Professional Life
Accreditation Agencies
Professional Publications
Professional Associations
Licensing Boards
Accreditation Agencies
Acupuncture education in the United States is regulated by a single national organization. The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) is the national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit Master's-level programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. The Commission fosters excellence in acupuncture and Oriental medical education by establishing standards for graduate programs in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) comprises member organizations that are accredited by ACAOM. The list below includes links to national and state organizations that regulate the practice of acupuncture. The CCAOM holds as it mission the advancement of acupuncture and Oriental medicine by the promotion of educational excellence within the field.
Professional Publications
Acupuncture Today
American Acupuncturist
American Journal of Acupuncture
American Journal of Chinese Medicine
AOMA Pulse Newsletter
The Empty Vessel
Focus on Alternative/Complimentary Therapies (FACT)
Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Medical Acupuncture
Qi - The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health and Fitness
American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental (AAAOM)
http://www.aaaomonline.org
Mission: to promote excellence and integrity in the professional practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine, in order to enhance public health and well-being.
State Acupuncture Associations
Individual websites collected at:
http://www.aaaomonline.org/45050.asp
Mission: Varies depending on association.
Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (TAAOM)
http://www.taaom.org/
The Texas Acupuncture Association (TAA) was founded in 1992 before the practice of acupuncture was legal in the State of Texas. It was through their efforts that acupuncture became legal and professionally licensed in Texas. In 2001 TAA changed its name to the Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (TAAOM) in order to better represent all facets of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA)
http://www.aobta.org/
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA®) is a non-profit, professional membership organization representing instructors, practitioners, schools and programs, and students of Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT).
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA)
http://www.medicalacupuncture.org/
Purpose: to promote the integration of concepts from traditional and modern forms of acupuncture with Western medical training and thereby synthesize a more comprehensive approach to health care.
American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)
http://www.ahpa.org/
Mission: to serve its members by promoting the responsible commerce of products which contain herbs and which are used to enhance health and quality of life.
Licensing Boards
Acupuncture licenses are granted by state governments and licensure laws and scope of practice regulations are unique to each state. At the national level, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) administers the national board examinations for acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and Asian Bodywork Therapy and aims to "establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of the public." Most US states require national board certification for licensure.
Acupuncture Regulatory Agencies by State
*As of January 2008, these states (marked by an *) are not regulating the practice of acupuncture.
Alabama*
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware*
Florida
Minnesota
Mississippi*
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota*
Ohio
Oklahoma*
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota*
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming*