Acupuncture License Requirements
Learn the State-by-State Acupuncture Licensure Requirements.
It is important to learn the acupuncture license requirements in your state.
The following is an outline of examination requirements for acupuncture licensure in the various states. It does not provide complete information regarding eligibility requirements.
For example, some states require applicants to graduate from an accredited college or fulfill an English language requirement. A few recognize apprenticeship as a route to licensure; most do not.
Formal schooling requirements: 100 hours of coursework.
Contact:
Alabama Board of Medical Examiners & Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama
848 Washington Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 242-4116
Formal schooling requirements: A course of study consistent with the core curriculum and guidelines of the CCAOM; graduation from an accredited U.S. school of acupuncture
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Commerce and Economic Development
Division of Occupational Licensing – Acupuncture
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
(907) 465-2695
Formal schooling requirements: 1850 hours including 800 hours of clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Arizona Board of Acupuncture Examiners
1400 W. Washington #230
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 542-3095
Formal schooling requirements: 4 academic years including 800 hours of clinical
Undergraduate Requirements: 60 semester credit hours, including 30 credit hours in science
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture and Chinese herbology
Contact:
Arkansas State Board of Acupuncture & Related Techniques
11701 W. 36th St.
Little Rock, AR 72211
(501) 687-1396
Formal schooling requirements: 3000 hours of study in curriculum pertaining to the practice of acupuncturist from an accredited school; 50 hours of continuing education every two years; additional hours of training in herbal medicine and the passing of an herbal medicine exam. The California schools all include this as part of their regular master’s program
Examination: California examination
Contact:
California Acupuncture Board
1747 N. Market St.
Suite 180
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 515-5200
Formal schooling requirements: NCCAOM certification
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Regulatory Agencies
Office of Acupuncturists Registration
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 894-7800
Formal schooling requirements: 1350 hours including 500 hours of clinical from an accredited school; 60 semester hours of postsecondary study
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Public Health
Acupuncturist Licensure
410 Capitol Ave.
MS # 12 APP
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134
(860) 509-7603
Formal schooling requirements: 1800 hours including 300 clinical hours from an accredited school
Examination: Diplomate in Oriental Medicine from NCCAOM
Contact:
Division of Professional Regulation
Cannon Building
Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904
(312) 744-4500
Formal schooling requirements: 3 academic years including 500 hours of clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Advisory Committee on Acupuncture
Department of Health
899 North Capitol St., NE
First Floor
Washington, DC 20002
(877) 672-2174
Formal schooling requirements: 3 years (2413 hours including 600 clinical); 1155 hours of traditional Oriental acupuncture diagnosis and treatment (including 705 hours of Oriental medical theory, diagnosis and treatment in acupuncture and related studies and 450 hours of herbal studies)
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Health
Board of Acupuncture
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin C-06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3256
(850) 245-4161
Formal schooling requirements: Complete a program of acupuncture study accredited by ACAOM, or other accrediting agency
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Georgia Composite Medical Board
2 Peachtree St., NW
36th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303-3465
(404) 656-3913
Formal schooling requirements: At least 2,175 hours consisting of an academic program in the science of acupuncture (traditional Oriental medicine) of at least 1,515 hours and clinical training of at least 600 hours.
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Board of Acupuncture
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, Hawaii 96801
(808) 586-3000 (for application information)
Formal school requirements:100 hours, 200 hours of clinical practice as a certified technician over a one year period, and 25 case studies
Examination: Idaho state examination
Contact:
Idaho State Board of Acupuncture
700 West State St.
Boise, ID 83702
(208) 334-3233
Formal schooling requirements: NCCAOM certification; 30 hours of continuing education units every two years
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Illinois Department of Professional Regulation
320 W. Washington Street
Springfield, IL 62786
(217) 785-0820
Formal schooling requirements: 3 years of postsecondary training in an accredited acupuncture program
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
Medical Licensing Board
402 W. Washington St.
Room W-072
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 234-2060
Formal schooling requirements: 3 years
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Licensure and Administration
Iowa Board of Medicine
400 SW 8th St.
Suite C
Des Moines, IA 50309-4686
(515) 281-6641
Formal schooling requirements: Completion on board-approved educational medical naturopathy program
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
800 SW Jackson
Lower Level – Suite A
Topeka, KS 66612
(785) 296-7413
Formal schooling requirements: Graduate from an ACAOM accredited school; 1800 hours including 300 clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
310 Whittington Pkwy.
Suite 1B
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 429-7150
Formal schooling requirements: 3 years
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
Contact:
Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
630 Camp St.
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 568-6820
Formal schooling requirements: 1000 hours of didactic plus 300 hours of clinical
Undergraduate Requirements: Baccalaureate degree, a professional nursing license or physician’s assistant training and examination
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Board of Complementary Health Care Providers
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
(207) 624-8689
Formal schooling requirements: 1800 hours, including 300 clinical hours, from an ACAOM accredited school
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Maryland Board of Acupuncture
201 West Preston Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 767-6500
Formal schooling requirements: 1905 clinical/didactic hours combined including 660 hours of training in herbs and 210 hours of clinic in acupuncture and herbs; 2 academic years of undergraduate study at an accredited college or university
Board Certification for Chinese Herbology: completion of ACAOM herbology program or its equivalent
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Committee on Acupuncture
200 Harvard Mill Square
Suite 330
Wakefield, MA 01880
(781) 876-8210
Formal schooling requirements: 2 – 4 years of undergraduate education, including western science; 1705 hours in a professional acupuncture program, 660 of which are clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Michigan Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
