Acupuncture is a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that predates modern medicine by thousands of years. It’s a practice that involves inserting thin needles into the skin along specific points along the body that, when activated, promote natural healing. Acupuncture is often used to manage pain, relieve stress and treat a variety of conditions.
Today acupuncture is an increasingly popular treatment or complement to Western medicine. Research and clinical studies are providing medical doctors with more and more evidence that TCM’s holistic or “whole body” approach to wellbeing leads to measurably better patient outcomes.
If you’re interested in learning to practice acupuncture in Texas, you should know that Texas一like most states—requires a master’s level education. Want to learn more about what it takes to become an acupuncturist? Here’s everything you need to know.
Requirements for becoming an acupuncturist in Texas
In order to practice acupuncture in Texas, you must obtain a license through the Texas State Board of Acupuncture. To meet the requirements for licensure, you must:
Must be at least 21 years of age
Complete 60 hours of collegein addition to acupuncture training
Provide sufficient documentation to the board that you have, on a full-time basis, actively treated persons, been a student at an acceptable approved acupuncture school or been on the active teaching faculty of an acceptable approved acupuncture school, within either of the last two years preceding receipt of an application for licensure
Provide proof of English proficiency
Education and training requirements
The coursework in acupuncture master’s or doctorate programs is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture techniques and related subjects. While specific courses can vary among programs, here are common courses that acupuncturists can expect to take as part of their degree:
Foundations of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
An introduction to TCM theories such as Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Zang-Fu (organ systems) and meridian theory and examination of the historical development and philosophy of TCM.
Acupuncture techniques and theory:
An in-depth study of acupuncture points, meridians and needling techniques; Practical training in point location and needling skills and clinical application of acupuncture for various health conditions.
Chinese herbology:
Study of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, including identification and properties of commonly used herbs and formulation of herbal prescriptions and understanding herb-drug interactions.
Diagnostics in TCM:
Examination of traditional methods of diagnosis, including pulse and tongue diagnosis and the integration of TCM diagnostic techniques with Western medical assessment.
Biomedical sciences:
Anatomy, physiology and understanding the human body from a Western medical perspective as well as pathology (the study of disease processes and their impact on the body).
Western medical sciences integration:
Courses that bridge TCM concepts with Western medical terminology and practices and understanding how TCM principles relate to contemporary healthcare.
Research methods and evidence-based practice:
Introduction to research methods relevant to acupuncture and TCM with an emphasis on critically evaluating and applying evidence in practice.
Ethics and professionalism:
Exploration of ethical considerations in acupuncture practice and understanding legal and professional responsibilities in Texas.
Practice management:
Business aspects of running an acupuncture practice, including marketing, patient management and ethical considerations in a clinical setting.
Electives:
Programs may offer electives or concentrations in areas such as pain management, sports acupuncture, fertility acupuncture or other specialized fields.
Clinical training and internship is built into every acupuncture program by necessity. Acupuncturists attending accredited colleges or research institutions will have access to supervised clinical practice; here, students will work with patients under the guidance of experienced practitioners.
Graduates will earn different credentials depending on their level of education. Those who have completed a master’s degree in acupuncture will earn the title L.Ac, which stands for Licensed Acupuncturist.
Students may also opt to continue their education, pursuing a Diplomate of Oriental Medicine. This award means that the student has undergone additional training, board examination, certification and licensure in herbal medicine. After graduation, these acupuncturists will earn the designation L.OM: Licensed Oriental Medicine Practitioner.
A Texas LAc expert shares his story
Victor Manuel, LAc at Texas Acupuncture Research Institute and President of the Texas Association of Acupuncture, is following a path that began as curiosity and awe, and has since become his passion.
He left a successful career in IT in 2017 to explore and experience acupuncture. Manuel says he, like so many of the graduates in his cohort, were drawn to acupuncture because it is such an eye-opening, transformative, and deeply personal healthcare practice—both for practitioners and for patients.
“From my college cohort,” he says, “the majority of students already had a bachelor’s degree and have either been looking at or about to dive into a completely separate field. Easily five or six out of ten of acupuncturists I’ve met are students who have gone to college to receive degree A and decided to switch over once they learned more about acupuncture as a practice.”
Manuel is currently conducting research at his practice, and has clinical trials on the horizon. He sees the evidence-based proof of positive acupuncture treatment and outcomes as another link in a chain that is slowly pulling Western and TCM closer together. Acupuncture, he reminds us, looks at the whole body as a complex, integrated system of organs working in concert. And sometimes that step-back mindset can help patients discover problems that their general practitioner might not even know to look for.
“There is a crisis of healthcare in Texas,” he explains. “There is an increasing number of people who need care and a decreasing number of physicians who can manage them. There are fewer and fewer doctors, but more and more people who need support. We need to have a larger health picture.” He sees qualified, caring and well-trained acupuncturists as an important part of that scene.
Exam requirements for TX
You must complete an exam in order to become a licensed acupuncturist in Texas. Applying for those exams involves a few steps.
