Licensure Rules by State
Every state and region has its own licensure process for acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Explore current requirements, renewal details, and official resources to help you plan where and how you’ll begin practicing.
The Arizona College of Acupuncture (ASAOM) is duly accredited nationally through the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine (ACAHM), and within the State of Arizona through the Arizona State Board of Post Private Secondary Education (ASBPPSE), to offer licensure for acupuncture in the State of Arizona.
If you desire licensure elsewhere, refer to the information provided below. Be sure to follow up with the associated body connected to any information provided below as State-to-State and International regulations are subject to ongoing change.
To the best the school is able to determine, ASAOM’s programs meet licensure requirements in the following states: Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming.
However, the following States may not fully meet the licensure requirements due to additional State-specific criteria or exams: California; New York. Additionally, for States where requirements have not been fully determined, such as Texas and Georgia, students are advised to confirm directly with the State’s acupuncture/governing boards.
ASAOM encourages all students and graduates to verify information with their respective State boards, as licensure requirements may change over time. Additionally, prospective students and graduates, please endeavor to be in contact with your State and stay informed about any State-specific criteria or updates, ensuring you meet all necessary standards for licensure.
Information updated as of March 2023
Where Do You Plan to Practice?
Information includes required levels of training, exams and competencies, continuing education (CE) requirements, applicable fees, and license duration. Links to associated Governing Boards are provided for each State.
INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS are located at the bottom of this page:
United States
Alabama
Training: Only Osteopaths or Chiropractors may practice acupuncture in Alabama
Exam: see Training
Continuing Education Requirements: see Training
Certification Requirements: see Training
Fees: None
License Duration: see Training
Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and Medical License Commission
Alaska
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fees: Application fee $200, License fee $325, Renewal fee $325
License Duration: 2 years
Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing
Arizona
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fees: Application fee $250, License fee $275, plus $22 Fingerprint Processing fee, Renewal fee $275
License Duration: 2 years
Arkansas
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school with a four-year program
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams, including Herbology
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fees: Application fee $250, Renewal fee $400, Annual Administrative Support fee $100
License Duration: 2 years
California
Training: A master’s degree or approved training program from a California Acupuncture Board-approved school
Exam: The California Acupuncture Licensing Examination
Continuing Education Requirements: 50 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: None
Fees: Application fee $250, Exam fee $800, Renewal fee $500
License Duration: 2 years
Colorado
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fees: Application fee $150, renewal fee “varies” per board, but most recent was $65
License Duration: 2 years
Connecticut
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $200, Renewal fee $255
License Duration: 2 years
Delaware
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school; Chinese Herbology exam required to practice herbs
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $217, Renewal fee $217
License Duration: Two years
District of Columbia
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school; must include Herbology or Oriental medicine
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification. Must maintain Chinese Herbology or Oriental Medicine to practice herbs.
Fee: Application fee $230. Renewal fee $290
License Duration: 2 Years
Florida
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school, plus a 60 hour injection therapy course and an “8 hour program that incorporates the safe and beneficial use of laboratory test and imaging findings”
Exam: All NCCAOM exams, including Chinese Herbology or Oriental Medicine
Continuing Education Requirements: Per board, “Licensed Acupuncturist renewing a license for the first time are only required to complete 2 hours of medical errors and 3 hours of HIV/AIDS.” Thereafter, 30 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $200, License fee $200, Renewal fee $280
License Duration: 2 years
Georgia
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school. For licensees with less than one year of clinical experience, they must be supervised by a Georgia-licensed acupuncturist (who has at least four years experience) for one year.
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 40 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification.
