- OR -

Advanced Search

 Healing Systems

•	Animal/Pet Therapies
•	Ayurveda
•	Bach Flower Remedies
•	Energy Healing
•	Energy Psychology
•	Herbal Medicine
•	Homeopathy
•	Chiropractic
•	Massage Therapy
•	Naturopathy
•	Traditional Chinese Medicine

 In this section:

•	Acupressure
•	Acupuncture
	> What is Acupuncture
	> Where Did it Originate
	> Medical Recognition
	> How Does it Work
	> Special Equipment Used
	> What Can I Expect
	> How Will I Feel Afterwards
	> What Are the Benefits
	> Frequency & Cost
	> Choosing a Practitioner
	> Acupuncture as a Career
	> Acupuncture Associations
	> Acupuncture Schools
	> Acupuncture Practitioners
•	Chinese Herbalism
•	Chinese Massage (Tui Na)
•	QiGong (Chi Kung)

 Your Tools:

	Print this page
	Email this page
	Search Acupuncture articles
	Submit your own article
	Sign up as a practitioner

Acupuncture

Choosing a Qualified Practitioner

Within the U. S., there are over 6,500 licensed acupuncturists of which over 3,000 are Medical Doctors who have included Acupuncture as part of their medical services.

The regulation of Acupuncture varies from country to country. Within the U. S., various states have established training standards for licensed acupuncturists (also known as L. Ac.’s), with different requirements for obtaining a license to practice Acupuncture. In Canada, Acupuncture is now regulated by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Act of 2006. Though the British Acupuncture Council website states it is the main regulating body for Acupuncture within the U. K., it is not legally regulated from a governmental perspective. In Australia, regulation varies from state to state. To our knowledge, other countries throughout the world have organizations which offer various training courses and certifications programs, however these programs are not regulated under the law.

Healthcare practitioners can also be a resource for referrals to acupuncturists.  More and more Medical Doctors, including neurologists, anesthesiologists, and specialists in various medicine, are either becoming trained in Acupuncture, or have developed a referral network which include acupuncturists.

It is vital that the acupuncturist 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. Depending on which country you are located in, ask if they are certified. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) tests practitioners to ensure they are knowledgeable about Chinese medicine and appropriate needle sterilizing techniques. This test is required by many states for licensing, but each state has its own laws and requirements. Ask if your acupuncturist has completed their education at an educational facility 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 Acupuncture, involving up to 3-4 years of education.

view all Acupuncture articles...