Editor’s Note: This is part 5 of a six-part series summarizing “The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the United States,” a multi-author paper. To read parts 1-4, click here.
Where We Are Today
Those of us practicing Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (AHM) stand within one of the most complex educational and regulatory ecosystems in modern healthcare. The number of entry points into “acupuncture” has multiplied: physical therapists performing dry needling, chiropractors adding acupuncture certificates, physicians incorporating medical acupuncture, and nurse practitioners seeking integrative credentials. Each group arrives at the needle through a different educational route, governed by distinct accrediting bodies and clinical standards.
Meanwhile, the accreditation landscape itself continues to evolve. The shift from ACAOM to ACAHM and from NCCAOM to NCBAHM reflects a broader recognition that “acupuncture” cannot be separated from its medical system of origin – Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine. This linguistic and institutional evolution is progress. It signals that our field is defining itself not merely by a technique, but by a cohesive and evidence-informed body of medicine.
Still, as Appendix 2 of The State of 21st Century Acupuncture in the United States demonstrates, there remains a striking gap between the depth of training for licensed acupuncturists and the abbreviated instruction received by other professionals performing acupuncture techniques. The difference is not only in hours; it’s in philosophy, diagnostic reasoning and patient safety. The solution lies not in turf protection, but in educational excellence and professional unity.
Why Education Matters for the Future
Education shapes how the world sees us. It is the foundation of legitimacy – what allows us to hold space within hospitals, research institutions and payer systems. It’s what differentiates AHM as a comprehensive medical discipline rather than a procedural adjunct.
When we speak the language of biomedical science and remain fluent in the classical foundations of our medicine, we become indispensable to interdisciplinary care. We understand mechanisms, outcomes and cost-effectiveness in ways that translate to modern policy discussions.
Moreover, as healthcare shifts toward integrative, team-based models, acupuncturists must move beyond defining themselves by needle technique alone. We must assert our role as diagnosticians, educators, and system thinkers who use acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle approaches in a unified clinical framework.
And crucially, we should welcome the fact that other practitioners are learning to use needles. Their participation in the broader acupuncture ecosystem expands public awareness and accessibility. Our job is not to gatekeep – it is to lead. By positioning ourselves as the experts in acupuncture, rather than the only ones who may perform it, we elevate both the art and science of our field.
What Does This Mean for Curricula and Certification?
Appendix 2 of the paper outlines the distinctions among training programs for acupuncturists and other healthcare providers who perform needling techniques. These differences must inform the way we design future curricula. Our programs should continue to emphasize:
Deep Clinical Reasoning in AHM: Students should graduate able to integrate classical pattern diagnosis with biomedical assessment, using herbs, nutrition and acupuncture together as one medical system – not as isolated modalities.
Supervised, High-Volume Clinical Practice: Extensive patient contact under supervision is still the best predictor of competence. Curricula should prioritize longitudinal patient care, diverse case exposure, and outcome tracking.
Interprofessional Practice Readiness: Graduates must learn how to communicate effectively with physicians, nurses and administrators. They need comfort using medical records, quality metrics, and research data to advocate for patient inclusion and reimbursement.
Commitment to National Board Certification: Every practitioner – regardless of prior training background – should pursue and maintain board certification through the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM). Board certification benefits both the individual and the profession:
When all practitioners performing acupuncture meet a common, recognized certification standard, we advance safety, quality and legitimacy for everyone. Encouraging NCBAHM certification is not exclusionary – it is foundational to collective success.
Embracing Collaboration, Not Competition
The time has come to shift from defending turf to defining expertise. We can and should welcome other professionals who incorporate acupuncture techniques within their scope of practice. Their engagement helps normalize acupuncture within mainstream medicine and introduces millions of patients to its benefits.
Our role is to remain the experts – the cardiologists of acupuncture, if you will. A primary care physician may manage simple hypertension, but turns to a cardiologist when the condition grows complex. In the same way, a physical therapist or physician may use acupuncture for localized pain relief, but when patients present with multi-system chronic illness, hormonal dysregulation or emotional-somatic interplay, they need a full-scope acupuncturist.
This mindset fosters collaboration, not competition. It invites referrals, builds interdisciplinary respect, and opens the door for shared clinical models whereby acupuncturists teach, supervise, and consult. The public benefits, and so does our professional stature.
Looking Ahead - With Education Driving Access
Education is the currency of access. It determines which practitioners are trusted in hospital credentialing, which programs qualify for federal loan forgiveness, which providers are recognized by insurers, and which voices shape policy. As the healthcare system expands coverage for nonpharmacologic therapies, acupuncturists must be ready to step into those spaces – competently, confidently and collectively.
Appendix 2 reminds us that training depth correlates with safety and outcomes. By maintaining rigorous educational standards, aligning curricula with ACAHM accreditation and promoting NCBAHM board certification, we demonstrate that our medicine meets the highest benchmarks of modern healthcare.
In a recent discussion with Thomas Kouo, DAOM, LAc, Dipl. OM, president of CCAHM, he stated, “We are at a crossroads. As new opportunities emerge for our graduates such as hospital-based practice and work within the VA, educational programs must adapt to prepare them effectively for these environments. Externship opportunities are on the rise.”
The post-pandemic period has also transformed the academic landscape, introducing hybrid models that combine virtual and in-person learning. There is now a growing expectation for programs to maintain this flexibility. As the healthcare system continues moving toward a whole health paradigm, acupuncture education must evolve accordingly.
Additionally, with our profession now recognized within the Bureau of Labor Statistics, programs may need to align with CMS standards and best practices, whether graduates practice within insurance networks or operate cash-based clinics. To address these challenges, the AHM Coalition – which includes CCAHM, NCBAHM, ACAHM, ASA, and AHVC (Acupuncture and Herbal Vendors Coalition) – is currently exploring cost-sharing models aimed at improving educational quality while reducing the financial burden on students.
The future of acupuncture in America depends on unity through excellence. Let’s invest in education that prepares practitioners for the integrative world we’re entering, not the siloed one we’re leaving behind. Let’s embrace certification as a symbol of professionalism, not bureaucracy. And let’s position ourselves as the trusted experts guiding patients and colleagues alike through the expanding possibilities of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine.
When the next generation of clinicians asks who leads this field, the answer should be clear: board-certified acupuncturists trained in the full scope of AHM; clinically grounded, scientifically literate and ready to collaborate.
Resources
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