<?xml version="1.1" encoding="utf-8"?>
<article xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="http://jats.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/1.1/xsd/JATS-journalpublishing1-mathml3.xsd" dtd-version="1.1" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">JCER</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Journal of Contemporary Educational Research</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn>2208-8466</issn><eissn>2208-8474</eissn><publisher><publisher-name>Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty. Ltd.</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.26689/jcer.v9i10.12121</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title>The Current State and Development Pathways of Traditional Chinese Medicine Apprenticeship Education</title><url>https://artdesignp.com/journal/JCER/9/10/10.26689/jcer.v9i10.12121</url><author>WangJiayu,ChenYinan,LiuRuilu,YinMingjie,LiaoYong,LiZhihong</author><pub-date pub-type="publication-year"><year>2025</year></pub-date><volume>9</volume><issue>10</issue><history><date date-type="pub"><published-time>2025-11-10</published-time></date></history><abstract>As a traditional model for inheriting Chinese medicine, apprenticeship education has evolved over millennia into a distinctive talent cultivation system. In the new era characterized by upholding tradition while pursuing innovation, apprenticeship education serves not only as the core vehicle for sustaining Chinese medical scholarship but also as the key support for resolving contemporary challenges in cultivating TCM professionals. This paper traces the historical evolution and policy context of apprenticeship education, analyzes its current development status and underlying contradictions, and systematically elucidates its irreplaceable value in dimensions such as academic inheritance, critical thinking cultivation, and cultural continuity. By integrating technological innovation and policy guidance, it outlines development pathways to provide practical references for constructing a modernized TCM education system.</abstract><keywords/></article-meta></front><body/><back><ref-list><ref id="B1" content-type="article"><label>1</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Han BW, Chang XH, 2025, Exploring Apprenticeship Education in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Management, 33(14): 220–222.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B2" content-type="article"><label>2</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Zhang L, Ren HL, Duan YS, 2024, Reflection and Remediation: Exploring the Apprenticeship Education of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners in the New Era. Journal of Chinese Medicine Literature, 42(01): 73–80 + 95.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B3" content-type="article"><label>3</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Yu L, Wen X, 2024, Policy Text Analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine Apprenticeship Education in the New Era. Journal of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (Social Sciences Edition), 25(04): 257–264.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B4" content-type="article"><label>4</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Yang J, Zhang H, Pei ZY, et al., 2021, A Study on the Influencing Factors of the Development of National Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Growth History Metric Analysis. Science, Education and Culture Forum, (7): 107–109, 148.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B5" content-type="article"><label>5</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Shu GF, 2024, Research on the Pathway to Build a Goose-Formation Pattern for Developing Traditional Chinese Medicine Talent with Shandong Characteristics Through Apprenticeship-Led Inheritance and Innovation. Modern Distance Education of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China, 22(16): 198–201.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B6" content-type="article"><label>6</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Mai WJ, Jiang JW, Wu MH, et al., 2024, Statistical Analysis Report on the National Qualification Assessment for TCM Practitioners with Specialized Skills. Chinese Journal of Sanatorium Medicine, 33(07): 54–59.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B7" content-type="article"><label>7</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Gao Y, Liu Y, Mao HJ, et al., 2024, Exploring Traditional Chinese Medicine Talent Cultivation Models Based on Apprenticeship Education. Hunan Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 40(03): 108–111.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B8" content-type="article"><label>8</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Cheng XE, Luo Y, He L, et al., 2024, Research on the “Three Integrations” Talent Education Model for Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on a Digital Smart Education System Featuring Internet Plus and TCM Characteristics. Chinese Medicine Education, 43(06): 40–48.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B9" content-type="article"><label>9</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Zhi DM, Li T, Xiang X, et al., 2025, Realistic Demands, Practical Challenges, and Action Pathways for High-Quality Doctoral Education in Acupuncture and Tuina in the New Era. Chinese Acupuncture &amp; Moxibustion, 1–8.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B10" content-type="article"><label>10</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Ma X, Fu YL, Lu SK, 2024, Insights from North China University of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Contemporary Apprenticeship Education for TCM Practitioners. Modern Distance Education in Chinese Medicine, 22(05): 169–171.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B11" content-type="article"><label>11</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Wan XW, Huang R, Ma LR, et al., 2025, Research on China’s Traditional Chinese Medicine Policies and Development Status. Chinese General Practice, 28(10): 1161–1169 + 1192.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref><ref id="B12" content-type="article"><label>12</label><element-citation publication-type="journal"><p>Zeng F, 2025, Digital Transformation Practices and Application Challenges in Traditional Chinese Medicine Higher Education. Chinese Medicine Education, 1–7.</p><pub-id pub-id-type="doi"/></element-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>
