As this time, the Seitai Shinpo Acupuncture Foundation provides a single track for becoming a Certified Seitai Shinpo Acupuncturist (CSSAc):
Silver Certificate
The Silver Certificate requires attending our four year Japanese Acupuncture elective at the Traditional Chinese Medical College of Hawaii. Classes take place at Dr. Maekawa’s clinic in Kailua-Kona once a month (four full days per trimester). Students are also required to complete 600+ clinic observation hours in Dr. Maekawa’s clinic. This elective is structured as a class but maintains an “apprenticeship-style” training, and each student is only awarded this certificate upon final approval by Dr. Maekawa. New classes begin in September and it is highly recommended that students begin this course in their first year of study as an acupuncturist. For more information you may want to read the article: “Seitai Shinpo Program Underway at TCMCH”
In addition, the Foundation recognizes the following professional training tracks:
Gold Certificate
The Gold Certificate recognizes that the practitioner is certified to teach Seitai Shinpo at any acupuncture college in the US. This certification requires a Silver Certificate, five years of clinical experience, five years of Seitai Shinpo Seminars, and an examination by the Grandmaster Sorimachi Sensei, or another Certified Diamond Seitai Shinpo Acupuncturist.
Platinum Certificate
The Platinum Certificate recognizes that the practitioner is certified to conduct workshops, seminars, and other trainings throughout the world in the cooperation of other Certified Platinum Seitai Shinpo Acupuncturists, Certified Diamond Seitai Shinpo Acupuncturists, and the grandmaster Sorimachi Sensei. This certification requires a Gold Certificate, five years of experience teaching Seitai Shinpo, an additional five years of seminars, and an initiation of the Grandmaster.
Diamond Certificate
The Grandmaster Daiichi Sorimachi awards the Diamond Certificate to a student who has studied under him for more than 20 years and is honorable enough to be a leader of the Seitai Shinpo Foundation. If Sorimachi Sensei cannot lead the Foundation, a Certified Diamond Seitai Shinpo acupuncturist can award this honor.