TCM physician-in-charge shall supervise only one TCM physician on conditional registration at any one time. 

***TCM establishments in the country of practice accepted by the Board, e.g. for China, it refers to 三级甲等医院.

Applicants meeting the above requirements are required to take and pass the qualifying examination for TCM physicians, before they can be considered for full registration, as required under Regulation 6 (1) of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (Registration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Physicians and Acupuncturists) Regulations.

The qualifying examinations currently conducted by the Board are the Singapore TCM-physicians Registration Examination (STRE) conducted in Chinese and the Singapore Acupuncturists Registration Examination (SARE) conducted in English.   

While the passing of the qualifying examination is a pre-requisite for registration, it is not a guarantee of successful registration.  Application for registration will be considered by the Board if they meet all the criteria for registration under the TCM Practitioners Act and Regulations.  A person may only be granted registration as a TCM practitioner if he is, in the opinion of the Board, a fit and proper person to be granted full or conditional registration as a TCM practitioner.

Changes to Singapore TCM-physicians Registration Examination (STRE)

From 2025, the qualifying examination for TCM physicians will focus more on the clinical competencies assessment of the applicants. The changes to the qualifying examination structure and format will be carried out in two phases: 

Phase 1: 2025 and 2026
Modified Singapore TCM-physicians Registration Examination (Modified STRE) 

In phase 1, the qualifying examination papers will be on the following 5 papers to be taken in one sitting.