In order to become an Acupuncturist:
Students must attend an ACAOM accredited Master’s degree program from an educational institution. ACAOM is recognized by the U.S. Department of Higher Education.
Oriental Medicine schools require 2,500 – 3,000 hours of training which focuses on Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture, tui na (physiotherapy/therapeutic massage), Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese nutrition, and Qigong and/or Tai Chi (energetic exercise/meditation)
Science courses are also offered in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology, western medical pathology, western nutrition, and psychology.
Once the training has been completed, graduates sit for the national board exams administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), which is the only national board examination certifying Acupuncturists in the United States.
A minimum of 1,800 hours of Chinese Medical education and supervised clinical training
plus graduation from an accredited acupuncture school (which most require 2,500 – 3,000
hours) is required to sit for this exam.
Upon passing the NCCAOM exam an Acupuncturist is awarded the title "Diplomate of Acupuncture" (Dipl.Ac.). Recently there is a new certification that includes proficiency in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology. This title is a “Diplomate in Oriental Medicine” (Dipl.O.M.). Acupuncture certification is renewed every four years with the requirement of completing at least 60 hours of continuing education.
The Colorado State Department of Regulatory Agencies regulates acupuncture in the state
of Colorado. Only those who pass the N.C.C.A.O.M. exam are awarded the title of "Licensed Acupuncturist" (L.Ac.) by the state of Colorado.
This must be re-newed every two years.
The Acupuncture Association of Colorado (AAC) is the professional association for
nationally board certified Acupuncturists in this state.
Sadly, there are other standards for those calling themselves "Acupuncturists" or utilizing forms of "Acupuncture" here in Colorado:
• Physical Therapists (P.T.s)- were recently approved by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies to practice dry needling with acupuncture needles. The only requirement is a 46 hour training and no separate registration with DORA.
• Chiropractors (D.C.s)- need only 100 hours of training, review 25 case histories and no examination to legally perform "acupuncture" in Colorado.
• Medical Doctors (M.D.s) and Doctors of Osteopathy (D.O.s) have no minimum training requirements to do "acupuncture" in this state. They call themselves "Medical Acupuncturists."
• There is an optional class at UCLA for physicians to learn "acupuncture." It is only 350 hours.
Ask your Acupuncturist if he or she is NCCAOM certified (Dipl.Ac. or Dipl. O.M.) and a Licensed
Acupuncturist (L.Ac) with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, to insure
that you are receiving care from a well-qualified Acupuncturist. If you have any questions
about the practice of acupuncture please call the Acupuncture Association of Colorado.
