NCCAOM Permanent Reinstatement Route Now Available

The process of removing restrictions for NCCAOM certification and recertification started back in August 2019, when incoming CEO Mina Larson called for the creation of a Reinstatement Taskforce. The task force was charged with developing a reinstatement route to NCCAOM certification for former diplomates that embodies best practices while maintaining National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards.

The Time-Limited Temporary Solution

In an effort to continue to offer an opportunity to former diplomates to return to active status, the NCCAOM has created a temporary reinstatement route as more employers, hospitals and third-party payors now require NCCAOM certification.

The time-limited reinstatement route was implemented on Dec. 10, 2019. This time-limited route allows former diplomates to return to active status by demonstrating a free and clear state acupuncture license and providing a proof of required number of continuing-education credits earned since their NCCAOM certification expiration date.

Other general requirements for reinstatement, such as a CNT review course and background screening, are outlined in the step-by-step process on our website at www.reinstatement-step-by-step. Instructions on how to submit an online application for reinstatement are available here. All steps of the reinstatement process can be completed online from the convenience of the applicant's home.

The time-limited temporary reinstatement route closed on June 30, 2022. Applications in process as of June 30, 2022, will be finalized if all requirements have been met. Any applicant who had not submitted all requirements as of June 30, 2022, will not be able to complete the reinstatement process.

The New Permanent Reinstatement Route

Effective July 5, 2022, the new permanent reinstatement route is available for all former diplomates in terminated status. Applicants for reinstatement via the permanent route will have to complete the following:

1. Satisfy continuing-education requirements calculated based on each certification expiration date. All PDA/CEU coursework must be completed in the core category (AOM, ABT, BIO). This document will help in understanding the core categories. Applicants will report each course by providing all course information and uploading the certificate of completion.
2. Submit an online application for reinstatement. Application fees are due at the time the application is submitted to NCCAOM and calculated based on each certification expiration date. Safety, ethics and CPR courses, copy of active acupuncture license, and proof of a free and clear license must be uploaded during the application submission process.
3. Complete background screening via the NCCAOM's third-party vendor.
4. Complete CNT Review: Acupuncture Safety course and provide a verification of it to the NCCAOM.
5. Pass reinstatement safety evaluation assessment consisting of 50 various format questions. Applicants who fail the safety evaluation will have to take an additional five PDA points per each failed domain area and report it to their account for staff review and approval.
6. All applicants terminated eight years or longer will have to pass a Reinstatement Final Assessment associated with certification held [Acupuncture Final Assessment (50 questions), Chinese Herbology Final Assessment (50 questions) or Oriental Medicine Final Assessment (75 questions)]. Final assessment is a mandatory requirement for all applicants terminated eight years or more, in addition to the reinstatement safety evaluation. Applicants who fail the final assessment will have to complete an additional five PDA points in each failed domain area, report it to their account for staff review and approval, and retake the final assessment.
7. Once all requirements for reinstatement have been met including the safety evaluation (and final assessment for those terminated eight or more years), certification is finalized for active status.

The new permanent reinstatement route is much more rigorous than the recertification process; therefore, all active diplomates are encouraged to keep their NCCAOM certification active by recertifying every four years.