Once you’ve graduated from an accredited acupuncture program, your school will submit your official transcripts to the NCCAOM. Then, once you’ve passed the Clean Needle Exam, the CCAOM will submit those results to the NCCAOM. Once these are received, the NCCAOM will issue you an Authorization To Test (ATT). At this point, you are qualified to take your exams.
The Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners grants licenses three times each year. A temporary license may be issued at your request if you want to start working right away. If granted, this will allow you to practice after your application has been approved by Board staff until your permanent license is granted. Temporary licenses are valid for 100 days.
The NCCAOM exam for Texas acupuncturists consists of four sections, which include the following subcategories:
Foundation of Oriental Medicine:
This section typically assesses candidates’ understanding of the fundamental principles of Oriental medicine, including concepts such as Yin-Yang theory, Five Elements, Zang-Fu theory (organ systems) and meridian theory. Questions may focus on the historical and theoretical foundations that form the basis of TCM.
Acupuncture with point location:
The Acupuncture section evaluates candidates’ knowledge of acupuncture techniques and their ability to apply them clinically. It covers various acupuncture styles, needling techniques and the use of acupuncture points for treating specific conditions. Candidates may be tested on their understanding of meridian pathways, acupuncture point functions and treatment planning. Candidates may be required to identify points based on anatomical landmarks or describe the locations in relation to nearby structures. Precision in point location is crucial for effective acupuncture treatment.
Chinese herbology:
Chinese herbology assesses candidates’ knowledge of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Topics may include the properties and functions of commonly used herbs, herbal formulations, herb-drug interactions and the principles of herbal diagnosis. Candidates may need to demonstrate their understanding of how to prescribe and modify herbal formulas.
Biomedicine:
The biomedicine section evaluates candidates’ understanding of basic biomedical sciences. It covers anatomy, physiology, pathology and other Western medical sciences relevant to acupuncture and Oriental medicine. The purpose is to ensure that acupuncturists have a solid foundation in biomedical knowledge to complement their traditional Chinese medicine training.
The exam is administered year-round at authorized testing centers on a computer. You have two and a half hours to complete its 100 questions.
Once you complete your education, pass the NCCAOM exam and complete the remainder of the licensure requirements, you’ll be ready to complete your acupuncture license application for the state of Texas. Your initial registration is completed via hardcopy forms, which will be sent to the licensee shortly after issuance. Subsequent renewals can be completed online.
Like many other medical professionals, acupuncturists are required to continue their education after they earn their degree. The Texas Medical Board has specific criteria for continuing education that renewing applicants need to meet.
At least 8 hours must be in general acupuncture therapies
At least 2 hours should cover ethics and safety
At least 6 hours must include herbology study
At least 4 hours should cover biomedicine
Other stipulations include:
No more than 4 hours of continuing acupuncture education courses may relate primarily to business practices or office administration
No more than a total of 16 hours per year may be completed under NCCAOM or provided outside the United States
At least 18 hours each year must be approved for credit by the Education Committee of the board, offered by approved providers, or approved for CAE for 3 years by another state
The Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners (TSBAE) oversees the licensing and regulation of acupuncturists. If you hold a license in another state and wish to practice in Texas, you must apply for a license using the same criteria as an in-state applicant. The TSBAE examines each application for licensure on a case-by-case basis, but there is currently no reciprocity agreement between states for candidates who already hold a license.
Your registration fee as an out-of-state applicant would be prorated based on the point in the two-year window or biennium in which Texas state acupuncture licenses are issued.
You will be asked to provide proof of education and prior licensure, and may also need to provide scores from your NCCAOM exam. Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 2059 (86th Legislature), anyone who provides direct patient care in Texas is required to complete a human trafficking prevention course approved by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The Texas Health and Human Services Commission offers a free Health Care Practitioner Human Trafficking Training course, and also maintains a list of approved courses that satisfy this requirement.
Professional conduct and ethical guidelines
All healthcare providers must follow strict professional conduct and ethical guidelines in order to stay in good standing with their licensing authority. Acupuncturists are no exception. Violations are reported and reviewed by the TSBAE, and offenses can result in disciplinary action and or license revocation.
In Texas, these rules are outlined in Chapter 205 of the Texas Occupational Code (OCC). If you have any questions, the TSBAE is the authority on up-to-date ethics and compliance.
Scope of practice
The Texas Administrative Code, Rule Chapter 183, Rule 183.7, outlines the scope of practice for acupuncturists in Texas as follows:
(a) An acupuncturist may perform acupuncture on a person who has been evaluated by a physician or dentist, as appropriate, for the condition being treated within twelve months before the date acupuncture was performed.
(b) The holder of a license may perform acupuncture on a person who was referred by a doctor licensed to practice chiropractic by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners if the licensee commences the treatment within 30 days of the date of the referral. The licensee shall refer the person to a physician after performing acupuncture 20 times or for two months, whichever occurs first, if no substantial improvement occurs in the person’s condition for which the referral was made.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, an acupuncturist holding a current and valid license may without an evaluation or a referral from a physician, dentist, or chiropractor perform acupuncture on a person for smoking addiction, weight loss, alcoholism, chronic pain, or substance abuse.
