Professional Licensure Disclosures
New England School of AcupunctureAcupuncture is licensed state by state, and each state sets its own education, examination, and application requirements. The table below shows, for every state and the District of Columbia, whether each New England School of Acupuncture (NESA) program meets that state's educational requirements for licensure as an acupuncturist. It also lists any additional requirements the state places on applicants and links to the state licensing board.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia have an acupuncture practice act. Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Dakota do not. In Oklahoma and South Dakota acupuncture is unregulated and may be practiced without a state license; in Alabama the Board of Medical Examiners treats acupuncture by anyone other than a physician or certified chiropractor as the practice of medicine. Most states also require passing the national examinations of the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM), and many require active NCBAHM certification. State requirements change, so we strongly encourage every prospective and current student to contact the licensing board in the state where they intend to practice before enrolling and again before applying for a license. These disclosures are made in accordance with federal regulations (34 CFR 668.43) and the standards of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
State requirements and board links verified September 2026. Page last updated September 2026.
Requirements Beyond the Program Curriculum
In several states a NESA program meets the educational requirements, but the state also asks for something the program itself does not provide. Plan for these early.
- Bachelor's degree. The District of Columbia, Nevada, and New Jersey require a bachelor's degree in addition to acupuncture education. Maine and New Hampshire require a bachelor's degree, a registered nurse credential, or physician assistant training.
- State-specific courses and examinations. Florida requires a 60-hour acupuncture injection therapy course, 15 hours of universal precautions, and 20 hours of Florida laws and rules. New Jersey requires its Acupuncture Safety and Jurisprudence Examination, Texas a jurisprudence examination, New Mexico a clinical skills examination, Nevada a state practical examination, and Oregon an open book Medical Practice Act examination. Michigan requires human trafficking and implicit bias training, Illinois a course in abnormal skin growth education, Pennsylvania child abuse recognition training, and Louisiana a laws and rules course before first renewal.
- National and state examinations. Most states require some or all NCBAHM examinations, and many require active NCBAHM certification; the requirement for each state appears in the table below. California requires its own licensing examination (CALE).
NESA Programs that Meet Professional Licensure Requirements
The following contains the states where New England School of Acupuncture programs meet or do not meet educational requirements for professional licensure. The indication below is for informational purposes only and is not an official listing of state licensure requirements. Students with questions may contact the Office of the Provost.
| Meets Licensure Requirements | Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements |
| AK, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, ND, NV, NM, TX |
| Meets Licensure Requirements | Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements |
| AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC. ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | AL |
| Meets Licensure Requirements | Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements |
| AK, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | AL, AR, AZ, CA, FL, NV, NM, TX |
| Meets Licensure Requirements | Does Not Meet Licensure Requirements |
| AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC. ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY | AL, CA |
Licensure Requirements by State
Alabama
NCBAHM Requirement: None (no acupuncture practice act)
Additional Requirements and Notes: No acupuncture practice act and no acupuncture license. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners considers acupuncture by anyone other than a licensed physician, or a chiropractor certified in acupuncture, to be the unlicensed practice of medicine.
Licensing Board: Alabama Board of Medical Examiners
Alaska
NCBAHM Requirement: Qualified for the NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Arizona
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM certification, or pass Point Location, Foundations, Biomedicine, and Acupuncture modules
Additional Requirements and Notes: Board approved Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners
Arkansas
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM examinations in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine (or the Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine examination series)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Arkansas State Board of Acupuncture and Related Techniques
California
NCBAHM Requirement: Not used; California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE) required
Additional Requirements and Notes: Graduation from a California Acupuncture Board approved program (NESA's Master of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is CAB approved; the Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is not).
Licensing Board: California Acupuncture Board
Colorado
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM examinations (CALE also accepted)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Colorado Office of Acupuncture Licensure
Connecticut
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass all NCBAHM examinations required for acupuncture certification
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Connecticut Department of Public Health
Delaware
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture for the Acupuncture Practitioner license; NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (formerly Oriental Medicine) for the Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Practitioner license
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course or examination. Delaware issues two licenses: graduates of the Master and Doctor of Acupuncture qualify for the Acupuncture Practitioner license, and graduates of the herbal programs may qualify for either. An Acupuncture Practitioner may later upgrade by earning the Diplomate of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
Licensing Board: Delaware Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, Acupuncture Advisory Council
District of Columbia
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass the NCBAHM examination (or the District's practical examination)
Additional Requirements and Notes: Bachelor's degree required: the acupuncture program must be at the post-baccalaureate level.
Licensing Board: DC Board of Acupuncture, Chiropractor and Naturopathic Physicians
Florida
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM Foundations, Acupuncture, Point Location, Biomedicine, and Chinese Herbology modules
Additional Requirements and Notes: 60-hour acupuncture injection therapy course, 15 hours of universal precautions, and 20 hours of Florida laws and rules.
Licensing Board: Florida Board of Acupuncture
Georgia
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM certification in acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Georgia Composite Medical Board
Hawaii
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass the NCBAHM acupuncture examination modules (the board's equivalent of the former Comprehensive Written Examination)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Hawaii Board of Acupuncture
Idaho
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM certification, or a 1,725-hour program with internship
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Idaho Board of Acupuncture (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)
Illinois
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture or Diplomate of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (formerly Oriental Medicine)
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course. Course in abnormal skin growth education.
Licensing Board: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Indiana
NCBAHM Requirement: Current active NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, Acupuncture (Professional Licensing Agency)
Iowa
NCBAHM Requirement: Current active NCBAHM Diplomate status
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: Iowa Board of Medicine
Kansas
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique certificate.
