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Acupuncture — Training & Licensing</p>
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<p><span class='head2'>Education</span><br />
A current list of accredited and candidate educational programs in acupuncture of the Accredidation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) is available on the web site of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture <a href='http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/acaom.asp' target='_top'>http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/cme/cme/acaom.asp</a>.</p>
<p>The Accreditation Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) is the accrediting agency for acupuncture educational programs. Established in 1982, the ACAOM is recognized by the US Department of Education and is a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. The ACAOM’s main duty is to establish program criteria, and evaluate the curricula and the clinical training at schools offering programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine.</p>
<p>Currently the required core curriculum necessary for accreditation is a minimum of 3 academic years, including 1725 hours of training. (Programs in herbal medicine require an additional 450 hours.) The organization primarily in charge of credentialing individuals to practice acupuncture in the United States is the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The NCCAOM is responsible for the implementation of the nationally recognized standards with regards to acupuncture and Oriental medicine education as well as practitioners’ competence in those modalities.</p>
<p><span class='head2'>Official Licensing Bodies</span><br />
Following are the current regulatory requirements for the practice of acupuncture in the US, which include licensure of acupuncturists and certification of physicians to practice acupuncture: </p>
<p>Most of the information was published in Alternative Therapies (July 1999) by Robin Leake, MA, doctoral student in the Department of Psychology at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook, and Joan E. Broderick, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Stony Brook. The information was gathered by contacting the regulatory boards in each state, such as the Medical Board of Examiners or Board of Acupuncture, through the last quarter of 1998 in order to obtain current information on their legislative policy.</p>
<p>Requirements for acupuncture licensure (LAc) <br />
Most of the 33 states including the District of Columbia that license acupuncturists have adopted the NCCAOM standard: completion of 1725 hours of formal education in an ACAOM accredited (3 year minimum) program, plus 500 hours of clinical training. In addition candidates who meet these education and training requirements must also pass a written and practical examination to receive NCCAOM certification. Candidates then apply to the state where they intend to practice for state licensure. Individual states that regulate the practice of acupuncture may have additional requirements for licensure such as proficiency in English, additional testing, education or ongoing CME requirements. Specific information can be obtained from your state’s Office of the Professions, Board for Acupuncture or Medicine.</p>
<p>In New York State there are licensed or certified acupuncturists. Licensure requires three years of study in an approved school and passage of a National Board exam. New York State requires an acupuncturist who is not an MD to be licensed. Medical doctors and dentists can be certified to practice acupuncture after completing 300 hours of study.</p>
<p>Physician certification in acupuncture, (CAc) <br />
Individuals holding a license in medicine or dentistry may be certified to practice acupuncture by completing an additional training course and then must apply to their professional board for recognition of acupuncture practice or the practice of Oriental medicine within the scope of their medical or dental practice. In New York State, physicians and dentists can be certified in acupuncture by taking an approved 300 hour course. All other health care providers are required to complete the requirements necessary for acupuncture licensure (LAc).</p>
<p>Detox specialists <br />
Detox specialists are individuals who are already working in a state-approved drug rehabilitation program and have received additional training in acupuncture detox. Acupuncture detox programs must be supervised by a licensed acupuncturist or certified physician acupuncturist who has qualified as a National Acupuncture Detox Association (NADA) provider. Acupuncture detox specialist practice is limited to ear acupuncture, specifically ear points that are used for detoxification from alcohol or drugs.</p>
