About MARA is a professional association consisting of highly trained and experiences practitioners of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We are dedicated serving and protecting both our members and the public with the highest standard of excellence from all the various modalities within the scope of TCM. We support both national and international standards of TCM education. The completion of a minimum 2700 hour curriculum is required by our membership. This includes extensive training in Chinese Medicine history, theory and diagnosis, acupuncture point location and function, TCM nutrition, and TCM body-work, including Tuina massage and Qi Gong. Some of our practitioners also have additional training in the art and science of Chinese herbology. In addition to TCM training practitioners also study Western anatomy, physiology, pathology, treatment and assessment, while rounding out their core studies with a minimum of 500 hours of clinical internship.

All MARA members carry both professional and general liability insurance, and agreed to uphold a strict code of ethics by adopting Standards of Practice.

MISSION STATEMENT:

To ensure the highest quality standards for the profession of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in service and protection of the public; to support the professional development of our members; to work in conjunction with other health care professionals in offering the public the best quality of holistic health care and services.

OUR VISION:

All acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners operate at the highest level of efficiency and efficacy in the healing of patients and the professional practice of becoming an active, vital and integral resource in the health needs of the community.

MARA will represent its membership before governmental and regulating bodies concerning Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

All acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine practitioners become ambassadors in spreading the wisdom, efficacy and philosophies of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine throughout the Maritimes, Canada and the World.

HISTORY

• 1997 - The Maritime Association of Registered Acupuncturists (MARA) was established in Nova Scotia as a provincially registered and incorporated professional association. The founding members were experienced health care providers highly trained in the art and science of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• 2007 - MARA celebrates its 10th anniversary.
• 2009 - Prince Edward Island MARA Chapter is registered and incorporated.
• 2010 - Within a few months after the MARA PEI Chapter was founded the New Brunswick Chapter was founded. This completes the original vision of MARA’s founders in bringing the wisdom and efficacy of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine to Canada’s three Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
• 2014-16 - MARA initiates a two-year upgrade process with a series of Boot-Camps thereby elevating all MARA members to the equivalent level and standard of practice of the five Canadian provinces with acupuncture and TCM regulation. These are Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
• 2016 - MARA completes the Boot Camp upgrading process. MARA is officially recognised as meeting the level of equivalency of The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of NewFoundland and Labrador (CTCMPANL).
• 2017 - MARA celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
• 2020-22 - MARA meets the challenge of COVID-19 through safe and effective treatments for both prevention and treatment throughout the pandemic.
• 2022 - MARA 25th Anniversary

• BYLAWS

  MARA Bylaws (2021)

• POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

  MARA Policy & Procedures (2021)

•  Code of Ethics

  MARA Code of Ethics (2017)

Complaints:

MARA maintains the highest professional standards, with its members following a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Acupuncture and the various modalities of Traditional Chinese medicine are extremely safe and effective, for this reason serious long-term reactions rarely occur. However, on rare occasions, a complaint may arise. For more information on the Complaints Process please click here, and click here to register a complaint.