Updated November 12, 2026
By Tevia Feng, founder of White Tiger Qigong. Tevia has practiced qigong for over 40 years and has taught since 2008.
Yes, you can get a medical qigong certification online. White Tiger Qigong teaches four systems in live online classes, from US$1,997 per system. Qigong Awareness offers a 300-hour online Medical Qigong Practitioner program for US$5,495. ITM's 200-hour Therapeutic Qigong program is online too. Red Thread Institute's 300-hour program needs in-person time in Colorado. None of these is a medical license.
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How we made this list. White Tiger Qigong publishes this guide and runs one of the programs in it, so read our entry with that in mind. Every other program's details come from its own website, checked on November 12, 2026. Prices change, so check each link before you enroll.
What is medical qigong?
医疗气功
yīliáo qìgōng
medical qigong
Medical qigong is the healing branch of qigong. In Chinese medicine it sits beside acupuncture, herbs and tui na. It is used alongside regular medical care, never instead of it. For the full background, read what medical qigong certification is.
Which medical qigong certifications can you take online?
Prices are in US dollars, paid in full, unless the school says otherwise.
| Program | Hours | Format | Price (US$) | What you earn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Tiger Qigong | 200+ per system | Online: live classes of 9 to 15 weeks per system, plus recordings for life, no deadline | 1,997 per system; 5,500 for four systems | Certified instructor, after a written theory test and a video review of your forms |
| Qigong Awareness, MQP 300 | 300, in five levels | Online | 5,495 | Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner (MQP 300) after Level V |
| Red Thread Institute, MQP | 300, plus a 50-hour clinical externship and 50 hours of TCM theory | Hybrid: five in-person intensives in Carbondale, Colorado, plus weekly online classes | 12,500 (14,000 standard) | 300-hour Medical Qigong Practitioner certification. All in-person intensives are required |
| ITM, Therapeutic Qigong | 200 (Practitioner), 225 (Therapist) | Online: recorded classes with optional live Zoom | 330 per term (currency not stated). Practitioner takes three terms | Therapeutic Qigong Practitioner, then Therapist |
| International Medical Qigong College | Not published on its offerings page | Live online and self-paced trainings are listed | Not published | Contact the college |
White Tiger Qigong: best for live online classes and several systems
White Tiger Qigong teaches the healing side of qigong, rooted in Chinese medicine and modern movement science. Breathwork, Dragon Meridian, Five Element and Eight Trigram are taught online with live classes and recordings you keep for life. Five Animal Qigong is taught in person.
- Levels: Body (Jing), Breath (Qi), Spirit (Shen), Prescription and Teacher Training.
- Length: live classes for one system run 9 to 15 weeks. There is no deadline to finish.
- Exam: a written theory test plus a video review of your forms.
- Experience needed: none for Level 1.
- Price: US$1,997 for one system, Levels 1 to 5, or US$5,500 for all four online systems. Level 1 of a system starts at US$167.
See every system on the Medical Qigong Training and Certification page.
Qigong Awareness: best for a fully online 300-hour practitioner title
Qigong Awareness's Medical Qigong Practitioner program has five online levels and 300 hours, led by David J. Coon. Levels I to IV earn the Certified Qigong Instructor title (QI 200). Level V earns Certified Medical Qigong Practitioner (MQP 300). It covers more than 30 medical qigong treatment techniques. The full prepay price is US$5,495, and the school lists two to five years to complete.
Red Thread Institute: best for clinical, in-person training
Red Thread Institute's 300-hour Medical Qigong Practitioner certification runs as five courses over about a year. It is hybrid: weekly online classes plus five in-person intensives in Carbondale, Colorado, and every intensive is required. It also asks for a 50-hour clinical externship, 50 hours of TCM theory and current CPR/BLS. Tuition is US$12,500 paid in full or US$14,000 standard, before travel and lodging. Each intensive is capped at 20 students.
ITM: best for a low monthly cost
The Institute of Traditional Medicine's Therapeutic Qigong program is fully online, with recorded classes, optional live Zoom classes, quizzes and assignments. The Practitioner certificate is 200 hours over three terms. The Therapist certificate is 225 hours over six terms. It costs 330 per term; the page does not state the currency.
International Medical Qigong College
The International Medical Qigong College lists medical qigong certification programs plus live online and self-paced trainings. Its offerings page does not publish hours or prices, so contact the college for details.
How do you choose a medical qigong certification?
- Know your goal. Your own health, teaching classes, or working one-on-one with clients. Each needs a different depth.
- Check online vs in person. Some programs are fully online. Others require travel for every intensive.
- Look at how you are assessed. A written test plus a reviewed video or practical exam shows the school checks your skill.
- Add up the full cost. Include travel, lodging and any required extra courses.
- Know the limits. A medical qigong certificate is not a medical license. Check the rules where you live before you work with clients.
Next step
Compare the systems on the Medical Qigong Training and Certification page, or see the full teacher path on the Qigong Teacher Training and Certification page. To try the practice first, the White Tiger Membership includes Level 1 of all four qigong systems, with a 7-day free trial.
A note on health. This article is for education. It is not medical diagnosis or treatment.
Keep reading
- What is medical qigong certification?
- The main styles of qigong, and which to get certified in
- Best online qigong teacher training certifications, compared
Sources
Each program's own page, checked November 12, 2026:
- White Tiger Qigong, Medical Qigong Training and Certification
- Qigong Awareness, Medical Qigong Practitioner 300 Hr
- Red Thread Institute, Medical Qigong Practitioner Certification
- Institute of Traditional Medicine, Therapeutic Qigong
- International Medical Qigong College, Offerings
Frequently asked questions
Can you get a medical qigong certification online?
Yes. White Tiger Qigong, Qigong Awareness and ITM all offer medical or therapeutic qigong training online. Red Thread Institute's program is hybrid and requires in-person intensives in Colorado.
Is a medical qigong certification a medical license?
No. A medical qigong certificate shows you finished a school's training. It does not let you diagnose or treat disease, and it is not a medical license. Check the rules where you live before you work with clients.
How long does medical qigong training take?
It varies. At White Tiger Qigong, live classes for one system run 9 to 15 weeks, with no deadline to finish. Qigong Awareness lists two to five years for its 300-hour program. Red Thread Institute runs over about a year, and ITM's Practitioner certificate takes three terms.
How much does a medical qigong certification cost?
In this comparison, paid-in-full prices run from US$1,997 for one White Tiger Qigong system to US$12,500 for Red Thread Institute's in-person program. Qigong Awareness's 300-hour program is US$5,495 prepaid.
What is the difference between qigong and medical qigong?
Qigong is the wider practice of movement, breath and focus. Medical qigong is its healing branch, used in Chinese medicine alongside acupuncture, herbs and tui na. Read more in what is medical qigong certification.