Acupuncture & Dry Needling Course (Foundation Level)

Skill level: BeginnerCPD hours: 3 days
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Course details

  • The UK's leading acupuncture & dry needling education provider
  • Globally trusted acupuncture and dry needling tutor
  • Over 10 years teaching experience worldwide
  • Consistently rated 5-star by healthcare professionals
  • Clinical reasoning at the heart of delivery
  • Fully accredited by the FHT
  • Courses in every major UK city
  • Triple-locked quality assurance
  • Governing body compliant
  • If you prefer, pay over three months

Like to try before you buy?

Try an online module of this course for free.

Where our delegates work

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If you've checked over the course info, but still have some questions, please get in touch via our contact form, or on [email protected] (we respond to all queries, usually within the hour).

Route A: Are currently a regulated healthcare professional, or a final year student, where the degree included Musculoskeletal anatomy at level 4. This includes Doctors, Dentists, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Sports Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Nurses, Midwives, Podiatrists

Route B: If you are not currently a regulated healthcare professional, we require that you meet all of the following:

  • Your existing therapy qualifications contained musculoskeletal anatomy to level 4 (which includes identification and palpation of musculoskeletal structures)
  • You are practicing as a therapist, which involves assessing and treating common Musculoskeletal conditions
  • You agree to sign up to the Breeze Academy register

An example of a Route B therapist would be a Level 4 Sports Massage therapist

Route C: For those Therapists who do not have level 4 anatomy, and / or do not currently assess and treat musculoskeletal conditions, we offer a bespoke route to gain our entry requirements, via our Entry Level Acupuncture Course.

As soon as you enrol, you get immediate access to our online platform!

You can pay for the course up front, or, you can pay over 3 months (at no extra cost).

In order to receive your certificate, you must have paid the course fee in full. If you have opted for an instalments option, you will be able to attend the face to face workshop, however you will not receive your certificate until all payments have been made (but you can opt to pay off your remaining balance at any time).

Are you looking to learn a new treatment option, enhance your clinical skills, advance your career, complete valuable CPD hours and offer your clients more? Then this course is exactly what you’ve been looking for.

In terms of clinical background, we have had the pleasure of teaching a large range of professions across the last 10 years, including (but not limited to):

  • Physiotherapists
  • Osteopaths
  • Chiropractors
  • Sports Therapists
  • Physicians
  • Nurses
  • Dentists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Podiatrists
  • Level 4 Sports Massage Therapists

Rest assured we have the experience and technical know-how to put you, the learner, first and ensure that course materials, case studies and practical elements reflect your specific day-to-day practice.

We proudly provide triple-locked quality assurance through our full FHT accreditation, as well as Breeze Academy and external moderator approvals, thus providing you with the confidence that our acupuncture and dry needling foundation course is vetted above and beyond the industry standard and meets the highest standards set in education.

On completion, you will be eligible to gain insurance cover and be able to practice acupuncture and dry needling as part of your usual practice. Members of professional bodies that include acupuncture as part of their insurance, such as the CSP, will not be required to take out additional insurance.

This acupuncture foundation course has a global reputation and has cemented Breeze Academy as one of the leading providers of acupuncture and dry needling training worldwide. Delivered by Carl, Claire, Nikki and Lynn, the course consists of a unique blend of online and face-to-face teaching.

Once successfully completed, we ensure that our acupuncture foundation course delegates can use acupuncture and dry needling as part of their everyday practice safely, confidently and effectively.

We have been a globally trusted, 5-star rated, dry needling and acupuncture education provider for over 10 years. We invite you to join us on our upcoming courses.

Any questions about this course or any other, please get in touch directly to our email: [email protected]

You can also book directly on this page.

In our acupuncture foundation course, you will receive a fully evidence-based approach to the implementation of acupuncture. This comes with comprehensive study materials provided within the online and face-to-face components of the course. The evidence-based information you will learn from this foundation course will allow you to make fully informed decisions on how and when to introduce acupuncture into a client’s care package.

You’ll discover a large body of prominent, pertinent and up-to-date evidence supporting the use of acupuncture, whilst developing your needling skills to provide dramatic results for your clients, offering them a comprehensive package of pain relief and wellbeing.

More specifically, after completing our acupuncture foundation course you will be able to demonstrate the following needling skills and theoretical knowledge:

  • Effective needling techniques upon the four limbs, trunk and spine, head and face
  • Suitable identification of prominent and commonly used acupoints
  • An understanding of contraindications, precautions and potential side effects of acupuncture and dry needling
  • Safe application of needling at all times
  • Effective management of needling side effects

After you graduate from our acupuncture foundation course, you will be able to use acupuncture & dry needling as part of your everyday practice safely, confidently and effectively.

With theoretical knowledge and application reviewed from both a Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, this acupuncture foundation course takes you through a large number of applications and techniques, allowing you to confidently apply acupuncture for the treatment of:

  • Acute or persistent pain, anywhere in the body
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Overactive bladder
  • Hot flushes/flashes
  • General wellbeing

Not only are we experts in the field of acupuncture and dry needling, but we’re also experts at delivering exceptional educational experiences. We know exactly what healthcare professionals need, and want, in order to maximise their learning experience and to feel confident, safe and effective in using needling as part of their clinical practice as soon as they complete the course.

As soon as you book, you’ll be given access to our online acupuncture and dry needling training platform where you’ll be required to complete a series of modules prior to the face-to-face training component of the course. We’ve proudly put together the very best in online acupuncture and dry needling training to guarantee that course delegates feel ready and confident before attending face-to-face training, whilst also providing them with the option to revisit learning in a much more meaningful and engaging format both during and after the course*.

Our foundation courses are fun, practical and engaging, and have clinical reasoning at the heart of delivery, meaning that you’ll be able to apply your learning into case scenarios immediately. Furthermore, you’ll feel confident to apply acupuncture and dry needling from day one, meaning you get to put your learning into real situations right away.

*access to online content available until 1 month after the face-to-face element

In line with common standards of acupuncture and dry needling education, there will be a safety test, theoretical case studies to complete, and short MCQs.

We’re with you every step of the way. As soon as you book, you’ll gain access to our online portal, meaning you can start learning immediately. In addition, our team of tutors and learner support team are easily accessible, and happy to help in any way we can.

Close to the face-to-face workshop, we will be in touch with the finer details associated with start times, parking and other points to note.

Clients love it, therapists love it, and you will love it. Acupuncture and dry needling perfectly compliments day-to-day practice, enabling therapists to offer more to their clients. Can you recall where pain has stopped you from being able to move someone forward with their rehab? Or perhaps scenarios where clients have been reluctant to engage with your particular rehab plan? Acupuncture and dry needling is here to help, providing you with that competitive advantage - both in terms of client outcomes and career ambitions.

Furthermore, our courses delve into the biopsychosocial influences of needling, to explain: why clinicians who offer acupuncture gain fantastic outcomes, how needling can influence acute and persistent pain, and which people would be ideal candidates to receive acupuncture and dry needling.

We deliver acupuncture and dry needling courses across the globe, and have courses running in every major city in the UK. We are triple-locked quality assured, meaning you can be confident that we offer the very best in education.

Our History, Heritage & Global Reputation

Expertly curated and delivered by Dr. Carl Clarkson and his team of enthusiastic needling tutors, our courses strive to put the learner at the centre of everything we do. We have a rich education and academic background, including MSc, PhD and countless hours delivering exceptional quality learning experiences across the globe.

Our Unique Blend Of Online & Face To Face

Carefully curated online content, both before and after the face-to-face component, allows you access to high quality education whenever and wherever you want – pause, replay and rewind to your heart’s content. We provide the very best in online acupuncture and dry needling training to guarantee that course delegates feel ready and confident when attending their face-to-face training, whilst also providing them with the option to revisit learning in a much more meaningful and engaging format during and after the course.

Our Exceptional Five-Star Course Reviews

We’re passionate about acupuncture and dry needling, and passionate about delivering exceptional educational experiences. Reflecting this, our acupuncture and dry needling foundation course is consistently rated five-stars and has fantastic reviews. In fact, the majority of our bookings are via recommendations from past attendees! Check out there reviews here.

Our Fully Evidence-Based Approach

We combine the latest research with practical, clinically relevant teaching to ensure you receive a fully evidence-based approach to the implementation of acupuncture. This acupuncture and dry needling foundation course has clinical reasoning at the heart of delivery, making sure that you’re able to make fully informed decisions on how and when to introduce acupuncture and dry needling into a client’s care package.

We’re happy to provide you with 10 days access to a free taster course. This taster course includes a small number of lessons from the full course, helping you to get a flavour for how we do things.

Check out the free taster course.

Acupuncture & Dry Needling Training Course
How to Train as an Acupuncturist
Carl Teaching at Newcastle PhysioFit
Acupuncture & Dry Needling Training Course
How to Train as an Acupuncturist
Carl Teaching at Newcastle PhysioFit
Acupuncture & Dry Needling Training Course
How to Train as an Acupuncturist
Carl Teaching at Newcastle PhysioFit

Meet your tutor

Dr. Carl Clarkson

Dr. Carl Clarkson

Qualifications
  • PhD, Acupuncture and Women’s Health, Northumbria University
  • MSc, Acupuncture, Coventry University
  • PGCE, Adult and Continuing Education and Teaching, Teeside University
  • BSc, Physiotherapy, Northumbria University
Achievements
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, HEA
Over a decade ago, I had an ambitious vision – create exceptional learning experiences for healthcare professionals. My career began in 2004 as a Physiotherapist, where a passion for helping people was complimented...
More about Carl

Agenda

Online Learning Prior To Face-To-FaceOnline

  1. Prior to the face-to-face session, you will complete safety lessons on our online platform. You will learn:

    • Contraindications and precautions
    • Adverse events
    • How to deal with adverse events
  2. Needle insertion fundamentals take you through video demonstrations of how we choose needle size, and how we can clinically reason our acupoint choices, no matter which part of the body is needled

  3. An introduction to meridians - the essential map needed to guide you on locating acupoints

  4. Pain physiology and the impact acupuncture has on descending inhibition

Face-To-Face Day 1

Here, you will begin your needle insertion techniques, with the primary focus on the upper limb.

