Licensing in Florida

Licensing eligibility for acupuncture and East Asian medicine practitioners in Florida is approved by the State Board of Acupuncture. All requirements for Florida licensure are satisfied by the Academy’s Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine program, wit hthe exception of a 60 hour certification course in Acupuncture Injection Therapy. Specific details on how the program meets Florida requirements are detailed in the program description section of the catalog. The Academy does not guarantee employment. For more information on acupuncture licensure in Florida, contact the State of Florida, Department of Health, Board of Acupuncture, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin C-06, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252. Phone: (850) 488-0595.

Licensing in Other States

Most states or jurisdictions where graduates choose to practice acupuncture have their own laws, regulations, and licensing procedures. Students should be aware that acupuncture is a growing field and states are frequently revising requirements for licensing. While the Academy is not responsible for ensuring that students meet legal requirements in all states, we can assist students in clarifying individual state requirements. Disclosure of the Academy’s determination of state licensing requirements is listed in the table below.

Applicants to the Academy’s program are ultimately responsible for determining the specific licensure requirements for the state(s) in which they plan to practice. The Academy does not guarantee employment.

On November 1, 2019, the U.S. Department of Education published a final rule, which included consumer disclosure requirements for programs that prepare students for professional licensure and certification. The rule went into effect on July 1, 2020.

If an educational program is designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification that is required for employment in an occupation, Regulation 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v) requires institutions to disclose to prospective and enrolled students:

  • A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification;
  • A list of all States for which the institution has determined that its curriculum does not meet the State educational requirements for licensure or certification; and
  • A list of all States for which the institution has not made a determination that its curriculum meets the State educational requirements for licensure or certification.

The Disclosure for Programs Leading to Licensure or Certification below provides the above information regarding the Academy for Five Element Acupuncture’s programs leading to professional licensure.

For additional information on state certification requirements and contact information for the regulatory agency for acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine located in each state go to: http://www.acupuncture.com/statelaws/statelaw.htm

For the latest information concerning the national licensing exam and licensure in each state: see NCCAOM’s website at https://www.nccaom.org/state-licensure/#

Disclosure for Programs Leading to Licensure or Certification

This list makes readily available to enrolled and prospective students whether Academy programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet educational requirements, including:

  • A list of all states for which each program curriculum meets state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification;
  • A list of all states for which each program curriculum does not meet state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification; and
  • A list of all states for which the institution has not made a determination of whether each curriculum meets educational requirements.

Master of Acupuncture (M.Ac.) graduates are qualified to take all three of the NCCAOM board examinations for certification in Acupuncture: Acupuncture with Point Location, Biomedicine, Foundations of Oriental Medicine.

Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCHM) graduates are qualified to take the NCCAOM board examination for certification in Chinese Herbology: Chinese Herbology.

Master of Acupuncture (M.Ac.) and Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCHM) graduates are qualified to take all four NCCAOM board examinations for certification in Oriental Medicine: Acupuncture with Point Location, Biomedicine, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Chinese Herbology.

A shaded cell indicates the state does not have a law governing this practice.

State

Meets Educational Requirements

Does Not Meet Educational Requirements No Determination Explanation
  M.Ac. CCHM M.Ac. CCHM M.Ac. CCHM  

Alabama

X X

Alaska

X

X

Arizona

X

X

Arkansas

X

X

California

X X

Refer to California state requirements: The Acupuncture Board, 444 N. 3rd Street, Suite 260, Sacramento, CA 95814, (916) 445-3021

Colorado

X

X

Connecticut

X

X

Delaware

X

X

Florida

X X

Florida: Must take a 60 hour certification course  in Acupuncture Injection Therapy.

Georgia

X

X

Hawaii

X

X

Idaho

X

X

Illinois

X

X

Indiana

X

X

Iowa

X

X

Kansas

X

X

Kentucky

X

X

Louisiana

X

X

Maine

X

X

Maryland

X

X
Massachusetts

X

X

Michigan

X

X

Minnesota

X

X

Mississippi

X X

Missouri

X X

Montana

X X

Nebraska

X

X

Nevada

X

X

New Hampshire

X X

New Jersey

X X

New Jersey: Required to hold bachelor’s degree in addition to the acupuncture program.

New Mexico X X

New Mexico: Yes, with annual state approval.

New York X X

New York: Required to hold bachelor’s degree in addition to the acupuncture program.

North Carolina

X

X

North Dakota

X X

Ohio

X X

Oklahoma

X X

Oregon

X X

Pennsylvania

X X

Rhode Island

X X

South Carolina

X X

South Dakota

X X

Tennessee

X X

Texas

X X

Utah

X X

Vermont

X X

Virginia

X X

Washington

X X

Washington: Must have completed Microbiology and Biochemistry courses. These can be completed as electives in the acupuncture program.

Washington DC

X X

West Virginia

X X

Wisconsin

X X

Wyoming

X X