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100+ Free TCM Proven Specialty (China) Practice Questions

Prepare for the TCM Proven-Specialty Practitioner Physician Qualification Assessment (中医医术确有专长人员医师资格考核) exam with instant access — no signup required.

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Key Facts: TCM Proven Specialty (China) Exam

5 Years

Minimum clinical apprenticeship or empirical practice required to sit for the assessment

NATCM Order No. 15 Article 4/5

2 Physicians

Licensed TCM physicians required to provide written professional recommendations

NATCM Order No. 15 Article 7

>= 5 Experts

Odd-numbered panel of senior TCM experts conducting the practical oral evaluation

NATCM Order No. 15 Article 17

一票否决

Mandatory one-vote safety veto: any critical clinical safety defect fails the candidate

NATCM Specialty Assessment Evaluation Standard

100

English-language clinical MCQ adaptation questions in this study bank

OpenExamPrep

China's TCM Proven-Specialty Practitioner Assessment is the statutory licensure examination for apprenticeship and empirical TCM practitioners under NATCM Order No. 15. Candidates are evaluated through an in-person clinical defense before an expert panel of at least 5 licensed TCM physicians. This 100-question OpenExamPrep study bank provides an English-language adaptation focusing on herbal toxicology, formula compatibility, diagnostic pattern identification, external technique safety, and emergency referral protocols.

