How Acupuncturists Are Licensed: L.Ac., Board Certification and How to Check
What a state acupuncture license requires, what L.Ac., AP, DOM, DACM and Dipl. OM mean, and how to look up a license.
Acupuncture is regulated state by state, not nationally. Most states license acupuncturists, but the title, the training required, the exam and what an acupuncturist may do all vary. This guide explains how licensing usually works, what the credentials on a provider's record mean, and how to check a license before your first visit.
Most states license acupuncturists
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health says that most states license acupuncturists and that requirements vary by state. It adds that "in most states acupuncturists must be certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or pass that organization's exams to be licensed" (NCCIH: credentialing, licensing and education). That national board now calls itself the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM), the name New York uses in its current requirements.
Schools are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), formerly the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM) (ACAHM). Medicare's coverage rule for acupuncture, for example, requires a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited school (CMS decision memo).
An example: New York's requirements
New York's State Education Department publishes its requirements in plain terms, and they show what a license usually involves (NYSED: acupuncture license requirements). An applicant must:
- complete at least 60 semester hours at an accredited college or university, including nine semester hours in the biosciences;
- complete an acupuncture program of at least 4,050 hours of classroom instruction, supervised clinical experience and out-of-class study, registered by the department or accredited by ACAHM;
- pass NCBAHM's Acupuncture with Point Location exam and its Foundations of Oriental Medicine exam; and
- be at least 21 years old.
New York also protects the title: using "licensed acupuncturist" in the state requires a license. Other states set their own hours and exams. California, for example, runs its own licensing exam through the California Acupuncture Board.
What the letters after a name mean
The credentials on the listings here are what each provider typed into the federal NPI registry, so they are self-reported, but they are useful clues.
L.Ac. (licensed acupuncturist) is the most common credential on the records here, most often on California and New York records. It signals a state license, which you should still confirm.
AP and DOM are state license titles. On the records here, almost every provider listing AP gives a Florida license, and DOM appears mostly on Florida and New Mexico records. EAMP (East Asian Medicine Practitioner) appears almost only on Washington records.
DACM and DAOM are doctoral degrees in acupuncture and Chinese or Oriental medicine. MSOM, MAOM, MSTOM and similar are master's degrees. A degree is education, not a license.
Dipl. Ac., Dipl. OM and Dipl. CH are national board certifications in acupuncture, Oriental medicine (which includes herbs) and Chinese herbology. Some states require board certification for a license; others accept it as one route.
Some listings show DC, MD, PT or ND alongside or instead of L.Ac. Chiropractors, physicians, physical therapists and naturopathic doctors may perform acupuncture or dry needling in some states under their own license, with rules that differ from those for licensed acupuncturists.
What an acupuncturist may do
Scope of practice is also set by each state. California's board, for example, lists acupuncture, electroacupuncture, "oriental massage, acupressure, moxibustion, cupping, breathing techniques, exercise, heat, cold, magnets, nutrition, diet, herbs, plant, animal, and mineral products, and dietary supplements" among the methods its licensees may use (California Acupuncture Board FAQ). Other states are narrower, particularly on herbs. If herbal treatment matters to you, ask whether the practitioner is trained and permitted to prescribe herbs in your state.
How to check a license
Every state board that licenses acupuncturists has a public license lookup or will confirm a license by phone. The California board says you may call it "to verify the status of an acupuncturist, i.e., valid, delinquent, or action against the license" (California Acupuncture Board). Search the practitioner's name and, if the listing here shows one, the license number from their NPI record. Check three things: that the license is current, that it is in the state where you will be treated, and whether the board lists any public disciplinary action.
Many listings here show a license number and state taken from the provider's NPI record. That number is what the provider entered; the federal registry does not check it against the state board. Treat it as a starting point for your own lookup, not as proof.
What the NPI registry adds
A National Provider Identifier is the federal ID that health care providers use for billing and insurance claims. Every listing on this site has an active NPI whose primary specialty is Acupuncturist or Naturopath (NPPES NPI Registry). That shows the provider registered with the federal system and keeps the record current; it does not show training, licensure or quality. We leave out records that have not been updated since 2013, because many belong to people who have retired or moved.
A short checklist
- Find the practitioner's state license on the board's website, and note the expiry date.
- Ask where they trained and whether the program was accredited.
- If you want herbs, ask about herbal training and certification.
- Ask whether they carry malpractice insurance.
- Tell your doctor that you plan to start acupuncture, especially if you take blood thinners, have a pacemaker or are pregnant.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Acupuncture Index is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor, nurse, discharge planner or other qualified professional. Do not use it to make decisions about diagnosis or treatment. If you have a medical emergency, call 911. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.