7001 Orchard Lake Rd.
Suite 120
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
Formal schooling requirements: NCCAOM certification
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
2829 University Ave. SE
Suite 500
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
(612) 617-2130
Formal schooling requirements: Graduate from an ACAOM or NCCAOM accredited school
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
1867 Crane Ridge Dr.
Suite 200-B
Jackson, MS 39216
(601) 987-3079
Formal schooling requirements: NCCAOM certification
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Missouri Acupuncturist Advisory Committee
3605 Missouri Blvd.
PO Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
(573) 526-1555
Formal schooling requirements: 1000 hours
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Board of Medical Examiners
301 South Park
4th Floor
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
(406) 841-2300
Formal schooling requirements: Graduate from an ACAOM accredited school; 1725 hours including 1000 didactic and 500 clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Health and Human Services
Regulation and Licensure Credentialing Division
Nebraska State Office Building
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-3121
Formal schooling requirements: 4-year program of study in Oriental medicine at board-approved school or college.
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture, Nevada State Boards
Contact:
Nevada State Board of Oriental Medicine
7231 S. Eastern Ave.
Suite B-107
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 837-8921
Formal schooling requirements: ACAOM or board approved, including anatomy and physiology; Baccalaureate, registered nurse or physician’s assistant degree
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
New Hampshire Board of Acupuncture Licensing
Department of Health and Human Services
Licensing and Regulation Services
129 Pleasant St.
Brown Building
Concord, NH 03301-3857
(603) 271-9254
Formal schooling requirements: Baccalaureate degree and completion of board-approved course of study in acupuncture
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
State Board of Medical Examiners
Acupuncture Examining Board
124 Halsey St., 6yh Floor
Newark, NJ 07101
(973) 273-8092
Formal schooling requirements: 2400 clock hours of classes including 1100 hours of didactic and 900 hours of clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture and Chinese herbology
Contact:
New Mexico Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
2550 Cerrillos Rd.
P.O. Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
(505) 476-4630
Formal schooling requirements: 4050 hours of didactic and clinical work; 60 semester hours including 9 semester hours of biosciences
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
Acupuncture Unit
89 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12234-1000
(518) 474-3817
Formal schooling requirements: 3-year program accredited by ACAOM
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board
P.O. Box 10686
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 821-3008
Formal schooling requirements: Only a medical doctor, osteopath or chiropractor may practice acupuncture in North Dakota; 100 hours of acupuncture training for chiropractors
Contact:
North Dakota State Board of Medical Examiners
418 E. Broadway Ave.
Suite 12
Bismarck, ND 58501
(701) 328-6500
Formal schooling requirements: Graduate from an ACAOM accredited school; minimum of 1725 hours
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
State Medical Board of Ohio
30 E. Broad St.
3rd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-3934
No practice act for acupuncturists. Medical doctors are permitted to practice acupuncture.
Contact:
Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision
5104 N. Francis St.
Suite C
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 848-6841
Formal schooling requirements: ACAOM accredited or candidacy status or equivalent
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Oregon Medical Board
1500 SW 1st Ave.
Suite 620
Portland, OR 97201
(971) 673-2700
Formal schooling requirements: 2 academic years of training in acupuncture medical programs
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
State Board of Medicine
2601 N. Third St.
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17110
(717) 783-1400
Formal schooling requirements: Completion of 36 month and 2500 hour program from an accredited institution; completion of clinical internship
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
State of Rhode Island Office of Health Professionals Regulation – Acupuncture
3 Capitol Hill
Rm. 104
Providence, RI 02908-5097
(401) 222-2828
Formal schooling requirements: NCCAOM certification
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Synergy Business Park
Kingstree Building
110 Centerview Dr.
Columbia, SC 29210
(803) 896-4300
Formal schooling requirements: 100 hours of coursework and 100 hours of CEU following certification for chiropractors
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
South Dakota Board of Medical & Osteopathic Examiners
101 N. Main Ave.
Suite 301
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
(605) 367-7781
Formal schooling requirements: Completion of an apprenticeship or tutorial program that meets NCCAOM standards
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Tennessee Department of Health
710 James Robertson Parkway
Andrew Johnson Tower
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-3111
Formal schooling requirements: 1800 didactic hours (450 hours must be in herbal training) and 60 semester hours including basic science courses
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture and Chinese herbology
Contact:
Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners
333 Guadalupe
Tower 3, Suite 610
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 305-7010
Formal schooling requirements: NCCA or NCCAOM certification
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 530-6628
Formal schooling requirements: 3-year program including 800 hours of clinical
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Office of Professional Regulation
89 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620-3402
(802) 828-1501
Formal schooling requirements: Graduate of ACAOM accredited school: 1000 hours with 700 didactic and 250 clinical hours in no less than 18 months
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Virginia Board of Medicine
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Dr.
Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1460
(804) 367-4600
Formal schooling requirements: Graduation from a ACAOM accredited school, department approved school or department approved apprenticeship
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Department of Health
111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
(360) 236-4700
Formal schooling requirements: 1800 hours including 300 clinical hours from an accredited school
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
West Virginia Acupuncture Board
179 Summers St.
Suite 711
Charleston, WV 301-2122
(304) 558-1060
Formal schooling requirements: 2 years
Examination: NCCAOM examination in acupuncture
Contact:
Dept. of Regulation and Licensure
Bureau of Health Service Professions
Acupuncture Certification
P.O. Box 8935
1400 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53708
(877) 617-1565
Formal schooling requirements: 4 years at an accredited school of acupuncture and Oriental medicine
Contact:
Wyoming Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
1507-C Stillwater
Cheyenne, WY 82009
(307) 433-4010