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In April of 2006, Kentucky enacted a law to regulate and therefore legalize a license process for acupuncturists. In Kentucky, a licensed acupuncturist uses the term "certified acupuncturist" (C. Ac.). Herbal medicine was not mentioned in the law and acupuncturists must pass the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) exam. That leaves the countdown at six. There are six states without laws regarding the practice of acupuncture: Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Alabama. In some of these states, an M.D. or D.O. may practice acupuncture. Due to the lack of oversight, the physicians are not required to have a substantial formal education in acupuncture or Chinese Medicine. Of historical record, it was 1973 when Maryland, Nevada, and Oregon created the first laws providing for the legalization and training of acupuncturists. In California, acupuncturists were commonly arrested and prosecuted for engaging in the practice of acupuncture. In 1972, the CA Board of Medical Examiners began regulating acupuncture for use in medical schools. In 1975, Governor Jerry Brown signed a law legalizing the practice of acupuncture by licensed acupuncturists.

The California Acupuncture Board has changed the continuing education requirements for licensed California acupuncturists. The 30 hours of acupuncture continuing education units required every two years has been increased to 50 hours of acupuncture continuing education units (CEU’s) every two years in order to maintain an acupuncture license. Twenty-five CEU’s of the total 50 CEU’s may be acupuncture distance learning credits. All acupuncture courses for continuing education credit at HealthCMI are California Acupuncture Board approved as well as NCCAOM, CTCMABC, and Florida approved. This makes all HealthCMI certificates for acupuncturists approved in every state that licenses acupuncture.

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The February 2007 California Acupuncture Board meeting included a discussion of the use of low-level laser stimulation in acupuncture.  A motion was seconded to consider the expansion of the acupuncture scope of practice for California licensed acupuncturists to include the laser therapy. It was noted that the FDA has not approved low-level lasers yet and that a further discussion of training, education, and safety standards is required. Learn more about the educational requirements associated with lasers and acupuncture in our online news updates for HealthCMI.

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The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases have proven that acupuncture is effective in reducing pain and functional impairment of the knee. The report was published in the 12-04 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. The report specifically states that acupuncture is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knees.