Slovenia

The Slovenian Association of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (SZKMA) is Slovenia’s leading non-profit professional body representing qualified practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture. SZKMA unites healthcare professionals and TCM experts to uphold the highest standards of education, ethics, and practice—integrating millennia-old TCM principles with modern biomedical knowledge for safe, effective, and patient-centered care—while advocating for stronger recognition, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clear distinction from non-TCM needling techniques to benefit public health across Slovenia.

Under the Zakon o zdravilstvu (Complementary and Alternative Medicine Act), TCM—including acupuncture—is recognized as a legitimate form of complementary health practice (Zdravilstvo). Qualified practitioners can provide services with an appropriate healer license (Zdravilec), provided they adhere to standards of education, core competencies, code of ethics, and scope of practice. This framework supports broader access while prioritizing patient safety. Medical doctors who have basic TCM training or other forms of needling practices outside TCM theory can also provide acupuncture/dry-needling at the hospital, pain clinics, general patient clinic and private clinics.

Full Member: For qualified graduates of approved acupuncture or Chinese medicine courses (5 year full time undergraduate or 4 year post-graduate master degree with acupuncture, herbal medicine and tuina training) in a close connection with a Slovenian institute, organization or association.

Acupuncturist: For qualified graduates of approved acupuncture courses (3 year full time) in a close connection with a Slovenian institute, organization or association.

Herbalist: For qualified graduates of approved Chinese herbal medicine courses (3 year full time) in a close connection with a Slovenian institute, organization or association.

Tuina therapist: For qualified graduates of approved TCM remedial massage/Tuina courses (3 year full time).

Associate Member: For medial doctor or dentist who completed accredited acupuncture/TCM courses. (the member has no right to vote).

Conditional Member: For Chinese medicine practitioners who may not satisfy the criteria for other membership options. (the member has no right to vote).

Student Member: For students from approved courses. (the member has no right to vote).

Corporate Member: For business in the field of health and Acupuncture/TCM. This membership gains you access to membership discount on acupuncture supplies, liability insurance, seminars and post job opportunities for our members. (the member has no right to vote).