Many states allow physicians, chiropractors, physician’s assistants, physical therapists and dentists to practice acupuncture with only 300 hours of training. This is a relic of 1974, when little was known about acupuncture practice and education.

The 300-hour course for MD’s was designed to give medical researchers the appropriate background necessary to develop and interpret studies on acupuncture. The Medical Acupuncture certification was NOT designed to meet the educational requirements and training necessary to treat patients.

Thirty years later, minimum entry-level standards of competence for acupuncture have evolved, producing fully-trained, effective acupuncturists. Why haven’t educational standards for physicians and dentists been updated to reflect current requirements? And why would anyone want to extend the same inadequate, outdated 300-hour requirement to other health professionals?

If someone, anyone, wishes to practice acupuncture or any other form of healthcare, they should be properly trained and prove their competency before treating the public. Acupuncturists could not hope to practice podiatry or chiropractic with 300 hours of training and no standards of competency. Why would the reverse be different? *5

*5 Acupuncture Society of New York, www.asny.org

Kath Bartlett, MS, LAc
Asheville Center for Chinese Medicine
70 Woodfin Place    Suite West Wing Two
Asheville, North Carolina 28801   828.258.2777
kbartlett@AcupunctureAsheville.com
www.AcupunctureAsheville.com

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