Acupuncture Practitioner Licensing and Training by Jurisdiction

Why credentials matter

An overview of 17 systematic reviews found that serious harms from acupuncture are rare but can be fatal, and concluded that referrals should consider an acupuncturist's training credibility and that patient safety should be a core part of acupuncture education. [1] NCCIH says acupuncture can cause serious problems, including infections and punctured organs, when it is not delivered properly. [2]

Rules differ by country, state and province, so every statement below names its place. This page does not list or recommend practitioners. For the safety details, see acupuncture side effects and precautions.

Three things people call "credentials"

NCCIH explains that in the United States government agencies grant and monitor licenses while professional organizations certify practitioners, and that being licensed or certified is not always a guarantee of being qualified. [3]

United States

• No national system. NCCIH says there is no standardized national system for credentialing complementary health practitioners; state governments decide what credentials are needed. [3]
• Most states license. NCCIH says most states license acupuncturists and requirements vary. [2] States use mandatory licensure, title licensure or registration. [3]
• Certification. NCCIH says that in most states acupuncturists must be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) or pass its exams to be licensed. [3] Some state pages now call the same organization the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM). [4][5] Details are on NCCAOM certification and US licensing.
• Not every state follows that pattern. California does not accept the national exam in place of its own licensing exam. [6] See acupuncture licensing by US state.
• School accreditation. NCCIH says the US Department of Education has authorized the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to accredit acupuncture programs. [3] That body is now called ACAHM. [7] See acupuncture schools and accreditation.
• Needles. The FDA regulates acupuncture needles as medical devices and requires them to be sterile and labeled for single use only. [2]

What training can involve

NCCAOM states that applicants must graduate from a program that meets ACAHM-equivalent standards. Its handbook describes a three-year acupuncture program of 1,905 hours and a four-year program that includes Chinese herbal medicine of 2,625 hours, and requires a Clean Needle Technique certificate. [8] These are NCCAOM's certification requirements. A state may ask for more, less or something different. For example, New York lists a minimum of 4,050 hours for programs not otherwise accredited or registered. [5]

Physicians and other professions that use needles

• California's board says acupuncture may be performed by licensed acupuncturists and by physicians and surgeons; dentists and podiatrists may do so only within their licenses and after required training. [9]
• The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture says most physicians may practice acupuncture within their medical licenses, but ten states require a set number of training hours. [10]
• Physician board certification is separate: the American Board of Medical Acupuncture says its certification standards are distinct from state licensure. [11]
• The American Physical Therapy Association says dry needling is within physical therapist scope in some states and not others. [12] See acupuncture vs dry needling.

Canada, Australia and England

• British Columbia. The College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC regulates traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists in that province. [13] We did not read other provinces.
• Australia. Only registered Chinese medicine practitioners may use the title "acupuncturist"; practitioners in other registered professions can use it if endorsed by their Board. [14]
• England. The NHS says complementary therapists other than chiropractors and osteopaths do not need to be registered by law, and advises choosing one registered with a professional organization accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [15]

More countries are on acupuncture regulation outside the US.

How to check a practitioner

1. Look the person up with the official regulator for your state or province, not an advertisement. California's board, for example, can tell you whether a license is valid, delinquent or has an action against it. [9]
2. Ask where they trained and whether the program was accredited.
3. Ask whether they will coordinate with your other health providers. [16]
4. Tell your doctor you are using acupuncture, and do not use it to put off seeing a provider about a health problem. [2]

A fuller checklist is on how to choose an acupuncturist.