SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE: TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE
Postgraduate program – 9 months + practical part
Total hours: 600
INTRODUCTION
The Special Knowledge in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture program represents a school with a thirty-year tradition of continuous education of doctors and dentists .
Following modern educational trends and with the aim of making it easier for participants to access knowledge, in recent years the theoretical part of classes has been conducted via the Zoom platform , with permanent access to lecture recordings.
The host and leader of the program is prof. Ph.D. Edvin Dervišević , with engagement:
- Prof. Dr. Vedran Hadžić , full professor at the University of Ljubljana
- Vesne Dervišević, Ph.D. med., spec. of anesthesiology
- Mirjam Golub, Ph.D. med., spec. of anesthesiology
The program is intended for physicians and dentists with a valid license.
Other health professionals (eg physiotherapists, nurses and technicians, health therapists with relevant formal education), as well as specialists from complementary therapeutic areas with appropriate previous education, can join the program.
Attendees who are not doctors or dentists receive a certificate related to acupressure, electroacupuncture and laser acupuncture , but not to acupuncture in the invasive sense (puncturing with needles).
Every year, the school receives points for professional development from the Croatian Medical Chamber and the Slovenian Medical Association .
PROGRAM CONTENT (SYLLABUS OUTLINE)
• Introduction to traditional Chinese medicine
• Scientific basis of acupuncture
• Historical development of acupuncture
• Philosophy, anatomy and physiology in TCM
• Theory of Five Elements
• Theory of Yin–Yang
• Qi energy
• Organic Chinese clock
• Etiology and pathogenesis of diseases according to TCM
• Diagnostics in TCM
• Pathology and pathophysiology of organs according to TCM
• Topography and anatomical measurements in acupuncture
• Acupuncture meridians – introduction
• Acupuncture points – general part
• Acupuncture points – regular meridians
• Extra meridians
• Acupuncture techniques
• Differentiation of syndromes
• Nature and function of specific points according to TCM
• Modern acupuncture techniques (electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, acupressure)
• Main indications, complications and contraindications for acupuncture
• Treatment of acupuncture accessories (sterilization, storage, medical waste)
• Methods of heating and cooling in acupuncture (moxibustion, cupping)
• Methods of therapy in TCM
• Acupuncture in sports and rehabilitation
• Acupuncture treatment: strategy, principles of selection, sequence and combination of points
• Application of acupuncture in clinical practice: syndrome therapy
• Nutrition according to TCM based on the differentiation of syndromes
PROGRAM STRUCTURE – 600 HOURS
Lectures – 200 hours
Seminars – 100 hours
Exercises – 50 hours
Clinical exercises (practice) – 150 hours
Independent work – 100 hours
TOTAL: 600 HOURS
EXERCISES – 50 HOURS
Practical demonstrations, group work and guided case analyses with an emphasis on:
- clinical skills development
- syndrome differentiation
- proper selection of acupuncture points
- development of a therapeutic strategy
SEMINARS – 100 HOURS
- student presentations
- expert discussions
- critical analysis of literature
- connecting theory and clinical practice
INDEPENDENT WORK – 100 HOURS
- study of professional literature
- preparation of seminar papers
- deepening specific TCM topics
CLINICAL PRACTICE – 150 HOURS
Internship under the supervision of a mentor in the EU and partner institutions.
Distribution:
- Neurological diseases – 40 hours
- Locomotor system and rheumatology – 20 hours
- Gynecology – 20 hours
- Skin diseases – 5 hours
- Internal medicine – 20 hours
- Mental illness – 20 hours
- Respiratory diseases – 10 hours
- Allergies – 5 hours
- Urinary system – 5 hours
- Other diseases – 5 hours
ORGANIZATION OF TEACHING
- Classes are conducted in the Slovenian language
- Theoretical part – online
- Recordings available permanently
- The school is accredited by the Slovenian Medical Association
PRICE
Program in Slovenian language: 400 EUR per module
The practical part at the office of Prof. Dr. Dervišević in Ljubljana is free of charge.
There are no charges for consultations, thesis defense, exams, or issuing certificates.
CALENDAR 2026/2027
SLOVENIA (in Slovenian language)
Classes are from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
October 2026 – 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
November 2026 – 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
December 2026 – 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
January 2027 – 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
February 2027 – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
March 2027 – 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
April 2027 – 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th
May 2027 – 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th (Auricula)
June 2027 – 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
DIPLOMA
After successfully passing the theoretical and practical exam, the participant receives a diploma from the Institute, recognized in EU countries, Switzerland and Australia.
We look forward to the new generation of students and the continuation of the tradition of professional excellence.
Health Institute for Sports Medicine and Acupuncture Ljubljana