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Acupressure

Choosing a Qualified Practitioner

Currently, there is no known national or state licensure within the U. S. To our knowledge, Acupressure in other countries is also not regulated. Practitioners of Acupressure are usually Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists or other natural healers who have taken specific additional elective training to learn Acupressure. An Acupressure practitioner should have an educational background in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which can consist of a number of workshops or a certification program which may span several years.

It is important that the practitioner who treats you is properly trained and qualified. The following are questions to ask in identifying how qualified and reliable a therapist is:

1. Ask the therapist how many years of training they've had, and how long they've been practicing.

2. Ask if they have treated people with your condition before, and for details on how the treatments progressed.

3. Ask if they have indemnity insurance (to cover them, and you, if anything happens).

4. If you ar located within the U. S., ask if your practitioner has 1) completed their education at an educational facility which is accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). This organization accredits Master's degrees, professional Master's level certificates, and diploma programs in Oriental Medicine, involving up to 3-4 years of education. Ask if they are certified by a recognized agency, or 2) completed their education at an educational facility which is accredited by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). This organization accredits Orienal Medicine educational facilities and also tests and certifies practitioners to ensure they are knowledgeable about Chinese medicine, including Acupressure. This test is now required by many states for Acupuncture licensing, but offers significant credibility to acupressure practitioners.

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