Sample TCM Proven Specialty (China) Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your TCM Proven Specialty (China) exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under NATCM Order No. 15 (国家中医药管理局令第15号), what is the statutory composition of the expert evaluation panel and the minimum approval threshold required for a candidate to pass the TCM Proven-Specialty Practitioner Assessment (中医医术确有专长人员医师资格考核)?
A.An odd-numbered panel of at least 5 licensed TCM experts, requiring at least a two-thirds affirmative vote and zero unmitigated clinical safety risks (安全风险一票否决)
B.A panel of exactly 3 senior TCM physicians, requiring a simple majority vote of at least 2 members regardless of herbal toxicity objections
C.A committee composed of 4 academic TCM professors and 1 Western medical doctor, requiring a unanimous 5-0 consensus
D.A panel of at least 7 municipal health bureau administrators, requiring an overall numeric score of 60% or higher
Explanation: Under Article 17 and related provisions of NATCM Order No. 15, the clinical assessment must be conducted by an odd-numbered expert evaluation panel consisting of no fewer than 5 licensed senior TCM practitioners (不少于5人的奇数专家组). Passing requires affirmative consensus from at least two-thirds of the panel members (三分之二以上专家同意). Furthermore, the evaluation standard enforces a strict 'one-vote safety veto' (安全风险一票否决): any candidate who demonstrates unsafe herbal prescribing, lethal compatibility violations, or dangerous manipulation of external therapies is immediately disqualified.
2According to the classical TCM Eighteen Incompatibilities (中药十八反), which of the following groups of herbs is strictly incompatible with Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (甘草, Gancao)?
A.Banxia (半夏), Gualou (瓜蒌), Beimu (贝母), and Baiji (白芨)
B.Gansui (甘遂), Jingdaji (京大戟), Yuanhua (芫花), and Haizao (海藻)
C.Renshen (人参), Shashen (沙参), Danshen (丹参), and Xixin (细辛)
D.Wulingzhi (五灵脂), Yujin (郁金), Qianniuzi (牵牛子), and Chishizhi (赤石脂)
Explanation: The classical Eighteen Incompatibilities mnemonic states: '藻戟遂芫俱战草' (Haizao, Daji, Gansui, and Yuanhua all war against Gancao). Combining Gancao with harsh hydragogue purgatives (Kansui, Daji, Yuanhua) or Seaweed (Haizao) dramatically increases toxicity, induces severe gastrointestinal irritation, or counteracts therapeutic efficacy. Under Chinese Pharmacopoeia standards and clinical safety regulations, this combination is strictly prohibited.
3A candidate presents a proprietary formula containing Prepared Aconite Lateral Root (制附子, Fuzi) for severe joint pain. Under the Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反), which herb is strictly contraindicated in this prescription?
A.Guizhi (桂枝, Cinnamomi Ramulus)
B.Baizhu (白术, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma)
C.Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus (川贝母, Chuanbeimu)
D.Ganjiang (干姜, Zingiberis Rhizoma)
Explanation: Under the Eighteen Incompatibilities, all Aconite derivatives (Wutou 乌头, Chuanwu 川乌, Caowu 草乌, and Fuzi 附子) are incompatible with the five herbs: Banxia (半夏), Gualou (瓜蒌), Beimu (川贝母/浙贝母), Bailian (白蔹), and Baiji (白芨) ('半蒌贝蔹芨攻乌'). Prescribing Beimu together with Fuzi increases alkaloid toxicity and risks severe cardiac or neurotoxic reactions, triggering an immediate safety violation during expert panel review.
4Under the Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反), Veratri Nigri Radix et Rhizoma (藜芦, Lilu) is mutually incompatible with which group of botanical drugs?
A.Huanglian (黄连), Huangqin (黄芩), Huangbai (黄柏), and Zhimu (知母)
B.Chuanwu (川乌), Caowu (草乌), Fuzi (附子), and Tiannanxing (天南星)
C.Dahuang (大黄), Mangxiao (芒硝), Badou (巴豆), and Qianjinzi (千金子)
D.All Ginseng species (Renshen, Danshen, Shashen, Kushen, Xuanshen), Xixin (细辛), and Shaoyao (白芍/赤芍)
Explanation: The classical Eighteen Incompatibilities rule dictates: '诸参辛芍叛藜芦' (All Ginseng species, Xixin, and Shaoyao rebel against Lilu). Specifically, Lilu is incompatible with Renshen (人参), Danshen (丹参), Shashen (沙参), Kushen (苦参), Xuanshen (玄参), Xixin (细辛), Baishao (白芍), and Chishao (赤芍). Combining these drastically elevates toxic ester alkaloid levels, causing violent emesis, bradycardia, and cardiogenic shock.
5According to the Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (中药十九畏), which medicinal substance is antagonistic to Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (人参, Renshen)?
A.Trogopteri Faeces (五灵脂, Wulingzhi)
B.Curcumae Radix (郁金, Yujin)
C.Pharbitidis Semen (牵牛子, Qianniuzi)
D.Halloysitum Rubrum (赤石脂, Chishizhi)
Explanation: The Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms verse states: '人参最怕五灵脂' (Ginseng fears Wulingzhi the most). Combining Renshen (a supreme tonic for primordial Qi) with Wulingzhi (a potent blood-invigorating and stasis-transforming substance) diminishes the tonifying potency of Ginseng and may provoke epigastric distress or adverse metabolic reactions in patients with Qi deficiency.
6Under the Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (十九畏), Caryophylli Flos (丁香, Dingxiang) is strictly antagonistic when combined with which botanical drug?
A.Sanleng (三棱, Sparganii Rhizoma)
B.Curcumae Radix (郁金, Yujin)
C.Mituoseng (密陀僧, Lithargyrum)
D.Shuanyin (水银, Mercury)
Explanation: The Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms rule explicitly states: '丁香莫与郁金见' (Dingxiang must never meet Yujin). Dingxiang is warm and aromatic, warming the middle burner and directing rebellious stomach Qi downward, whereas Yujin is cool and clears heat, cools blood, and疏肝. Their combination impairs each other's therapeutic actions and can provoke epigastric spasms and digestive disruption.
7In the Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (十九畏), which herb is paired antagonistically with Crotonis Fructus (巴豆, Badou)?
A.Shuiniu Jiao (水牛角, Bubali Cornu)
B.Haizao (海藻, Sargassum)
C.Pharbitidis Semen (牵牛子, Qianniuzi)
D.Xixin (细辛, Asari Radix et Rhizoma)
Explanation: The Nineteen Antagonisms verse states: '巴豆性烈最为上，偏与牵牛不顺情' (Badou has the fiercest nature, but is incompatible with Qianniuzi). Both herbs possess drastic purgative and toxic properties. Combining Badou (acrid, hot, toxic) with Qianniuzi (bitter, cold, toxic) produces violent hyper-purgation, severe dehydration, and acute gastrointestinal mucosal damage.
8Which of the following pairs correctly represents TWO valid pairings from the Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (十九畏)?
A.Gancao vs Haizao, and Fuzi vs Banxia
B.Lilu vs Renshen, and Chuanwu vs Baiji
C.Wutou vs Beimu, and Badou vs Gansui
D.Rougui (肉桂) vs Chishizhi (赤石脂), and Langdu (狼毒) vs Mituoseng (密陀僧)
Explanation: Under the Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (十九畏), '官桂善能调冷气，若逢石脂便相欺' establishes the antagonism between Rougui/Guangui and Chishizhi, while '狼毒最怕密陀僧' establishes the antagonism between Langdu and Mituoseng. The other options list pairings from the Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) or invalid mix-ups.
9What is the biochemical rationale for requiring Prepared Aconite Lateral Root (制附子, Fuzi) to be decocted first for 30 to 60 minutes (先煎 30–60 分钟) before adding other herbs?
A.Prolonged heating hydrolyzes highly toxic diester-type alkaloids (双酯型生物碱: aconitine) into monoester-type alkaloids (单酯型生物碱: benzoylaconine), reducing toxicity by over 100-fold
B.Prolonged heating oxidizes volatile organic acids to prevent stomach coldness and increase water solubility
C.Prior decoction converts toxic water-insoluble polysaccharides into water-soluble amino acids
D.Boiling evaporates toxic hydrocyanic gas and preserves aromatic essential oils
Explanation: Raw Aconitum species contain diester diterpenoid alkaloids (aconitine 乌头碱, mesaconitine 次乌头碱, hypaconitine 新乌头碱), which possess extreme cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity by keeping voltage-gated sodium channels persistently open. Prolonged decoction (先煎 30–60 min or longer until the decoction leaves no numbing sensation on the tongue 口尝无麻舌感) hydrolyzes the C-8 ester bond, yielding monoester alkaloids (benzoylaconine 苯甲酰乌头原碱) whose toxicity is only 1/100 to 1/200 of the parent diesters while retaining cardiotonic and anti-inflammatory efficacy.
10Under the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China (《中国药典》), what is the statutory standard for prescribing Raw Radix Aconiti (生川乌 / 生草乌) versus Prepared Radix Aconiti (制川乌 / 制草乌)?
A.Raw Chuanwu and Caowu are non-toxic and may be prescribed freely up to 30g without prior boiling
B.Raw Chuanwu/Caowu are extremely toxic, primarily restricted to external application, and processed forms (制川乌/制草乌) have a strict internal decoction limit of 1.5 to 3g with mandatory prior boiling
C.Prepared Chuanwu is dosed at 15 to 30g and can be ground into raw powder for direct unboiled ingestion
D.Both raw and prepared forms have identical toxicity profiles and require no dosage caps in specialty practice
Explanation: Under the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and national toxic drug regulations (《医疗用毒性药品管理办法》), Raw Chuanwu and Raw Caowu (生川乌、生草乌) are classified as highly toxic medical substances, mostly restricted to external liniments/plasters. When internal decoctions require Aconiti Radix, processed pieces (制川乌、制草乌) must be used at a strict statutory dosage of 1.5 to 3g, decocted first (先煎) for 1 to 2 hours until no numbness is felt on the tongue. Ingesting raw unboiled powder is strictly prohibited.

