Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (CCATCM) began with the vision of Dr. Diana Tong Li, Dr. Franklyn Chen and Joseph Starr, who dreamed of a school that combined the best of Eastern and Western Medicine with modern and traditional methods of healing. The result was the Canadian College of Natural Medicine (CCNM) - a career college, founded in 1998 in Bedford. CCANM was primarily a massage therapy college. It experienced remarkable growth as a college of massage therapy, leaving little energy for the owners' passions for acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. The college was sold in 2003 to a national chain of colleges and became the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy.

In its place, Dr. Chen and Dr. Li created the Canadian College of Acupuncture and Natural Medicine (CCANM). CCANM functioned as a college providing continuing education for health-care professionals.

In 2008, Dr. Diana Tong Li, Dr. Franklyn Chen, and Dr. Ganglin Yin (Principle, Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbology in Victoria, BC) had the vision to create a full-time, career-based acupuncture program for students in the Maritimes wishing to pursue acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a profession. In September 2009, CCATCM welcomed their first incoming class.

The Canadian College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine is the result of this history; it is a career college recognized by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education and is also a member of the Private Career Association of Nova Scotia and National Association of Career Colleges, and a core member of the Federation of TCM Colleges of Canada.