Fee: Application fee $300, Renewal fee $105
License Duration: 2 years
Hawaii
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $377 or $230 depending on odd or even numbered year, Renewal fee $294
License Duration: 2 years
Idaho
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 10 hours
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $50, Initial Licensure fee $150, Renewal fee $75
License Duration: 1 year
Illinois
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $500, Renewal fee $250
License Duration: 2 years
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Indiana
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $150, Renewal fee $100
License Duration: 2 years
Iowa
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements:
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $300, Background check fee $45, Renewal fee $300
License Duration: 2 years, renewed by end of October on even numbered years
Kansas
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours in first year, 30 hours every two years thereafter
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $165 and $3 National Practitioner Data Bank fee, Renewal fee $125
License Duration: 1 year, by end of March
Kentucky
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $150, Renewal fee $150
License Duration: 2 years
Louisiana
Acupuncturists may only practice under the supervision of a physician in Louisiana
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 15 hours each year
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $200
License Duration: 1 year
Maine
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $180, Criminal Background Check fee $21, Renewal fee $180
License Duration: 1 year
Maryland
Requires licensure, but not NCCAOM exams
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: None
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $525, Renewal fee $525 plus Maryland Health Care Commission User Fee $26
License Duration: 2 years
Massachusetts
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $300, Renewal fee $200
License Duration: 2 years
Committee on Acupuncture – Board of Registration in Medicine
Michigan
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school, training in recognizing human trafficking, two hours of implicit bias training
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $475, Renewal fee $400
License Duration: 2 years
Minnesota
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: Per NCCAOM standard
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $300 plus Criminal Background Check Fee $33.25, Renewal fee $300
License Duration: 1 year
Mississippi
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $400, Renewal fee $150
License Duration: 1 year
Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
Note that for an acupuncturist to treat a patient for anything but weight loss, smoking addiction, or substance abuse, “Evaluation of patient by physician required within six months before date of performing acupuncture.”
Missouri
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $200, Renewal fee $100
License Duration: 2 years
Montana
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $75, Renewal fee $150
License Duration: 2 years
Nebraska
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 50 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None, if continuing education requirement is met
Fee: Application fee $300, Renewal fee $121
License Duration: 2 years
Nevada
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams (including Herbology), plus State Board Exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 10 hours per year
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $1000, Renewal fee $700
License Duration: 1 year
New Hampshire
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $110, Admissions fee $100, Renewal fee $110
License Duration: 2 years
New Jersey
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams, including Herbology, plus Acupuncture Jurisprudence Safety Exam
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: None for acupuncture, separate requirements to practice herbal medicine
Fee: Application fee $100, Initial Certification fee $270, Renewal fee $270
License Duration: 2 years
New Mexico
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams, including Herbology, plus a local Clinical Skills Examination
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $525, Clinical Skills Examination fee $500, Renewal fee $225
License Duration: 1 year
New York
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: Foundations and Acupuncture exams only
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $788, Renewal fee $70
License Duration: 1 year
New York State Education Department Office of the Professions
North Carolina
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 40 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $100, Licensing fee $500, Renewal fee $300
License Duration: 2 years
North Dakota
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $300 plus License Origination fee $50; Renewal fee $200
License Duration: 2 years
Ohio
Note: Must also submit criminal record checks (FBI and Ohio BCI)
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $103.50, Renewal fee $100
License Duration: 2 years
Oklahoma
Note: There is currently no law in Oklahoma which prohibits, regulates, or allows for licensure for acupuncture. There is a nonprofit organization which provides certification to those with NCCAOM certification, but no state licensing. Per their website, however, there has been much turmoil in their leadership in recent years, and their last meeting was in 2021.
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Annual certification fee $50
License Duration: 1 year
Oregon
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams. At board’s discretion, an interview and/or exam may be required.
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application Processing fee $245, Criminal Background Check $48, License Registration fee $322, Renewal fee $326
License Duration: 2 years
Pennsylvania
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM Foundations, Acupuncture, and Herbology exams, but not Biomedicine
Continuing Education Requirements: “2 hours of Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting requirements must be completed for renewal or reactivation of a license.”
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $120, Renewal fee $180
License Duration: 2 years
Rhode Island
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 40 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $310, Renewal fee $312.50
License Duration: 1 year
South Carolina
Note: There is currently no licensing board for acupuncture in South Dakota. Chiropractors may practice acupuncture with 100 hours of training.