About the TCM Proven Specialty (China) Exam

The TCM Proven-Specialty Practitioner Physician Qualification Assessment (中医医术确有专长人员医师资格考核) is the statutory pathway enacted under Article 15 of the PRC Traditional Chinese Medicine Law (中华人民共和国中医药法) and NATCM Order No. 15 (国家中医药管理局令第15号). It enables apprenticeship-trained individuals (师承人员) and folk empirical practitioners (多年中医医术实践人员) with at least 5 years of verified practice to earn the TCM Specialty Physician Qualification Certificate (中医（专长）医师资格证书). The official examination evaluates clinical efficacy, herbal toxicology (including the Eighteen Incompatibilities 十八反 and Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms 十九畏), safe maximum dosages, decocting methods, acupuncture and moxibustion safety, high-risk needling depths, bone-setting precautions, and statutory emergency referral obligations (急危重症转诊). Officially administered as an in-person oral defense and practical demonstration in Chinese, this OpenExamPrep question bank provides an English-language MCQ study adaptation for candidates and international clinical observers.

Assessment

Expert questioning and practical evaluation matched to the declared internal-formula or external-technique specialty; exact stations and sequence are provincial

Time Limit

Varies by province and declared specialty; no national fixed duration in Order No. 15

Passing Score

Set by provincial assessment rules; no national numeric cut score in Order No. 15

Exam Fee

Set by the applicable provincial TCM administration; no national fixed fee (Provincial Administrations of Traditional Chinese Medicine under the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (国家中医药管理局/省级中医药主管部门))

TCM Proven Specialty (China) Exam Content Outline

30%

Statutory Safety & Clinical Risk Management (中药用药安全与风险防控)

Toxic herbal pharmacology, toxic alkaloid hydrolysis (Fuzi/Chuanwu), processing techniques (炮制), maximum safe dosages under the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反), Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (十九畏), pregnancy contraindications, adverse event mitigation, and Order No. 15 one-vote safety veto rules

25%

TCM Specialty Diagnostic Reasoning & Pattern Identification (中医辨证论治与专长诊断)

Four Examinations (四诊: inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, palpation/pulse), Eight Principles (八纲), Zang-Fu organ pattern differentiation (脏腑辨证), Six-Channel and Triple-Burner differentiation, pathogen identification, and clinical diagnostic criteria for specialized diseases

