Please contact your state or province for the most recent
legislation and information.

State Licensure Information

Alabama
There is no practice act for acupuncturists. Only a medical doctor,
osteopath, chiropractor or physician's assistant may practice
acupuncture in Alabama. There are no specific training
requirements to practice acupuncture.

Alaska
Application for Acupuncture License, #08-4110,
Revised 07/14/06. Must have passed the NCCAOM examination
and have either graduated from an accredited U.S. school of
acupuncture, or hold a license in another jurisdiction.

Contact Information

Ph: (907) 465-2534
Fax: (907) 465-2974
Email: license@alaska.govMail: P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806

Website: http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/pacu.htm

Educational Requirements: By statute an applicant must have
"completed a course of study consistent with the core curriculum
and guidelines of
the National Council of Acupuncture Schools
and Colleges at a school approved by the department." NCCAOM
certification is required.

Title: Lic. Ac./L.Ac.

Arizona
Requirements: Graduate or complete an accredited or Board
approved program of acupuncture. Complete at least 1850 hours
of training that includes 800 hours of clinic. Successfully complete
a clean needle technique course. Be certified by NCCAOM or
pass the NCCAOM exams required to be certified by NCCAOM,
or licensed by another state with similar standards to Arizona.
Has not had a license or certificate revoked.

As of July 1, 2008, there are 461 active licensed acupuncturists and
62 active certificated auricular acupuncturists in the State of Arizona.
Contact:
Arizona Board of Acupuncture Examiners
1400 W. Washington #230
Pheonix, AZ 85007
(602) 542-3095
Email: pete.gonzalez@azacuboard.az.gov

Website: http://www.azacuboard.az.gov/
Title: Lic. Ac./L.Ac.

Arkansas
Contact:
1401 West 6th St.
Little Rock, AR 72207
Phone: 501-687-1396
Fax 501-372-4505
asbart@brentstevensonassociates.com

Title: Doctor of Oriental Medicine, D.O.M.

Educational Requirements:An applicant must complete a program
in acupuncture and related techniques from a board approved
institute that meets the minimum requirements of a board approved
national accrediting body. The training must be of at least four
academic years and include a minimum of 800 hours of
supervised clinical practice.

Examination Requirements: NCCAOM examinations in both
acupuncture and Chinese herbology must be passed.

California
Contact:
California Acupuncture Board
444 North 3rd Street, Suite 260
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-445-3021
Fax: 916-445-3015
Email: acupuncture@dca.ca.gov

http://www.acupuncture.ca.gov

Title: Lic. Ac./L.Ac.

Eligibility Requirements: An applicant must graduate from an
approved school and the total number of hours of all theoretical
training shall consist of a minimum of 1,548 hours and the total
number of hours of clinical instruction shall consist of a minimum
of 800 hours., and the course work shall extend over a minimum
period of four (4) academic years, eight (8) semesters, twelve (12)
quarters, nine (9) trimesters, or thirty-six (36) months.
Examination Requirements: California
administers its own exam which includes herbology.

Acupuncture is within the scope of practice of medical doctors,
it is unknown what sort of training is required.

The CA Acupuncture Board does not recognize reciprocity with
other states, nor does it accept for licensure those individuals
who take and pass the national examination (administered by
the NationalCertification Commission for Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine).

Colorado
Contact:
Department of Regulatory Agencies
Office of Acupuncturists Registration
1560 Broadway, Suite 1340
Denver, CO 80202 - 5140
(303) 894-7429
(303) 894-7764 Fax
Email: acupuncture@dora.state.co.us

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.dora.state.co.us/Acupuncturists/Rules.htm

Connecticut
Contact:
Department of Public Health, Acupuncturist Licensure
410 Capitol Ave.
MS # 12 APP
P.O. Box 34308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
(860) 509-7603

Delaware
According to AOM Alliance, Delaware is a state in which there
is no legislation or rules authorizing the practice by
licensed acupuncturists.

