Licensing Requirements

RCW 18.06.020 Practice without license unlawful.

1. No one may hold themselves out to the public as an acupuncturist or licensed acupuncturist or any derivative there of which is intended to or is likely to lead the public to believe such a person is an acupuncturist or licensed acupuncturist unless licensed as provided for in this chapter.
2. A person may not practice Acupuncture if the person is not licensed under this chapter.
3. No one may use any configuration of letters after their name (including Ac.) which indicates a degree of formal training in Acupuncture unless licensed as provided for in this chapter.

Licensing Requirements:

1. Minimum of two academic years training in:
   Basic Sciences - 45 credits or 450 hours
   Acupuncture Sciences - 75 credits or 750 hours
2. Clinical Training:
   500 hours of supervised clinical training. Up to 100 hours of that 500 hours must consist of observation which includes case presentation and discussion.
3. Completed Background Information Form
4. Verification of NCCAOM Examination:
   Written Exam
   Point Location
   Clean Needle Technique Course
5. Verification from Educational Testing Services (ETS) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if NCCAOM exam was not taken in English. (Minimum raw score of 550 is required.)
6. Current Certification in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) (Copy of the card or certificate.)
7. Seven hours of AIDs training
8. Verification of licensure from any other state(s), country, jurisdiction

Licensure by Endorsement:

Applicant must meet the same requirements as are listed above, plus: A copy of the appropriate state law from the year the individual was licensed.

Address Change

It is the responsibility of each practitioner to maintain his or her current address on file with the Department. Requests for an address change may be made either by telephone or in writing. The mailing address on file with the department will be used for the mailing of all official matters to the practitioners.

License Renew

Your Acupuncture license will expire each year on your birthday. Any renewal fees post marked or presented to the Department after midnight on the expiration date is late. There is no grace period.

Prior to the expiration date of your license, courtesy renewal notices are mailed to the address on file. Failure to receive a courtesy renewal notice does not relieve or exempt the license renewal requirement.

Every licensed acupuncturist shall develop a written plan for consultation, emergency transfer, and referral to other health care practitioners operating within the scope of their authorized practices. The written plan shall be submitted with the initial application for licensure as well as annually thereafter with the license renewal fee to the department. The department may withhold licensure or renewal of licensure if the plan fails to meet the standards contained in rules adopted by the secretary.