<p>For a list of ACAOM approved programs please contact ACAOM at 1010 Wayne Avenue, No. 1270, Silver Spring, MD 20910. (Phone: (301) 608-9680 and Fax: (301) 608-9576.) For physician certifying programs and geographic listing of medical acupuncturists consult the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) at <a href='http://www.medicalacupuncture.org' target='_top'>www.medicalacupuncture.org</a>. For individual state requirements contact each state’s regulatory board.</p>
<p>The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) can be reached at <a href='http://www.nccaom.org' target='_top'>www.nccaom.org</a>. or by phone at (703) 548-9004 and fax at (703) 548-9079.</p>
<p><span class='head2'>References:</span><br />
Becker, Robert O. and Gary Selden. <I>The Body Electric: Electromagnetism and the Foundation of Life</I>. NY: William Morrow, 1985.</p>
<p><I>Chinese-English Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine</I>. Hong Kong, Joint Publishing, 1988.</p>
<p>Epler, DC. “Bloodletting in Early Chinese Medicine and its Relation to the Origin of Acupuncture.” <I>Bulletin if the History of Medicine</I>. 54:337-367, 1980.</p>
<p>Farquhar, Judith. <I>Knowing Practice</I>. <I>The Clinical Encounter of Chinese Medicine</I>. Boulder CO: Westview Press, 1994.</p>
<p>Finando, Stephen and Donna Finando.<I> Informed Touch</I>: <I>A Clinicians Guide to the Evaluation and Treatment of Myofascial Disorders</I>. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions International Limited, 1999.</p>
<p>Garrison, F. “The History of Bloodletting.” <I>New York Medical Journal</I>. 971:431-437, 498-501, 1913.</p>
<p><I>Huang Ti Nei Ching Su Wen. [The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine].</I> Shanghai: Commercial Press edition, 1955. First published c. 100BC.</p>
<p>Kaptchuk, Ted J. <I>The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine.</I> NY: Congdon & Weed, 1983.</p>
<p>Kleinman A, Kunstadter P, Alexander E, and Gale J. <I>Medicine in Chinese Cultures: Comparative Studies of Health Care in Chinese and Other Societies</I>. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, 1975. (DHEW publication # NIH 75-653).</p>
<p>Larson D. “The role of connective tissue as the physical medium for the conduction of healing energy in acupuncture and rolfing.” <I>American Journal of Acupuncture</I>. 18: 251-265, 1990.</p>
<p>Leake R and Broderick, JE. “Current licensure for acupuncture in the United States.” <I>Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine.</I> 5(4):94-6, July, 1999.</p>
<p><I>Ling Shu.</I> [Spiritual Axis]. Beijing: People’s Health Publishing House, 1981. First published ca. 100 BC.</p>
<p>Lu, Gwei-Djen and Joseph Needham. <I>Celestial Lancets:</I> <I>A History and Rationale of Acupuncture and Moxa</I>. Cambridge and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1980.</p>
<p>Mann, Felix. <I>Scientific Aspects of Acupuncture</I>. London: Heinemann Medical Books, 1977.</p>
<p>Matthews, RH. <I>Matthews’ Chinese-English Dictionary</I>. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1931.</p>
<p>Matsumoto, Kiiko and Stephen Birch. <I>Hara Diagnosis:</I> <I>Reflections on the Sea</I>. Brookline, MA: Paradigm Publications, 1988.</p>
<p>Nielsen, Arya. <I>Gua Sha:</I> <I>A Traditional Technique for Modern Practice</I>. Edinburgh and New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1995.</p>
<p>Nielsen, Arya. “Why we do not diagnose in Chinese Medicine.” <I>Anglo-Dutch Institute of Oriental Medicine Journal. </I>January 1999.</p>
<p>Oschman James L. <I>The Connective Tissue and Myofascial Tissues</I>. Berkeley, CA: Aspen Research Institute, 1987.</p>
<p>Porket, Manfred. <I>The Theoretical Foundations of Chinese Medicine</I>: <I>Systems of Correspondence</I>. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1974.</p>
<p>Ross, Jeremy.<I> Zang Fu, the Organ Systems of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Functions, Interrelationships and Patterns of Disharmony in Theory and Practice</I>. Edinburgh and New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1985.</p>
<p>Seem, Mark. <I>Acupuncture Physical Medicine</I>. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press, 1999.</p>
<p>Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine. <I>Acupuncture: A Comprehensive Text</I>. Translated by John O’Connor and Dan Bensky. Chicago: Eastland Press, 1981.</p>
<p>So, James Tin Yau. <I>Treatment of Disease with Acupuncture</I>. Brookline, MA: Paradigm Publications, 1987.</p>
<p>Unschuld, Paul U. <I>Medicine in China: A History of Ideas</I>. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1985.</p>
<p>Veith I. <I>Huang Ti New Ching Su Wen.</I> Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966.</p>
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<p class="timestamp">Content last modified on Mar 14, 2003</p>
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