Titles Explained: L.Ac., Dipl. Ac., DAc, DAOM, MD and PT Acupuncture

Letters are a prompt to ask, not proof

Initials can mean a license, a national certification, a school degree or just a business title. Which is which depends on the place. NCCIH explains that in the US government agencies grant and monitor licenses while professional organizations certify practitioners. [1] Always confirm with the regulator; see how to choose an acupuncturist. A parallel guide covers the wider Chinese medicine field: TCM practitioner titles explained.

National certification titles

NCCAOM's handbook lists Dipl. Ac. (Acupuncture), Dipl. C.H. (Chinese Herbology), Dipl. O.M. (Oriental Medicine) and Dipl. ABT (Asian Bodywork Therapy). [5] "Dipl." means Diplomate: a certification, not a state license. The handbook says NCCAOM no longer offers examinations for the ABT program. [5] Some state pages now call the organization NCBAHM. [6] See NCCAOM certification and US licensing.

Degree titles

ACAHM's Program Naming Policy lists the only names it recognizes and accredits as of 1 January 2024. [7]

ACAHM describes these doctorates as professional or clinical doctorates, not academic doctorates such as a PhD, and says a DAOM program requires a completed entry-level program for admission. [8] Older degrees may carry other names. [9] More on programs: acupuncture schools and accreditation and TCM education and degrees.

"O.M.D." and "doctor"

California's board says O.M.D. stands for Oriental Medical Doctor, an academic title (similar to a Ph.D.) that only licensed acupuncturists with an earned doctorate from an approved institution may use, and only together with the representation that they are a licensed acupuncturist. [10] It is not a physician license. Washington's rules say an acupuncturist may not use "doctor," "Dr." or "Ph.D." in advertising unless the nature of the degree is clearly stated. [2]

MD, DO and "medical acupuncture"

A physician's acupuncture training is separate from an acupuncturist's degree. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture says most US physicians may practice acupuncture within their medical licenses, with ten states requiring set training hours. [11] The American Board of Medical Acupuncture offers voluntary board certification (Diplomate) requiring at least 300 hours of acupuncture education after medical school and an examination. [12] It says certification standards are distinct from state licensure. [13] Rhode Island requires physicians to tell patients that their qualifications are not equivalent to those of licensed doctors of acupuncture. [11] See medical acupuncture by physicians.

Physical therapists and "PT acupuncture"

We did not find a recognized title called "PT acupuncture." The American Physical Therapy Association says dry needling is within physical therapist scope in some states and not others. [14] If a physical therapist offers needling, ask what it is called, what training they have and whether your state allows it. See acupuncture vs dry needling.