District of Columbia
Contact:
Department of Health
Advisory Committee on Acupuncture
717 14th Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
(877) 672-2174
(202) 727-8471 Fax

For information on laws/statutes:
http://hpla.doh.dc.gov/hpla/cwp/
view,A,1195,Q,488827,hplaNav,|30661|,.asp

Florida
Contact:
Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA)
Board of Acupuncture
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin #C06
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
(850) 245-4161
Email: MQA_Acupuncture@doh.state.fl.us

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/acupunct/acu_statutes.html

Georgia
Contact:
Composite State Board of Medical Examiners
2 Peachtree Street, N.W., 36th Floor
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3465
(404) 656-3913
(404) 656-9723 Fax
E-Mail: medbd@dch.state.ga.us

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.ganet.org/meb/licensure_rr.html#acu

Hawaii
Contact:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Board of Acupuncture
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, Hawaii 96801
(808) 586-2698 or 3000
Email: acupuncture@dcca.hawaii.gov

For information on laws/statutes: http://www.hawaii.gov/
dcca/areas/pvl/boards/acupuncture/statute_rules/

Idaho
Contact:
Idaho State Board of Acupuncture

Bureau of Occupational Licenses
1109 Main Street, Suite 220
Boise, Idaho 83702-5642
(208) 334-3233
(208) 334-3945 Fax
http://ibol.idaho.gov/acu.htm

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www3.state.id.us/idstat/TOC/54047KTOC.html

Illinois
Contact:
Technical Assistance Unit
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
320 W. Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
(217) 782-8556
(217) 524-2169 Fax
http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/WHO/acupnt.asp

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/
068/06801140sections.html

Indiana
Contact:
Professional Licensing Agency
(Attn: Indiana Acupuncture Advisory Committee)
402 W. Washington St., Room W072
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 234-2060
Email: hpb3@hpb.IN.gov
http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/iaac/

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.in.gov/pla/bandc/iaac/statruls.html

Iowa
Contact:
Iowa Board of Medical Examiners
400 SW 8th Street, Suite C
Des Moines, Iowa 50309-4686
(515) 281-5171
(515) 242-5908 Fax
http://www.docboard.org/ia/Acupuncture.htm

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/IACODE/1999SUPPLEMENT/148E/

Kansas
Contact:
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts (Regulatory Agency)
234 SW Topeka Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66603-3068
(785) 296-7413
(888) 886-7205
(785) 296-0852 Fax

For information on laws/statutes:

http://www.ksbha.org/

Kentucky
Just in: Kentucky Senate and House of Representatives just
passed House Bill 17 allowing for the practice of acupuncture
by nonphysician acupuncturists. Instead of requiring licensure,
HB 17 calls for a certification process, whereby practitioners
will be certified by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
to practice acupuncture.

For more information, contact the Kentucky Board of Medical
Licensure at: http://www.state.ky.us/agencies/kbml/index.html

Louisiana
Contact:
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
630 Camp Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 568-6820

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.lsbme.org/laws_and_rules.htm

Maine
Contact:
Maine Dept. of Professional and Financial Regulation
Office of Licensing and Enforcement
# 35 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0035
(207) 624-8600
(207) 624-8637 Fax
http://www.state.me.us/pfr/olr/categories/cat12.htm
or http://www.state.me.us/pfr/olr/

For information on laws/statutes:
http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/32/title32ch113-Bsec0.html

Maryland
Contact:
State Board of Acupuncture
4201 Patterson Avenue, Room 320
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 764-4766
(410) 358-7258 Fax
http://dhmh.state.md.us/bacc/

For information on laws/statutes:
http://dhmh.state.md.us/bacc/

Massachusetts
Contact:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Board of Registration in Medicine
Committee on Acupuncture
560 Harrison Avenue, Suite G-4
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 654-9810
(617) 426-9358 Fax
http://www.massmedboard.org/acupuncture/

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/112-148.htm

Michigan
Contact:
Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
P.O. Box 4404
East Lansing MI 48826-4404
(517) 381-0299
(517) 381-9950 Fax
E-mail: Staff@michiganacupuncture.org

For information on standards and training:
http://www.michiganacupuncture.org/

Minnesota
Contact:
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
University Park Plaza
2829 University Ave. SE - Suite 500
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
(612) 617-2130
(612) 617-2166 Fax
http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/home.do?agency=BMP

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/147B/

Mississippi
According to AOM Alliance, Mississippi is a state in which
there is no legislation or rules authorizing the practice
by licensed acupuncturists.

Missouri
Contact:
Missouri State Acupuncturist Advisory Committee
3605 Missouri Boulevard
P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
(573) 526-1555
(573) 751-0735 Fax
acupuncture@pr.mo.gov
http://pr.mo.gov/acupuncturist.asp

For information on laws/statutes:
http://pr.mo.gov/acupuncturist-statutes.asp

Montana
Contact:
Montana Board of Medical Examiners
301 South Park, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2360
(406) 841-2305 Fax
E-mail: dlibsdmed@mt.gov

For information on laws/statutes:
http://mt.gov/dli/bsd/license/bsd_boards/med_board/licenses/
med/lic_acup.asp

Nebraska
Contact:
Nebraska Health and Human Services
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
(402) 471-2118

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/crl/profindex1.htm
and http://www.sos.state.ne.us/business/regsearch/Rules/
Health_and_Human_Services_System/
Title-172/Chapter-89.pdf

Nevada
Contact:
Nevada State Board of Oriental Medicine
9775 S. Maryland Pkwy., Ste. F-280
Las Vegas, NV 89123
(702) 837-8921
(702) 914-8921 Fax

For information on laws/statutes:
http://oriental_medicine.state.nv.us/

New Hampshire
Contact:
NH Board of Acupuncture Licensing
Department of Health and Human Services
Licensing and Regulation Services
129 Pleasant Street, Brown Building
Concord NH 03301-3857
(603) 271-0853
(603) 271-5590 FAX
(800) 735-2964

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.nh.gov/acupuncture/

New Jersey
Contact:
State of New Jersey
Acupuncture Examining Board
PO Box 46019
Newark, NJ 07101
(973) 273-8092
(973) 273-8075 Fax
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical.htm#bme5

For more information:
http://www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/medical/acupuncture.htm

New Mexico
Contact:
Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine

2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 476-4630
(505) 476-4545 Fax
Email: acuormedboard@state.nm.us
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/b%26c/acupuncture/index.htm

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.rld.state.nm.us/b%26c/acupuncture/
Rules%20&%20Law/rules-and-law.htm

New York
Contact:
NY State Education Department
Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
Acupuncture Unit
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234-1000
(518) 474-3817, ext. 270
(518) 402-5354 Fax
Email: acupbd@mail.nysed.gov

For information on laws and legislation:
http://www.op.nysed.gov/acupun.htm
http://www.asny.org/landl.asp

North Carolina
Contact:
North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board
P.O. Box 10686
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 821-3008
(919) 833-5743 Fax

For information on laws and legislation:
http://www.ncalb.com

North Dakota
According to AOM Alliance, North Dakota is a state in which
there is no legislation or rules authorizing the practice by licensed
acupuncturists. However, a statute has been introduced.

Ohio
Contact:
Ohio State Medical Board
77 South High Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-6127
(614) 466-3934
(614) 728-5946 Fax
http://med.ohio.gov/ACUsubwebindex.htm

For information on laws/statutes:
http://med.ohio.gov/4762index.htm

Oklahoma
Contact: State Board of Medical Licensure.
MD's and D.O.'s alone are allowed to practice acupuncture.
No training is required. Supervision of an acupuncturist by an
M.D. is not allowed. Chiropractors can practice acupuncture
with additional training.

Oregon
Contact:
Oregon Board of Medical Examiners
1500 SW First Avenue, Suite 620
Portland, Oregon 97201
(971) 673-2700
(971) 673-2670 Fax
http://egov.oregon.gov/BME/

For information on laws/statutes:
http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/677.html
http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/rules/OARS_800/
OAR_847/847_070.html

Pennsylvania
Contact:
Board of Osteopathic Examiners/Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105
(717) 787-8503
http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/site/default.asp

NCCAOM Certification Examination

For examination information contact:
National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and
Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), 11 Canal
Center Plaza, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314.
Phone 703-548-9004; FAX 703-548-9097.

