Kentucky legalizes acupuncture

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.