Looking for a Richmond registered acupuncturist means looking at a small group of CTCMA-regulated practitioners — every R.Ac on a clinic door in British Columbia has passed the College’s registration requirements and is now bound by provincial regulation for safety, sterilization, record-keeping, referrals, and confidentiality. It isn’t only about reading a nice biography. It’s about choosing a system that has someone watching the work behind the scenes.
About Sky TCM
Sky TCM Acupuncture Clinic is a registered TCM (中医) practice on the upper level of Aberdeen Plaza in Richmond. Every needle here is placed by Dr. Judy Chu, a CTCMA-registered acupuncturist. Needles are single-use, charts are kept to provincial standards, and consent is part of the process. For us, registration isn’t a sign in the window — it’s the safety floor you should expect from day one. Clinical experience and treatment skill come on top of that floor, not in place of it. We see people in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English so descriptions of pain or sensation never have to be approximated.
What our Richmond registered acupuncturist offers
We provide six service categories within the CTCMA regulatory framework. Each visit comes with proper documentation so you can submit a claim to your extended health plan (coverage depends on your individual policy) or share findings with another health professional:
- Acupuncture (针灸) — the registered scope of practice for R.Ac, delivered directly by Dr. Judy after a full intake
- Herbal medicine and food therapy — formulas chosen by constitution, season, and stage of life (postpartum, menstrual, recovery)
- Tuina (推拿) — manual release of muscle and fascia, frequently paired with acupuncture for neck, shoulder, and lower-back pain
- Structural therapy — manual realignment for spine and pelvis, complementing acupuncture (this is not chiropractic adjustment, which is a separately regulated profession in BC)
- Women’s and children’s care — fertility prep, postpartum recovery, menstrual irregularities, common pediatric concerns
- Energy chamber — a non-needle adjunct for relaxation and sleep, used between sessions
Anything involving needles is delivered directly by the registered practitioner. No outsourcing. No assistants. No shortcuts.
Dr. Judy Chu — twenty years of clinical practice as a registered acupuncturist
Dr. Judy Chu (R.Ac) is a graduate of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (广州中医药大学) and a registered acupuncturist with CTCMA of British Columbia. Her registration means she has completed CTCMA’s registration requirements [exact pathway and year pending verification by Dr. Judy], is required to complete CTCMA’s annual continuing-education hours, and is subject to CTCMA’s complaints and discipline process. Over twenty years she has practiced in mainland China, Taiwan, and Canada, working with women’s health, internal medicine, and pain — every session delivered within the standards of her registering body.
[Pending verification by Dr. Judy: CTCMA registration year and registration number]
Visit our Richmond clinic
3779 Sexsmith Rd, Unit 1138, Richmond BC V6X 3Y6
Aberdeen Plaza, Lansdowne area
778-681-8886
Daily 10AM – 6PM by appointment
A short walk from the Canada Line Aberdeen station, with free parking downstairs.
What to expect on your first visit
Please arrive 10 minutes early to complete a short intake form — past medical history, allergies, current medications or supplements, and (if relevant) menstrual or postpartum information. The first visit runs about 60 minutes and includes a full intake (observation, listening, questioning, pulse and tongue diagnosis), a first acupuncture or tuina session, and a clear explanation of the suggested treatment plan going forward. Follow-up visits run about 45 minutes. Please wear loose clothing that allows access to forearms and lower legs. If you need a sick-leave note, an insurance-ready receipt, or treatment records to share with your family doctor, let the front desk know on arrival.
Frequently asked
What does R.Ac stand for?
R.Ac stands for Registered Acupuncturist. It’s the legal designation in British Columbia for a practitioner who has passed CTCMA’s registration requirements and is authorized to perform acupuncture independently. The three letters on the door mean the person is regulated under provincial law.
What’s the difference between R.Ac, R.TCM.H, R.TCM.P, and Dr.TCM?
CTCMA of BC issues four tiers of registration:
– R.Ac (Registered Acupuncturist) — acupuncture only
– R.TCM.H (Registered TCM Herbalist) — herbal medicine only
– R.TCM.P (Registered TCM Practitioner) — acupuncture + herbal medicine
– Dr.TCM (Doctor of TCM) — acupuncture + herbal + broader scope of practice (highest tier)
The four categories require different exams and training. To confirm Dr. Judy’s exact registration category, please call us or look her up on the CTCMA public register.
Will my extended health insurance cover this?
Many BC extended health benefits plans reimburse sessions with a registered acupuncturist. We issue official receipts that include the R.Ac registration number so you can submit directly to your insurer. Coverage limits, co-pay, and whether a physician referral is required vary by plan — please confirm with your insurer or HR department before booking.
When was Dr. Judy registered? What’s her registration number?
Her exact year of registration and her registration number are available by phone, in person, or on the public CTCMA register. You’re welcome to check us before you book.
How do I verify a Richmond registered acupuncturist myself?
The simplest way is to visit ctcmabc.com [verify URL before publish — CTCMA of BC is in the process of amalgamating into BCCCHP (BC College of Complementary Health Professionals), and the operative public-register URL may change before publish date — pending technical confirmation] and use the public “Find a Practitioner” tool. Enter the name or registration number, and you’ll see registration category, current status, and whether there are any disciplinary records. We encourage every first-time visitor to look us up.
Book a consultation
Call us at 778-681-8886, or book online. First visits run 60 minutes; follow-ups 45. If you’re not sure whether acupuncture is right for you, come in for a short conversation first — we’ll listen before we recommend anything.
Dr. Judy Chu, R.Ac at Sky TCM
3779 Sexsmith Rd Unit 1138, Richmond BC · 778-681-8886 · Daily 10AM–6PM
Book a first consultation · About Dr. Judy · Our treatments