Training: None
Exam: None
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: NA
License Duration: NA
Tennessee
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $760, Renewal fee $310
License Duration: 2 years
Texas
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams, including Herbology; Texas Jurisprudence (JP) exam
Continuing Education Requirements: 34 hours every 2 years, including a state-approved human trafficking prevention course
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $320, Registration fee $171.25–$671 (after license approved, prorated per time of license approval). Renewal Registration fee $667
License Duration: 2 years
Utah
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every two years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $110, Renewal fee $63
License Duration: 2 years
Vermont
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams, including Herbology
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $100, Renewal fee $240
License Duration: 2 years
Virginia
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 20 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: Must maintain NCCAOM certification
Fee: Application fee $130, Renewal fee $108
License Duration: 2 years
Washington
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 20 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $109, Renewal fee $205
License Duration: 1 year
West Virginia
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM Foundations and Acupuncture exams only
Continuing Education Requirements: 48 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $75, License fee $425, Renewal fee $425
License Duration: 2 years
Wisconsin
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM Foundations and Acupuncture exams only
Continuing Education Requirements: None
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $55, Renewal Fee $55
License Duration: 2 years
Wyoming
Training: A master’s degree from an ACAOM-accredited school
Exam: NCCAOM certification exams
Continuing Education Requirements: 30 hours every 2 years
Certification Requirements: None
Fee: Application fee $200, License fee $900, Renewal fee $450
License Duration: 1 year
Canada
Currently, only certain Canadian provinces regulate acupuncture: British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and New Foundland and Labrador. In order to practice in these provinces as a Registered Acupuncturist, or R.Ac. (similar to an L.Ac. in the USA), one must pass the Pan-Canadian Written and Clinical Case-Study Examinations, which are administered by the Canadian Alliance of Regulatory Bodies of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists (CARB-TCMPA).
Prerequisites to attempt the above examinations vary from province to province, but generally include a minimum of academic and clinical hours that are similar to the requirements to take NCCAOM board exams. Once the exams have been completed successfully, one may apply to a given province’s provincial regulatory college for registration and licensure.
For ongoing licensure, there are annual fees, as well as requirements every two years of 50 hours of continuing education, as well as a minimum of 200 patient appointments. Below are requirements for international applicants for registration (with fees in Canadian dollars/CAD):
Alberta
College and Association of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAAA)
Application fee $300, Annual Practice Permit fee $1200
Earn 15 Continuing Competence Program credits annually
Pass the Alberta Acupuncture Registration Examinations (AARE)
British Columbia
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia (CTCMA)
Pass a Jurisprudence Exam
Application fee $50, Annual Registration fee $850
Ontario
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO)
Complete the Safety Program and Jurisprudence Course
Application fee $250, Initial Registration fee $1300, Annual Registration fee $1300
Quebec
Order of Acupuncturists Quebec/Ordre des acupuncteurs du Québec (OAQ)
Demonstrate competency in French language
Complete functional competency assessments, which includes an interview
Application fee $574.87, Functional Competency Interview fee $600
Additional training may be required, such as re: ethics or deontology
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Registration is more particularly governed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals
Complete these online courses: Custodian-Direct Contact with Personal Health Information and Direct Contact with Personal Health Information and Jurisprudence Education for your Health Profession
International applicants are directed to contact the NLCHP here for more information
United Kingdom
While there is no overall, national regulation of acupuncture in the UK, all practitioners are required to be licensed with their respective local council, which will require a fee (which are known to vary from £17 to £300). Interestingly, this is in part due to acupuncturists being considered under an umbrella with other practices that pierce the skin, such as tattooing or piercing for earrings and similar. There is a fee of £1000 for practicing acupuncture without a license. This may vary in Greater London, where a more extensive license may be required. It is recommended that acupuncturists join professional organizations, such as the British Acupuncture Council.
European Union
Licensing and regulation of acupuncture varies widely across the European Union. Only two countries, Malta and Switzerland, regulate the profession of acupuncture on a national level. In certain other countries–Spain, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, and Latvia–only medical doctors may practice acupuncture. Many other countries, while having no national statutory regulation for acupuncture, rely on national associations for such (as in the UK). Finally, several countries have no specific regulation for acupuncture at all: The Netherlands, Ireland, Israel, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, and Montenegro.
Australia
International acupuncturists wishing to practice in Australia must register with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia. While those wishing to become acupuncturists who are local to Australia must complete a four-year bachelor’s degree in acupuncture, those coming from abroad must meet CMBA-approved threshold requirements (already being licensed in the USA would go much further in that regard). Fees vary depending on the location(s) one wishes to practice in.
Mexico
While there are Mexican schools that offer a Bachelor’s Degree in Acupuncture, as well as a Higher University Technician in Acupuncture degree, there is no overall licensing or registration requirement to practice acupuncture in Mexico. That said, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Health Risks (COFEPRIS) does have some requirements that must be followed for operating a clinic or practice.