Do acupuncture practitioners play a role in the accreditation process?
As a specialized accrediting body for the field of acupuncture and Oriental medicine, ACAOM considers the practitioner community as one its key “communities of interest.” The accreditation process is, in fact, dependent upon the active involvement of practitioners. ACAOM policies require that one-third of Commissioner seats — three of nine — be filled by practitioners, and that accreditation site visit teams include at least one practitioner member. Practitioners also provide important insights into the evolving needs of professional practice and are intimately involved in discussions concerning changes in educational requirements to meet those needs. For example, representatives from professional organizations participated in the doctoral task force that developed the new doctoral educational standards. ACAOM’s public comment and hearing process provide another opportunity for practitioners to provide input in ACAOM’s standards development process. Finally, as part of its periodic r
