The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is a private independent graduate school founded in 1980 as a nonprofit benefit corporation. The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine is governed by a Board of Directors and the College is administered by officers appointed by the Board.

The historical development of the college started in January 1981, with the entry of the first class of 34 students for a two-year program. The first class consisted of 34 students who enrolled in a two year program. In November 1987, the College acquired its present campus at 455 Arkansas Street, in the Potrero District of San Francisco. In April of 2004, an auxiliary site designed for classroom, research and administrative use was opened at 555 De Haro Street, just a few blocks away from the main campus on Arkansas Street.

On December 15, 1986, the Superintendent of Public Instruction approved ACTCM as a California Degree-Granting Institution. Such approval allows the College to offer a Master of Science degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (MSTCM). It marked the first recognition of traditional Chinese medicine as a graduate discipline within American higher education. In 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005, the College was re-approved as a California Degree-Granting Institution offering the MSTCM.

In 1981, the College started its Community Clinic providing low-cost TCM health care to the people of San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Students in the Community Clinic, under the supervision of attending practitioners, gain practical experience in the application of acupuncture and traditional Chinese herbal prescriptions for the treatment of various conditions and diseases. From 1992 until 2004, the Community Clinic, with funds from the Federal Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Care Act (CARE) was under contract with the AIDS Office of the San Francisco Department of Public Health to provide healthcare to people with HIV,using acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and Qigong. Because of these efforts, the College has created a model for TCM healthcare for people with HIV. In addition to delivering a needed service to San Franciscans, and an opportunity for faculty and students to study HIV/AIDS, the program has aided the College in developing relationships with many other healthcare providers and local community based organizations and clinics.

The College would like acknowledge all of those who have supported the institution. Special recognition goes out to Dr. Shuji Goto, President of the Goto College of Medical Arts and Sciences in Japan. For many years, Dr. Goto was a significant contributor to ACTCM, and from 1994 until 2003 he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors. As Chairman, Dr. Goto supported the strategic goals of the College, and the right standards for traditional Chinese medicine education that continue at ACTCM to this day. His leadership and support helped the College move forward to become one of the leading traditional Chinese medicine schools in the United States. In acknowledgement the Board of Directors have bestowed upon Dr. Goto the honorary title of Chair Emeritus.