(d) A licensed acupuncturist must recommend an evaluation by a licensed Texas physician or dentist, if after performing acupuncture 20 times or for two months, whichever occurs first, there is no substantial improvement of the patient’s chronic pain.
(e) A licensed acupuncturist shall recommend an evaluation by a licensed Texas physician or dentist, as appropriate, if after performing acupuncture 20 times or for two months, whichever occurs first, there is no substantial improvement of the patient’s alcoholism or substance abuse.
Insurance and liability
Texas currently does not have any statutes requiring acupuncturists to submit proof of professional liability insurance coverage in order to obtain or retain their license. However, if you’re considering a private practice, liability insurance and malpractice insurance provide you and your patients with peace of mind.
Working as an acupuncturist in Texas
Victor Manuel, L.Ac, feels that his education in acupuncture was a good investment. “Those who provide direct patient care, such as acupuncturists or advanced nurse practitioners, are not going to find a shortage of opportunities in Texas. A career in healthcare offers a good ROI, especially as this global shift towards preventative healthcare continues to gain momentum.”
Acupuncturist salary in Texas
How much do acupuncturists make in Texas? Texas has one of the largest populations of acupuncturists in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2022, the median annual pay for acupuncturists in the state was $73,410. This is slightly higher than the national median.
Texas also employs the third highest number of acupuncturists in the U.S., says the BLS.
Acupuncturists
10%$28,790
25%$59,750
50%$78,810Median
75%$85,890
90%$93,480
Median Hourly Wage$38
Job growth5.3%
Total Employment460
Metro area
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Austin-Round Rock, TX
$85,890
$85,570
$85,890
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
$78,810
$78,810
$96,310
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
N/A
N/A
N/A
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Finding employment opportunities
As for demand, this role has a positive career growth projection. The job outlook for acupuncturists is expected to grow by 5.3% through 2032 says the BLS, which is a little faster than average across all occupations.
There are many places you can find work as an acupuncturist. Some hospitals, wellness centers and rehabilitation clinics, for instance, employ acupuncturists. You may also decide you’d like to start your own practice. To determine where you’d like to practice most, start networking early. Attend conferences, introduce yourself to local L.Acs and ask others about why they chose their career path.
Private acupuncture practice in Texas
After you receive your acupuncture license from the TSBAE, you may decide you’d like to open your own practice. In order to do so, there are a few steps you need to follow. Once you’ve created a business plan, you’ll want to decide whether you’re interested in operating a limited liability company or sole proprietorship. From here, you’ll register your business with a local county clerk.
A general business license is not required in Texas. However, it is important to research what kinds of licenses, registrations or authorizations are required at the federal, state and local level. The Texas Economic Development & Tourism’s Business Permit Office (BPO) contains valuable information about the types of permits you’ll need to operate an acupuncture business.
There are several Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in Texas. These resource centers are a partnership between the SBA and state universities. They provide free advice on marketing, financing and business growth to local businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs. You can find your nearest SBDC in Texas using their directory.
Staying up to date on industry developments and trends
Connecting with local acupuncturists is one of the best ways to stay up-to-date on industry trends and important updates. Healthcare. Joining a professional association is a great way to do this.
Some professional associations you may be interested in joining if you’re serious about a career in acupuncture in Texas include:
The Texas Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine(TAAOM). The TAAOM was founded in 1989 before the practice of acupuncture was legal in the State of Texas. It was through the efforts of the association (known then as the Texas Acupuncture Association) that acupuncture became legal and professionally licensed in Texas in 1993. Today it is the largest professional organization of licensed acupuncturists and practitioners of Oriental medicine in the state.
American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) organization is the oldest national membership organization of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) practitioners. They are committed to supporting practitioners through education, occupational resources and legislative advocacy. Members can access webinars, publications, networking events and more.
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). While NCCAOM is primarily known for its role in certification examinations, it also provides resources for practitioners, including updates on industry trends and professional development opportunities.
The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA). This organization focuses primarily on integrating acupuncture with conventional medicine. Acupuncturists interested in medical acupuncture and collaboration with other healthcare professionals may find AAMA membership valuable.
The Acupuncture Now Foundation (ANF) is a non-profit organization focused on promoting acupuncture and integrative medicine. Acupuncturists may find it beneficial for networking, advocacy and staying informed about developments in the field.
Getting started
If you’re ready to learn more about the foundations of acupuncture and begin exploring programs, there’s no better time to start. Texas is home to a robust community of acupuncturists, and the field is only expected to grow.
The first step to becoming an acupuncturist in Texas is to decide on the best educational program that suits your needs. Program start dates vary from university to university, so start exploring your options so you’ll be ready to take the first step in your acupuncture education.
How to become an acupuncturist in your state
As you know, in most states, you need certification to earn licensure to become an acupuncturist. Here are in-depth explorations of what you’ll need to do in some key states:
