Medical Qigong - Specialty Certificate - Five Branches Institute Five Branches Institute, College and Clinic of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a professional school that trains students in the five branches of Chinese Medicine: acupuncture, herbology, dietetics, tuina, and energetics (tai chi, qi gong). Located in Santa Cruz, California, Five Branches Institute offers training towards a career as a licensed acupuncturist. The Masters degree program (MTCM) can be completed in 3 ½ to 4 years and the curriculum includes extensive clinical practice. Receive your health care education from the experts at an accredited institution and prepare to be a practitioner of Chinese medicine. Financial aid is available and semesters begin in the Spring and Fall. in Khicongwith brancheschinesecliniccollegeinstitutekhicongmedicinetraditional