Licensing Board: Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
Kentucky
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass the NCBAHM acupuncture examination
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure
Louisiana
NCBAHM Requirement: Active NCBAHM status, including passage of Biomedicine
Additional Requirements and Notes: Louisiana laws and rules course before first renewal.
Licensing Board: Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
Maine
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM certification (or board approved examination)
Additional Requirements and Notes: Bachelor's degree, RN license, or physician associate training.
Licensing Board: Maine Board of Complementary Health Care Providers
Maryland
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine (required for licenses issued on or after June 1, 2026)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Maryland Board of Acupuncture
Massachusetts
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM examinations
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine, Committee on Acupuncture
Michigan
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture or Diplomate of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (formerly Oriental Medicine)
Additional Requirements and Notes: Human trafficking training and implicit bias training.
Licensing Board: Michigan Board of Acupuncture (LARA)
Minnesota
NCBAHM Requirement: Current NCBAHM certification in acupuncture or in acupuncture and herbal medicine
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
Mississippi
NCBAHM Requirement: Current NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture or Diplomate of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (formerly Oriental Medicine)
Additional Requirements and Notes: CPR certification.
Licensing Board: Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
Missouri
NCBAHM Requirement: Active NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Missouri Acupuncturist Advisory Committee
Montana
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique examination.
Licensing Board: Montana Alternative Health Care Board
Nebraska
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM acupuncture examination and Point Location examination
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Nevada
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass each examination for NCBAHM certification in Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (formerly Oriental Medicine)
Additional Requirements and Notes: Bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university, in addition to the acupuncture degree (not required of applicants licensed by endorsement after at least four years of practice in another state or country). Board approved state examination, including Nevada laws and regulations.
Licensing Board: Nevada State Board of Oriental Medicine
New Hampshire
NCBAHM Requirement: Current NCBAHM certification
Additional Requirements and Notes: Bachelor's degree, RN, or physician assistant degree. Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: New Hampshire Board of Acupuncture Licensing
New Jersey
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM examinations
Additional Requirements and Notes: Bachelor's degree. New Jersey Acupuncture Safety and Jurisprudence Examination.
Licensing Board: New Jersey Acupuncture Examining Board
New Mexico
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM certification including Chinese Herbology
Additional Requirements and Notes: State clinical skills examination and jurisprudence examination.
Licensing Board: New Mexico Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
New York
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations and Acupuncture with Point Location
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
North Carolina
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations, Acupuncture, Biomedicine, and Point Location
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board
North Dakota
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass the NCBAHM board certification examinations
Additional Requirements and Notes: The board requires a four-year full-time program of academic and clinical study plus a six-month full-time clinical internship at an approved internship site.
Licensing Board: North Dakota State Board of Integrative Health Care
Ohio
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM Diplomate of Acupuncture (acupuncturist license)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: State Medical Board of Ohio
Oklahoma
NCBAHM Requirement: None (no acupuncture practice act)
Additional Requirements and Notes: No acupuncture practice act. Acupuncture is unregulated, so graduates may practice without a state license. NCBAHM certification is still recommended for credibility, insurance, and future licensure elsewhere.
Licensing Board: No state licensing board
Oregon
NCBAHM Requirement: Current NCBAHM certification in acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: Open book examination on the Medical Practice Act.
Licensing Board: Oregon Medical Board
Pennsylvania
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM acupuncture examination or hold NCBAHM certification
Additional Requirements and Notes: 3 hours of child abuse recognition training for initial licensure.
Licensing Board: Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine
Rhode Island
NCBAHM Requirement: NCBAHM examination results
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Rhode Island Department of Health, Center for Professional Licensing [PDF]
South Carolina
NCBAHM Requirement: Active NCBAHM certification in acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: The application requires naming a supervising physician or acupuncturist.
Licensing Board: South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners (LLR)
South Dakota
NCBAHM Requirement: None (no acupuncture practice act)
Additional Requirements and Notes: No acupuncture practice act. Acupuncture is unregulated, so graduates may practice without a state license. NCBAHM certification is still recommended for credibility, insurance, and future licensure elsewhere.
Licensing Board: No state licensing board
Tennessee
NCBAHM Requirement: Current NCBAHM Diplomate status
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Tennessee Advisory Committee for Acupuncture
Texas
NCBAHM Requirement: All NCBAHM modules including Chinese Herbology
Additional Requirements and Notes: Texas jurisprudence examination.
Licensing Board: Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners (Texas Medical Board)
Utah
NCBAHM Requirement: Current active NCBAHM certification
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Utah Division of Professional Licensing
Vermont
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Vermont Office of Professional Regulation
Virginia
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM certification examination
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: Virginia Board of Medicine
Washington
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Foundations, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course.
Licensing Board: Washington State Department of Health, Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine
West Virginia
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass the NCBAHM examination, or graduate from an accredited program of at least 1,800 hours with 300 clinical hours (either route qualifies)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: West Virginia Board of Acupuncture
Wisconsin
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass the NCBAHM examination in acupuncture
Additional Requirements and Notes: Clean Needle Technique course. Wisconsin issues an acupuncturist certificate rather than a license.
Licensing Board: Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services
Wyoming
NCBAHM Requirement: Pass NCBAHM Biomedicine, Point Location, and Foundations (or CALE)
Additional Requirements and Notes: None beyond the examination requirement.
Licensing Board: Wyoming Board of Acupuncture
Questions
This page is provided to help you plan and does not replace the official requirements published by each state. Students with questions may contact the New England School of Acupuncture. The NCBAHM state licensure directory also lists contacts for every state regulatory agency.