In accordance with Regulations 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and 34 CFR 668.43 (c), CSTCM is required to disclose which states that CSTCM’s degree programs meet state requirements for professional licensure or certification. Specific information about licensure requirements in the 50 US States is available from the CSTCM Registrar. Please email the Registrar at registrar@cstcm.edu to request licensure information for a specific state or contact that state’s licensing board to request information. Regulations for the practice of acupuncture/Chinese medicine differ from state to state.
The CSTCM curricula for all programs (MAc, MAcCHM, DAc, DAcCHM) meet Colorado’s educational requirements for licensure provided the applicant has passed the NCCAOM Dipl.Ac. exams (Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture and Biomedicine), the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM) CNT course and exam, and the PEPLS exam and submits an application to the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Acupuncture Division (303-894- 2440). DORA requires the NCCAOM to send DORA proof of the student passing all the above exams.
Please note that each state establishes their acupuncture licensing laws and there are several variables that affect eligibility for each state. Also note, that laws, rules, and regulations change frequently. Because the laws change frequently, CSTCM requests that interested parties seeking information about CSTCM’s degree programs and a specific states’ educational requirements for licensure contact the CSTCM Registrar. The CSTCM Registrar maintains a detailed list of each states licensing requirements and periodically updates the list with any changes reported by state licensing boards.
The most common variables in state licensing laws are:
- State’s may require 60 undergraduate credits, 90 undergraduate credits or a Baccalaureate degree. In addition, some states require specific course work be covered in undergraduate training or as part of the graduate program. Most accredited Master’s degree programs accept students with a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits. A minimum of 90 credits is required for admissions into the DAc and DAcCHM programs. Some states require atypical course work such as courses in the state practice act, HIV education, or medical errors courses to qualify. Contact the CSTCM Registrar for current information on undergraduate credit requirements.
- Several states require accredited Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) training to be eligible for licensure. Graduates of programs that are acupuncture only, such as MAc and DAc programs would not be eligible for licensure in states that require CHM training. Contact the CSTCM Registrar for information on states requiring CHM training.
- Some states administer their own licensing board exams that take precedence over the NCCAOM exams. At this time 46 states use the NCCAOM exams as the benchmark for license eligibility requirement, including Colorado. California uses its own licensing exam. Nevada and New Mexico use a combination of their own exams with the NCCAOM exams for eligibility purposes.
- Some states have clinical training hours that exceed the ACAHM minimum required hours or the CSTCM clinical hours for Master’s degree programs. Please contact the CSTCM Registrar regarding state requirements for clinical training hours.
- Some states have atypical requirements. For information Contact the CSTCM Registrar.
Completion of any of the CSTCM programs does not guarantee licensure in any state. Most states require passage of some or all of the NCCAOM exam modules and the CCAHM Clean Needle Technique exam for licensure. In California you must take a program approved by the California Acupuncture Board and pass the California Acupuncture Board exam to qualify for licensure. California requires Chinese Herbal Medicine, Acupuncture and Bioscience training to be qualified for the CAB Exam. CSTCM has not applied for California Acupuncture Board approval. CSTCM MAcCHM/DAcCHM graduates should check with the California Acupuncture Board for regarding any additional course work requirements to be eligible for licensure in California.
Below is a list of those states that CSTCM programs meet licensure requirements. Please note that legislation changes can take place and completing the program does not guarantee state licensure eligibility alone. Many states require a state-specific exam in Jurisprudence or other areas of state-specific laws in addition to the NCCAOM exam modules. Always check state licensure requirements prior to applying for an acupuncture license.
| Program | Meets State Requirements | Additional Training Required |
| MAc | AK, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MD, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, DC | DC, IL, MA, OH, NJ, VT and PA allow for acupuncture only licensure. AZ requires more clinical hours than the CSTCM MAc.
Herbal training Required: AR, DE, HI, FL, KS, NM, NV, TX, VT, CA |
| MAcCHM | AK, AZ, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MD, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, DC
Herbal training Required: AR, DE, HI, FL, KS, NM, NV, TX, VT, CA |
California requires passage of the California Exam Florida only accepts masters-level degrees in TCM for licensure as of 2021. FL also requires training in injection therapies prior to licensure. |
| DAc | AK, AZ, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MD, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV, WY, Washington DC
Herbal training Optional: DC, IL, MA, OH, NJ, PA, VT |
DC, IL, MA, OH, NJ, VT and PA allow for acupuncture only licensure
Herbal training Required: AR, DE, HI, FL, KS, NM, NV, TX, VT, CA |
| DAcCHM | AK, AZ, CO, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MD, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, DC
Herbal training Required: AR, DE, HI, FL, KS, NM, NV, TX, VT, CA |
California requires passage of the California exam. |
| No Acupuncture licensure | AL, OK, SD |
For more state law licensing information please use these links to visit Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine organizations websites:
Legal Information about Acupuncture by State – Acufinder.com
National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM): 904-598-1005
Use this link to access the NCCAOM State Licensure Interactive Map
Acupuncture Association of Colorado 303-572-8744 Acupuncture Association of Colorado – Home (acucol.com)
American Society of Acupuncturists Acupuncture Legislation – American Society of Acupuncturists (asacu.org)
CSTCM supports student and practitioner involvement in state and national professional organizations.