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Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board

Application for Practising Certificate

Information on the application guide and processing of the Practising Certificate.

Last updated 7 April 2025

Overview

Under the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Act 2000 (TCMP Act), a person must be registered with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board (TCMPB) and possess a valid Practising Certificate (PC) in order to practise traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Singapore.

Section 24 of the TCMP Act 2000 states that it is an offence for a registered TCM practitioner to carry out any prescribed practice of TCM/acupuncture without holding a valid PC or once your PC expires. Therefore, the onus is on TCM practitioners to ensure that you have a valid PC if you are practising TCM in Singapore.

Online application

TCM physicians and acupuncturists on full registration who are holding PCs expiring on 30 Jun of the PC renewal year and have met the compulsory Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements may submit PC application online between 1 Apr to 31 May of the PC renewal year.

The PC application should be submitted latest by 31 May of the PC renewal year to avoid incurring late application fees.

TCM practitioners who have not met the compulsory Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements will not be able to submit their PC applications online. Please refer to the Guide on compulsory CPE Programme 强制性中医继续教育指南 [PDF, 556 KB] for details on fulfilling compulsory CPE requirements.

If a TCM practitioner decides not to apply for his/her PC, please inform the Board in writing stating the reason.

Steps for online application

To apply for your PC, please do the following:

  1. Login at the Board's website using your Singpass and select [PC Application] under [Application] tab.

  2. Check and update your personal particulars, and details of your principal practice place and/or secondary place(s) of practice. Attach supporting documents if there are any changes.

  3. Make online payment for the PC application fee via Visa, MasterCard, or GIRO if you have an existing GIRO arrangement with us.  

Please take note of the following:

  1. The application fees are $670 for 2-year TCM Physician PC and $570 for 2-year Acupuncturist PC.

  2. Credit card payment will take up to 7 working days for clearance.

  3. For those with prior GIRO arrangement to pay the application fees, please note that GIRO deduction will only be triggered after you have submitted your application. Please maintain sufficient fund in your bank account.

  4. A late application fee of $75 will be imposed if your PC application is not received by 31 May of the PC renewal year.

  5. Late application fee of $200 will apply to PC application received after the expiry of your PC.

Application fees paid are not refundable. Request for waiver of late application fees will not be entertained.

Processing time

The average time required for processing a straightforward application is about 3 weeks. Longer processing time is expected if TCM Practitioners Board requires additional supporting documentation from the TCM practitioners or during peak periods.

Display of valid electronic PC at TCM clinics and practice places 

An electronic PC (e-PC) will be issued when your application has been approved. You will receive an email by 30 Jun of the PC renewal year with the link to download and print your new e-PC.

Please note that under Regulation 4 (a) of the Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners (Practice, Conduct and Ethics) Regulations, you are required to conspicuously display a copy of your current e-PC at all your place(s) of practice as a TCM practitioner.

You can print a copy of the e-PC and display it inside the practice premises, e.g., the patients’ waiting area and/or in your consultation room.

To view and download your valid e-Certs, please follow the steps below:

  1. Log in to the PRS.

  2. At the left menu, click “Administration” followed by “View Certificates”.       

  3. To view the e-RC or e-PC, please click on the hyperlink on the validity date under "Current Registration" header.

  4. The e-RC/e-PC would then display in a pop-up window:              

    • For most mobile device users, the e-RC/e-PC should download and display automatically.

    • For laptop/ computer users, please follow instructions on your internet browser to view and download a copy of the e-RC/e-PC.

After PC expiry

Section 24 of the TCMP Act 2000 states that it is an offence for a registered TCM practitioner to carry out any prescribed practice of TCM/acupuncture without holding a valid PC or once the PC expires.

If the PC has expired, the TCM practitioner will not be able to submit an online application. The Practitioner has to write in to TCMPB to inform about his/her intention to apply for a new PC.  The TCM practitioner must also meet the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements before he/she can submit a PC application. Late application fee of $200 will apply to PC application received after the expiry of the PC.