Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Licensing Information

Licensing and Examination Information

New York College of Health Professions > Licensing & Certification > Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Licensing Information

Disclosure of State Requirement for Acupuncture License

Completion of the current Acupuncture and/or Oriental Medicine program meets the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification needed for employment is detailed in the Disclosure of State Requirement for Acupuncture License. Additional details can be found on NCCAOM’s State Licensure Requirements website and by clicking on each state to see the details and procedures of applying for licensure or certification.

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

The NCCAOM was established by the profession to promote nationally recognized standards in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and to ensure public safety. NCCAOM certification represents professional recognition. It does not authorize or license an individual to practice acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine. Licensure and registration are state regulatory functions.

Currently, forty-seven states plus the District of Columbia use NCCAOM examinations as part of the licensure process.

The manner in which states use the NCCAOM process varies. In some states, NCCAOM certification is the only educational, training or examination criteria for licensure. Other states have set additional eligibility criteria. A small number of states have additional jurisprudence or practical examination requirements. Please check with the appropriate state agency for information on the application of NCCAOM certification and recent legislation which affects eligibility criteria.

The NCCAOM was established by the profession to promote nationally recognized standards in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and to ensure public safety. NCCAOM certification represents professional recognition. It does not authorize or license an individual to practice Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine. Licensure and registration are state regulatory functions.

Graduates of New York College of Health Professions are eligible to sit for the licensing examinations through NCCAOM.

NCCAOM Required Examinations by State to Obtain Licensure
Foundations of Oriental Medicine	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Acupuncture with Point Locations	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Biomedicine	AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT,NV, NH, NJ, NM, NC, ND, OH, OR, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WY
Chinese Herbology	DE, FL, IL, KS, MA, NV, NM, PA, TX, VT

California licensure may require additional training. For details, please see California’s Acupuncture Board’s educational requirements: https://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/students/edu_require.shtml

For details on states using NCCAOM exams and requirements, and acquire more information about obtaining state licensure, please see the NCCAOM website: https://www.nccaom.org/advocacy-regulatory/state-relations/.

The details of the corresponding state’s licensure requirements can be found by clicking on the respective state using the interactive map found on NCCAOM website: https://www.nccaom.org/state-licensure/.

Graduates from the acupuncture program are qualified to take the Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture with Point Locations, and Biomedicine examinations.

Graduates from the oriental medicine program are qualified to take the Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture with Point Locations, Biomedicine, and Chinese Herbology examinations.

NCCAOM Certification Policies

Effective September 13, 2011 individuals applying to take the NCCAOM examinations through the formal education route of eligibility must have documentation of a minimum of the following:

Graduation Eligibility Requirements for Acupuncture
1490 hours of education

Graduation Eligibility Requirements for Chinese Herbology
2050 hours of education:

1640 didactic hours (350 must be Chinese Herbology specific)
410 clinical hours

Graduation Eligibility Requirements for Oriental Medicine
2050 hours of education:

1640 didactic hours
410 clinical hours

Graduates of the New York College of Health Professions Graduate School of Oriental Medicine automatically fulfill these eligibility requirements since the Programs are fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), recognized by the NCCAOM.

Review Courses

The New York College of Health Professions offers review courses for the NCCAOM exams in both acupuncture and Chinese herbology and for the acupuncture Clean Needle Technique examination through its Continuing Education Department.

Acupuncture Clean Needle Technique Examination

The Council for Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) administers the Clean Needle Technique (CNT) Examination as a requirement for licensure in the State of New York. The college believes that anyone wishing to enter the student acupuncture or oriental medicine teaching clinic must first pass this examination as a demonstration of professionalism and competence. Therefore, a passing grade on the CNT Examination is a prerequisite for entrance into the acupuncture and oriental medicine teaching clinics. Students must apply for and pass this exam during the second year of the acupuncture and oriental medicine programs.

Requirements for a New York State License to Practice Acupuncture

Acupuncture Law in the State of New York

Acupuncture has been a licensed profession in the State of New York since 1991. The licensed practitioner of acupuncture in New York State has thereby joined the ranks of the medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, dentist, psychologist and chiropractor as a primary health care provider. Licensed acupuncturists, in other words, may treat patients without first obtaining a medical referral.

Article 160 of the New York State Education Law contains within it the definition of the profession of acupuncture, as well as the scope of practice of the licensed acupuncturist. The law clearly states that a licensed acupuncturist may treat patients for “diseases, disorders and dysfunctions of the body for the purpose of achieving a therapeutic or prophylactic effect.” To paraphrase, the licensed acupuncturist is not limited to the treatment of a particular type of disease condition, nor is he/she confined to treatment of a specific body part. In addition, the law requires that a licensed acupuncturist must advise his/her patients of the importance of medical consultation regarding their condition. The law which governs the practice of acupuncture in New York State affords the practitioner a broad scope of practice, consistent with the holistic perspective promoted by The New York College’s Graduate School of Oriental Medicine.

Useful Contacts

New York State Education Department Office of Professional Credentialing
Professional Licensing Services
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Ph: (518) 473-0221

National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
2001 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor North
Washington, DC 20006
Ph: (888) 381-1140
E-mail: info@thenccaom.org

Council of Colleges of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (CCAOM)
600 Wyndhurst Ave., Suite 112
Baltimore, MD 21210
Ph: (410) 464-6040
Fax: (410) 464-6042

Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine (ACAHM)

500 Lake Street, Suite 204, Excelsior, MN 55331

General telephone: (952) 212-2434

General Email: info@acahm.org

https://acahm.org