25%

Proprietary Herbal Formulations & Internal Medicine Techniques (专长方药配伍与内服技术)

Formula composition principles (Jun-Chen-Zuo-Shi 君臣佐使), classical formula modifications (经方化裁), empirical specialty recipes (自拟处方), special decoction methods (先煎、后下、包煎、烊化、另煎), and herb-synergy mechanisms

20%

TCM External Techniques, Manipulation Safety & Emergency Precautions (外治技术操作安全与急危重症防范)

Acupuncture high-risk points and safe needle depths (avoidance of pneumothorax at Feishu/Quepen and medulla injury at Fengfu/Yamen), needle fainting (晕针) emergency response, moxibustion burn care, bloodletting contraindications, bone-setting safety, asepsis, and mandatory statutory emergency referral criteria (急危重症转诊)

How to Pass the TCM Proven Specialty (China) Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Set by provincial assessment rules; no national numeric cut score in Order No. 15
  • Assessment: Expert questioning and practical evaluation matched to the declared internal-formula or external-technique specialty; exact stations and sequence are provincial
  • Time limit: Varies by province and declared specialty; no national fixed duration in Order No. 15
  • Exam fee: Set by the applicable provincial TCM administration; no national fixed fee

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

TCM Proven Specialty (China) Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the Eighteen Incompatibilities (十八反) and Nineteen Mutual Antagonisms (十九畏) thoroughly: memorize the exact paired botanicals (e.g., Gancao vs Gansui/Daji/Yuanhua/Haizao; Wutou vs Banxia/Gualou/Beimu/Bailian/Baiji; Renshen vs Wulingzhi; Dingxiang vs Yujin).
2Know Chinese Pharmacopoeia toxic herb dosages and processing rules cold: Fuzi (制附子 3–15g, requires 30–60 min prior decoction 先煎 to hydrolyze diester alkaloids), Xixin (细辛 1–3g in decoction; powder under 1 Qian / ~3g), Zhusha (朱砂 0.1–0.5g water-levigated 水飞, never calcined with fire 忌火煅), Badou Shuang (巴豆霜 0.1–0.3g), and Strychnos Maqianzi (马钱子 0.3–0.6g fried).
3Understand high-risk acupuncture point depths and angles: never needle deeply perpendicular at Feishu (BL13) or Quepen (ST12) to avoid traumatic pneumothorax; never needle upward or deeper than 1.0 cun at Fengfu (DU16) or Yamen (DU15) to avoid piercing the medulla oblongata.
4Recognize immediate needle fainting (晕针) protocols: promptly withdraw all needles, position patient supine with feet elevated, offer warm water or glucose, press Renzhong (DU26) or Baihui (DU20), and monitor vital signs.
5Understand mandatory emergency referral criteria (急危重症转诊): unstable acute myocardial infarction, acute cerebrovascular accidents, tension pneumothorax, massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and surgical acute abdomen MUST be immediately stabilized and transferred to emergency departments; failure to refer constitutes clinical malpractice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TCM Proven-Specialty Practitioner Assessment (中医医术确有专长人员医师资格考核)?

It is the statutory qualification assessment established under Article 15 of the PRC Traditional Chinese Medicine Law and NATCM Order No. 15. It allows apprenticeship-trained (师承) and folk empirical TCM practitioners with at least 5 years of verified practice to obtain the TCM Specialty Physician Qualification Certificate (中医（专长）医师资格证书) and practice legally within their evaluated scope.

How does the examination format work in practice?

The official assessment is conducted on-site by an expert collective panel of no fewer than 5 licensed senior TCM physicians. It comprises an oral presentation of the applicant's specialty lineage and experience, panel Q&A, review of retrospective patient records, diagnostic/herbal identification tests, and practical manipulation of external therapies. Safety risk carries a strict one-vote veto (安全风险一票否决).

How is this OpenExamPrep question bank structured?

Because the official Chinese examination is an in-person clinical oral and practical defense, this OpenExamPrep resource provides a high-yield, English-language 100-MCQ adaptation. It translates and tests core clinical safety principles, toxic herb dosages, 18 Incompatibilities/19 Mutual Antagonisms, pattern differentiation, external technique hazards, and emergency triage required by expert examiners.

What can a practitioner do after passing the TCM Specialty Physician Assessment?

Upon passing, the practitioner registers with local health authorities to receive the TCM Specialty Physician Practicing Certificate (中医（专长）医师执业证书) and may open an independent clinic or practice in healthcare institutions within their approved specialty scope. After 5 years of registered practice without adverse events, they become eligible to take the National TCM Licensed Physician Examination for full general practice.