About the Profession

Licensing Board

Acupuncture licenses are granted by state governments and licensure laws and scope of practice regulations are unique to each state. Please peruse the links below to learn more about the practice of acupuncture in the fifty US states.

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

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

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*