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Licensed Acupuncturist
Acupuncturist licensing typically requires a Master's degree from an ACAOM-accredited program and NCCAOM certification. Scope of practice varies widely — some states include herbal medicine, injection therapy, and a broad range of traditional Chinese medicine modalities, while others have narrower scopes. A handful of states do not license acupuncturists at all.
51
Total States
45
States Requiring License
44
States Requiring NCCAOM
26.8 hrs
Avg CE Hours
Acupuncture licensing involves completing an accredited program, passing the NCCAOM exam (in most states), and meeting state-specific requirements for scope of practice and herbal medicine.
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) administers certification exams in Acupuncture, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Biomedicine, and Chinese Herbology. Most states accept NCCAOM certification, though California uses its own CALE exam.
Herbal medicine scope varies significantly by state. Some states include Chinese herbal medicine within the standard acupuncture license, while others require a separate certification or endorsement with additional training hours. This affects credential titles (L.Ac. vs. D.O.M. vs. A.P.).
While most states license acupuncturists, approximately 6 states (AL, KS, ND, OK, SD, WY) do not. In unlicensed states, practitioners may still practice but lack state regulatory oversight. NCCAOM certification remains valuable for credibility and portability.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
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Click any state to see full requirements, costs, and step-by-step instructions →
| State | Credential | Licensed | NCCAOM | Herbs Included | CE Hours | Fees | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | — | No | N/A | N/A | — | — | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1350 | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1250 | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 | $1150 | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | L.Ac. | Yes | No | Yes | 50 | $625 | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1050 | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 | $1350 | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1244 | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1320 | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | A.P. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1055 | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1245 | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 | $1150 | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | L.Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1100 | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1190 | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | — | No | N/A | N/A | — | — | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | L.Ac. (appears on KBML Advisory Committee member listings) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 | $1350 | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 | $1400 | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1450 | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Lic.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1550 | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1212 | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1250 | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 | $1150 | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1175 | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 16 | $1250 | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | D.O.M. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1750 | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1170 | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1250 | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | D.O.M. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 15 | $1550 | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 36 | $1738 | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1325 | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | — | No | N/A | N/A | — | — | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1350 | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | — | No | N/A | N/A | — | — | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1456 | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 28 | $1015 | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1240 | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | — | No | N/A | N/A | — | — | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 34 | $1320 | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1145 | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | L.Ac. (Licensed Acupuncturist) | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1175 | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1210 | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | EAMP | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 | $1398 | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 24 | $1200 | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | L.Ac. | Yes | Yes | Yes | 30 | $1106 | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | — | No | N/A | N/A | — | — | March 2026 |
Acupuncturists often work alongside other licensed healthcare and wellness professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.