CA Acupuncture State Board Exam

I probably failed the California Acupuncture State Board exam on Tuesday, August 7, 2007.  Real life doesn’t follow the book, so I knew it would not be the same as clinic.  Still, the materials and some of the question styles did not match what I was used to in classes, and were quite different from the sample questions they gave us in their handbook.  We were given five hours to answer 200 questions without any break in between.

First, for western medicine, they asked a few materials we were not very familiar with.  For example, I’ve never encountered the term coryza in classes or textbooks.  If we had case studies in classes, it was usually several questions for one case study, where we would be asked the diagnosis, tongue, pulse, and treatment plans.  However, on the State Board exam, it was only one question for each case study.  On some of the cases, we were asked to just determine the tongue and pulse from the given signs and symptoms, which made them hard.

Their administration, rules, and procedures were also unclear and unreasonable.  We spent hundreds of dollars for application, registration, transcripts, and traveling.  Since the exam is administered only in Sacramento, Northern CA candidates would have an advantage since they wouldn’t have to face the stress, time, motion sickness, expenses, and other difficulties of traveling.  This is unfair to Southern CA candidates.  They need to also include a test site in Southern CA, the site of many acupuncture and oriental medicine schools.

Traffic and parking at the Sacramento Convention Center is difficult, which is typical of any downtown.  Once inside, they had a refreshment area, which was a good thing.  We were not allowed to bring anything in, except our ID, test card, confirmation form, and some valuables, such as wallets and prescription medicine.  The rest of our belongings had to be left in the check-in area.  They said we could bring a lightweight jacket, but not anything considered outer wear.  Isn’t a lightweight jacket also outer wear? Not allowing tissues was unfair.  What if someone had a cold or allergy?  Fortunately, I was able to wear my jacket, and didn’t need tissues during the test.

They checked our ID and confirmation and scanned us with metal detectors before allowing us into the testing room.  Upon entering, proctors individually led us to our assigned seat, where we had to store our valuables under the tables.  They provided us with a mechanical pencil and water bottle for those five hours.  Though the bathrooms were in the testing room, we were not allowed to even approach them.

It took forever to get everyone into the testing room, and they had to explain the rules.  Finally, we broke the seal on the test booklets and began.  During the exam, we were allowed to visit the bathrooms with some restrictions and permission from the proctors.  They also provided us with candies and granola bars.

I’m glad we were able to comment about the test, some of its questions, and administration.  After the test, we had to seal the booklets again, then check out.  They also removed the label from the water bottles if we wished to take them with us.

After exiting the testing room and gathering my belongings, they handed out American Acupuncture Council bags with papers and pamphlets about jobs, organizations, and materials for acupuncturists.  At least we received a little reward.  I really do not want to sit through the State Board exams again, but I’m afraid I will have to again in a few months because I probably didn’t pass.