How are practitioners trained and licensed in New York State?
Currently in New York State, Licensed Acupuncturists are required to undertake a course of study involving 4,050 hours of classroom instruction, supervised clinical experience, and out of classroom or out of clinic study assignments. This must be done at an institution with a program registered and approved by the New York State Board of Regents, and accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Board of Regents. To obtain a license, New York State acupuncturists must successfully complete an examination of the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. The individual may then receive a License to Practice Acupuncture in the State Of New York. He or she will be designated L.Ac. You can determine if a person is currently licensed by checking the NYS Department of Education Online License Verifications, at www.op.nysed.gov/ Practitioners who follow their names with the abbreviation L.Ac. have been awarded licenses by their state. Those who use
