Can I be a real person now?
I finally passed my last board exam yesterday.
It was the last of 4 exams that I need to get my national certification as an acupuncturist. To practice in most states in the US, you need to pass exams in Biomedicine, Acupuncture, and Oriental Medicine Theory. Depending on your schooling, you can then take an additional one in Chinese Herbology.
That last one, the herbs, is the one that fucked me up. I've always liked studying herbs, and I deeply believe they're an important part of TCM practice. I know I didn't study enough for the first time taking it, and I failed. BY TWO POINTS. *screams of frustration* The only reason I know it was so close is because they send a report in the mail when you fail an exam so you can see what areas you need to work on. Otherwise, it's Pass, and you never know your score. I've struggled with the herbs courses at school the entire time. For some reason, formulas never stuck in my head. Some of the ones I've studied/reviewed the past weeks are ones I've gone over at least 8 times (no joke).
But! Yesterday came, I didn't freak out the night before (even watched some eps of Smallville S1 with the husband unit. There was much giggling at the Bad). I took the exam at the testing center downtown. I have to put in an aside here, they are the absolute *nicest* people at the PearsonVue Testing Center on Michigan and Wacker downtown. If you ever have to take a test, go there. They're awesome. ./end aside The test is multiple guess on an old PC Windoze box. Srs. It has the old 3.1 click boxes. Kinda sad. It's then compiled right there and then, so you know right away if you pass or fail. There was some guy whispering under his breath "fuck" every minute or so, and that was kinda annoying. Anyway. The wait of about 30 sec for you test results to come up was the longest in my LIFE. You die just a little bit more every second that passes.
So yay! Once we get back from our weekend away (which I desperately need), I'll start the paperwork going so I can get my state license. As for after that.... I have no idea what I'm doing. Kinda why I'm starting this journal, just to keep track of what's going on in this next part of my life.
It was the last of 4 exams that I need to get my national certification as an acupuncturist. To practice in most states in the US, you need to pass exams in Biomedicine, Acupuncture, and Oriental Medicine Theory. Depending on your schooling, you can then take an additional one in Chinese Herbology.
That last one, the herbs, is the one that fucked me up. I've always liked studying herbs, and I deeply believe they're an important part of TCM practice. I know I didn't study enough for the first time taking it, and I failed. BY TWO POINTS. *screams of frustration* The only reason I know it was so close is because they send a report in the mail when you fail an exam so you can see what areas you need to work on. Otherwise, it's Pass, and you never know your score. I've struggled with the herbs courses at school the entire time. For some reason, formulas never stuck in my head. Some of the ones I've studied/reviewed the past weeks are ones I've gone over at least 8 times (no joke).
But! Yesterday came, I didn't freak out the night before (even watched some eps of Smallville S1 with the husband unit. There was much giggling at the Bad). I took the exam at the testing center downtown. I have to put in an aside here, they are the absolute *nicest* people at the PearsonVue Testing Center on Michigan and Wacker downtown. If you ever have to take a test, go there. They're awesome. ./end aside The test is multiple guess on an old PC Windoze box. Srs. It has the old 3.1 click boxes. Kinda sad. It's then compiled right there and then, so you know right away if you pass or fail. There was some guy whispering under his breath "fuck" every minute or so, and that was kinda annoying. Anyway. The wait of about 30 sec for you test results to come up was the longest in my LIFE. You die just a little bit more every second that passes.
So yay! Once we get back from our weekend away (which I desperately need), I'll start the paperwork going so I can get my state license. As for after that.... I have no idea what I'm doing. Kinda why I'm starting this journal, just to keep track of what's going on in this next part of my life.