The California state legislature has introduced legislation that would amend 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" by instead taking 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 could achieve both licensure and NCCAOM certification via 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), A.B. 918 would amend Section 4938 of the California Business and Professions Code relating to healing arts. If the legislation is ultimately signed into law, it would "ensure a nationally recognized standard for the delivery of acupuncture medicine throughout the state," according to CSOMA, while giving applicants for licensure the option "to take one exam, save resources and secure enhanced portability of their licensure across the nation for greater employment opportunities."
While the original bill text as introduced stipulated that the NCCAOM exam(s) would replace the California Acupuncture Licensing Exam (CALE), as of press time a potential amendment was under consideration that would give applicants the option of taking either CALE or the NCCAOM exam(s).(View the current bill text using the link at the top right of this page to see if this and/or other amendments to the original legislation have been adopted)
To access CSOMA's complete Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and a variety of other resources regarding A.B. 918, visit https://csomaonline.org/ab918-education-packet/.
Editor's Note: Due to the inevitable delay between the date we went to press with the May issue and the date it was available in digital format, additional developments regarding A.B. 918 may have occurred. If this was the case, you should have been informed with a breaking news email linking to information in the April digital issue. Track the bill's progress at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/.
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