About the Profession
Since the early 1970’s, acupuncture in the United States has been growing in popularity. In 2002, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reported approximately 8.2 million US adults had ever used acupuncture and approximately 2.1 million US adults had used acupuncture within the last year. More recently, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine reported that 60% of US adults would readily consider acupuncture as a potential treatment option. With over 16,500 licensed acupuncturists in the United States (www.acupuncturetoday.com) and approximately 15% of hospitals now offering complementary and alternative medical therapies (American Hospital Association), a growing body of professionals is rising to meet this demand.
Acupuncturists in the United States are drawn together under a few different umbrellas. The national professional association unites practitioners across the country in order to advance the profession, educate the public, and develop and maintain standards of ethics and competence. Individual state acupuncture associations connect practitioners at a local level in order to provide support and advocacy unique to the laws and regulations of each state. Alumni associations provide practitioners with professional networking opportunities and post-graduate support.
Additional regulatory agencies govern both the practical and educational standards for acupuncture and Oriental medicine in the US. Oriental medical education is regulated at the national level and the practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine is regulated at the state level.
Please explore the links at the left for more information regarding the topics discussed above.