Licensing Standards and Safety
LicensingPractitioners of Acupuncture in California undergo four years of graduate level training, including academic study and clinical rotations. They are required to pass the stringent California State licensing exam and maintain continuing education requirements. The training program for acupuncturists in California is extensive. The 3000 hour program integrates both Eastern and Western sciences and philosophies to ensure the graduate is fully prepared to practice a traditional and very effective form of healing in harmony with modern medical sciences. The program’s extensive training includes Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Asian Medical Theory, Western hard sciences (anatomy, physiology biology, chemistry, etc.) as well as an extensive clinical internship.
For more information about acupuncture in California, please visit
www.acupuncture.ca.gov
Safety
Acupuncture is generally a very safe and effective form of therapy. Adverse reactions are usually rare and minimal. The most common are pain, numbness, bruising or bleeding at the location of needle insertion.In order to be licensed, acupuncturists must complete a certification course in clinical asepsis, or clean needle technique. It is California law that only sterile, single use needles be used.