Will California Use the NCCAOM Exam as Its Standard?
Acupuncture Today Staff
| DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE
The California state legislature has introduced legislation that would replace the existing requirement that prospective acupuncturists pass "a written examination administered by the [California Acupuncture Board] that tests the applicant's ability, competency, and knowledge in the practice of an acupuncturist ... developed by the Office of Professional Examination Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs" with a national examination administered by the National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
If the legislation is ultimately approved, applicants for a California acupuncture license would be able to achieve both licensure and NCCAOM certification by achieving a passing score on one or more of the NCCAOM exams, as determined by the board "based on the skills, standards, and knowledge required for licensure pursuant to the [Acupuncture Licensure Act]."
Introduced on Feb. 17, 2021 by California Assembly member Sharon Quirk-Silva (D- 65th District) and with the full support of the California State Oriental Medicine Association (CSOMA), AB 918 amends Section 4938 of the Business and Professions Code relating to healing arts. If passed, it would "ensure a nationally recognized standard for the delivery of acupuncture medicine throughout the state," according to CSOMA, while allowing applicants for licensure "to take one exam, save resources and secure enhanced portability of their licensure across the nation for greater employment opportunities."
Click here to track the progress of AB 918 through the California Assembly and state legislature. For more information, click here to access the CSOMA AB 918 Education Packet, which includes a fact sheet and full text of the bill.
Whether you accept it, avoid it or live somewhere in between, insurance coverage has become a defining issue for our profession. Patients increasingly expect to use their benefits, practitioners want to be compensated fairly for their time and expertise, and the system itself remains – at best – fragmented. The encouraging news is that coverage has expanded in meaningful ways. The challenging news is that reimbursement, across the board, remains inadequate.
While the formation of erythema and ecchymosis is an anticipated skin response to cupping therapy, the appearance of post-treatment vesicles remains less discussed in clinical literature. This article presents a case study of vesicle formation following cupping therapy, explores underlying pathophysiology, and offers management guidelines to support practitioners in addressing this phenomenon safely and effectively.
Facial movements are essential for communication, expression and function. But when these movements become involuntary, they can lead to conditions that are not only physically uncomfortable, but also socially and emotionally distressing. Today, we’re taking a closer look at three common facial motor disorders – blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm and facial tics – and how both Western medicine and TCM view and treat them.