By the end of day one, you will have been introduced to prominent acupoints commonly used for ailments affecting the shoulder, elbow and the wrist and hand. Furthermore, we will look to integrate your online learning, specifically around needling safety and clinical reasoning.

Face-To-Face Day 2

On day two, you will progress your basic needling skills to apply to the lower limb and spine. We will build upon the clinical reasoning lessons from day one through case studies, and explore the physiological impacts of needling in acute and persistent pain.

By the end of day two, you will have gained confidence in your needling skills, and have a deeper understanding of what informs our decisions to needle a client (and subsequently, how to choose which acupoints are best suited).

Face-To-Face Day 3

We will begin the final face-to-face session by consolidating your upper limb, lower limb and spinal needling techniques. You will have a short safety test to complete, where you will be required to describe needling safety (contraindications, precautions) before demonstrating safe needle insertion into the thoracic spine.

The lessons on day three focus upon the head, neck, ear before progressing to dry needling techniques. Furthermore, we will explore the theoretical and practical aspects of needling for systemic ailments such as hot flushes, overactive bladder, and stress. We will conclude the face to face aspect of the course with case studies and Q&A.

Online Learning Post Face-To-FaceOnline

To contextualise acupuncture and dry needling within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), you will access a number of lessons that discuss TCM philosophy through our online platform.

Your assessment, where several multi-choice tests focused upon case studies, will also be accessed through our online platform.

Post Course SupportOnline

Following completion of your final online training element, you will continue to receive support from Dr. Clarkson via email or tele-conferencing to help guide you when beginning to introduce acupuncture into your usual practice.

Course bookings

Request this course near you

West London, W3

9th - 11th Jun 2023 (8:45 AM - 4:45 PM)

£610.00West London, W3

Loughborough University, UK

13th - 15th Jun 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Loughborough University, UK

Sheffield, UK, S1

16th - 18th Jun 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Sheffield, UK, S1

Leeds, UK, LS10

21st - 23rd Jun 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Leeds, UK, LS10

University of Gloucestershire

1st - 3rd Jul 2023 (12:00 AM - 12:00 AM)

£600.00University of Gloucestershire, Oxstalls Campus, Oxstalls Lane, Longlevens, Gloucester, UK

Keele, UK

5th - 7th Jul 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Keele, UK

Newcastle, UK

14th - 16th Jul 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Breeze Academy HQ, NE29 6, Newcastle, UK

London, UK , E1W

16th - 18th Aug 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£610.00London, E1W

Glasgow, UK - G1

18th - 20th Aug 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Glasgow, UK - G1

Manchester, M1

1st - 3rd Sep 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Manchester, M1

Barbados, Salters, St George’s

7th - 9th Sep 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

BBD $1500.00Barbados, Salters, St George’s

Newcastle, UK

22nd - 24th Sep 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Breeze Academy HQ, NE29 6, Newcastle, UK

Liverpool, M3

6th - 8th Oct 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Liverpool, M3

Canada, Etobicoke Toronto

6th - 8th Oct 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£840.00Canada, Etobicoke Toronto

Leeds, UK, LS10

13th - 15th Oct 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Leeds, UK, LS10

Cardiff, UK - CF10

13th - 15th Oct 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Cardiff, UK - CF10

Ipswich, IP2

20th - 22nd Oct 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Ipswich, IP2

Belfast, BT12

25th - 27th Oct 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Belfast, BT12

Nottingham, BT12

17th - 19th Nov 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Nottingham, BT12

Bedford, MK42

17th - 19th Nov 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Bedford, MK42

Bristol, BS1

24th - 26th Nov 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£610.00Bristol, BS1

Preston, PR1

24th - 26th Nov 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Preston, PR1

Newcastle, UK

27th - 29th Nov 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Breeze Academy HQ, Newcastle, NE29 6, UK

Leicester, LE1

8th - 10th Dec 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Leicester, LE1

Sheffield, UK, S1

11th - 13th Dec 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Sheffield, UK, S1

Edinburgh, EH3

15th - 17th Dec 2023 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Edinburgh, EH3

Southampton, UK

12th - 14th Jan 2024 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00Southampton, SO15 1, UK

Bolton University

26th - 28th Jan 2024 (8:45 AM - 5:00 PM)

£595.00 Bolton University