Acupuncture in America
Acupuncture and the law
In less than 25 years, Oriental medicine in America has evolved from an esoteric art form, secretly practiced in the back rooms of Asian merchants, to a form of medicine licensed and regulated in most of our 50 states. Today, Oriental medicine is practiced in hospitals and clinics nationwide, and covered by government and private health insurance providers throughout the United States. Health insurance companies are becoming more aware of the cost effectiveness of acupuncture and Oriental medicine as a form of health care and several now offer coverage for such treatments. This wave of acceptance has only begun to grow in our country. On the global level, acupuncture and Oriental medicine is practiced on every continent.
Acupuncture and the Law
LICENSURE IN TEXAS: Applicants for licensure must be of good moral character, must be at least 21 years of age, must be a graduate of a school in candidate status or accredited by ACAOM, and must pass the acupuncture, herbal, point location, and clean needle technique sections of the NCCAOM examination, and the clean needle technique course and examination of the CCAOM.
The AOMA's Master of Science in Oriental Medicine Program exceeds the Texas requirements for licensure and complies with the laws of most other states as well. (Exceptions to this include several states which require additional courses in Western science and those that require a baccalaureate degree prior to admission.)
Since licensing requirements vary from state to state, we recommend that applicants check the laws of the state where they intend to practice before enrolling in a program of Oriental medicine.
AOMA's program is updated when necessary, in order to maintain the highest of standards and remain in compliance with the laws of as many states as possible. Our program is tailor-made to keep pace with ever-changing regulations and professional trends in the field. Although our program is rigorous and lengthy,the final result is an education and a degree that one can be proud of, and which allows the graduate to practice in many parts of the United States. And graduates who wish to practice outside of Texas will find they are well prepared to apply for licensure in many states.
National Certification
The National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) was organized in 1984 to establish nationally recognized standards of excellence in the practice of acupuncture. An NCCAOM certificate denotes that the recipient has achieved the knowledge and skills necessary to practice safe and effective acupuncture treatment. Texas and most other states include the NCCAOM examination as part of their licensing requirements. Additional examinations and certification in herbology and in Asian bodywork are also available through the NCCAOM, and Texas requires the herbal examination as part of the acupuncture licensing process.
Career Opportunities
The field of Oriental medicine is growing steadily in the United States and many are working to educate the public on the health benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Increasingly, health insurance companies are becoming aware of the cost benefits possible, as well as the medical advantages of this branch of health care.
With a population of more than 20 million, Texas is the second largest and second most populous state in the Union. Since the acupuncture law in our state is relatively recent, there are only 500 licensed acupuncturists in Texas. This gives the AOMA graduate who wants to practice here in Texas a large territory and potential patient base from which to draw.
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