Rhode Island
Contact:
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
Department of Health, Cannon Building
Three Capitol Hill, Room 104
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
(401) 222-2827
(401) 222-1272 Fax
http://www.health.state.ri.us/hsr/professions/acup.php

For information on laws/statutes:
http://www.rules.state.ri.us/dar/regdocs/released/pdf/DOH/
DOH_191_.pdf

South Carolina
Contact:
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
P.O. Box 11289
Columbia, SC 29211
(803) 896-4500
(803) 896-4515

For information:
http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/Medical/

South Dakota
According to AOM Alliance, South Dakota is a state in
which there is no legislation or rules authorizing the practice
by licensed acupuncturists.

Tennessee
Contact:
Tennessee Department of Health
425 Fifth Avenue, North
Cordell Hull Building, 3rd Floor
Nashville, TN 37247
(615) 532-4384
(615) 253-4484 Fax
http://www.state.tn.us/health/

For information on rules/regulations:
http://tennessee.gov/sos/rules/0880/0880-12.pdf

Texas
Contact:
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners
P.O. Box 2018 MC - 231
Austin, TX 78768-2018
(512) 305-7030
(512) 305-9416 Fax
http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/professionals
/acupuncturists/acupuncturists.php

For information on statutes/rules:
http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/rules/acu/acurandr.php

Utah
Contact:
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
(801) 530-6628
(801) 530-6511
http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/acupuncture.html

For information on rules/regulations:
http://www.dopl.utah.gov/licensing/
acupuncture_sub_page.html#acupustatutes

Vermont
Contact:
Office of Professional Regulation
26 Terrace Street, Drawer 09
Montpelier, VT 05609-1106
(802) 828-2191
(802) 828-2465 Fax
http://vtprofessionals.org/opr1/acupuncturists/

For information on statutes/laws:
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/
fullchapter.cfm?Title=26&Chapter=075

Virginia
Contact:
Virginia Board of Medicine
6603 West Broad St., 5th Fl.
Richmond, VA 23230-1712
(804) 662-9900

http://www.dhp.state.va.us/medicine/advisory/lac/default.asp

For information on statutes/laws:
http://www.dhp.state.va.us/medicine/leg/
LicensedAcupuncture2-8-06.doc

Washington
Contact:
Washington Department of Health
Health Professions Quality Assurance
310 Israel Road
Tumwater, WA 98501
(360) 236-4700
Fax: (360) 236-4818
Email: hpqa.csc@doh.wa.gov
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps3/Acupuncture/default.htm

For information on statutes/laws:
https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps3/Acupuncture/laws.htm

West Virginia
Contact:
West Virginia Acupuncture Board
P.O. Box 157
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986-0157
(304) 529-4558
http://www.wvs.state.wv.us/acupuncture/

For information on rules/regulations:
http://www.wvs.state.wv.us/acupuncture/rules.html

Wisconsin
Contact:
State of Wisconsin
Dept. of Regulation and Licensure
Bureau of Health Service Professions
Acupuncture Certification
PO Box 8935
Madison, Wisconsin 53708
(608) 266-2811
http://drl.wi.gov/prof/acup/def.htm
http://drl.wi.gov/boards/rla/index.htm

For information on statutes/laws:
http://folio.legis.state.wi.us/cgi-bin/om_isapi.dll?
clientID=60854059&infobase=stats.nfo&jump=ch. 451

Wyoming
According to AOM Alliance, Wyoming is a state in which
there is no legislation or rules authorizing the practice by
licensed acupuncturists. However, a statute has been introduced.

Around 10,000 people in the US practice acupuncture.
The majority are self-employed. They can set up practices
anywhere in the US where there are enough patients to use their services. A few acupuncturists work alongside physicians,
in hospitals, health centres or rehab facilities

Salary and other benefits:
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary,
depending on the employer and where people live.

An acupuncturist building a new practice may earn around
$12,000 a year. Experienced acupuncturists with a number
of regular patients may earn $ 20,000. Someone with a large, established practice may earn $40,000 - $100,000. Most acupuncturists are self-employed, so their income depends on the number of patients they see and the amount they charge for each session. This is usually between $30 and $80. Outgoings like rent, heating, lighting and transport will affect their income.

As acupuncture becomes more popular in the US, there has
been a rise in numbers of people training as acupuncturists and
there is a shortage of qualified practitioners in some areas. Most acupuncturists are self-employed and work from home or their
own premises, or in multi-disciplinary complementary
medical centres.