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How to become a licensed acupuncturist in California. State licensing exam required. Herbal medicine included in license. Credential: L.Ac.. Total fees: $625. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Acupuncturist
Yes
License Required
No
NCCAOM Required
Yes
Herbs Included
Yes
CNT Required
50 hrs
CE Hours
$625
Total Initial Fees
Education & Program Requirements
VerifiedDegree Required
Master's degree or equivalent from California Acupuncture Board-approved school
ACAOM Accreditation
Required
Program Hours
3,000 hours
Clinical Hours
950 hours
Prerequisite Education
Minimum 60 semester credits of undergraduate education at the baccalaureate level
Acupuncture education typically requires a Master's degree or higher from an ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine) accredited program. Programs range from 1,905 to 2,625+ hours depending on whether herbal medicine is included. Clinical training is a significant component of all programs.
Examination Details
VerifiedNot Required
NCCAOM
Required
Clean Needle (CNT)
Required
State Exam
State Exam Details
California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE) — state-specific exam required instead of NCCAOM
Retake Policy
Candidates may retake CALE; must reapply and pay exam fee each time
The NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) administers certification exams in multiple modules including Acupuncture with Point Location, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Biomedicine, and Chinese Herbology. Most states accept NCCAOM certification, though California uses its own California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE) instead.
Permitted Modalities & Techniques
VerifiedPermitted
Acupuncture Needling
Permitted
Moxibustion
Permitted
Cupping
Permitted
Gua Sha
Permitted
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Permitted
Electroacupuncture
Permitted
Auricular Acupuncture
Not Permitted
Injection Therapy
Dry Needling Scope Conflict
California acupuncturists strongly oppose PT dry needling; acupuncturists view needling as within their exclusive scope under Business and Professions Code
Restricted Activities
Acupuncturist scope of practice varies widely by state. Some states include herbal medicine, injection therapy, and a broad range of traditional Chinese medicine modalities. Others have narrower scopes limited to needling. The dry needling turf battle between acupuncturists and physical therapists continues in many states.
Herbal Medicine Scope
VerifiedIncluded
In License
Not Required
Separate Cert
N/A
Training Hours
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. Programs that include herbal medicine typically require additional training hours (often 450–660 additional hours) beyond the base acupuncture curriculum.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Application Fee | $150 |
License Fee | $325 |
Renewal Fee | $500 |
CNT Fee Clean Needle Technique course fee | $150 |
Total Initial Fees Includes application, CNT, and license fees (no NCCAOM fee) | $625 |
Renewal & CE/PDA Requirements
Verified2 years
Renewal Period
50 hrs
CE/PDA Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$500
Regulatory Board
Acupuncturist licenses typically renew biennially. NCCAOM requires 60 PDA (Professional Development Activity) points per 4-year recertification cycle. State CE requirements vary and may include mandatory topics such as safety, ethics, clean needle technique review, and pharmacology/drug interactions.
Out-of-State Reciprocity
VerifiedAccepts Out-of-State Credentials
Endorsement Available
Yes
NCCAOM Portability
California does NOT accept NCCAOM certification; must pass CALE exam
Requirements
NCCAOM certification provides strong national portability for acupuncturists. Most states that license acupuncturists accept NCCAOM certification as meeting exam requirements. California is a notable exception, requiring its own CALE exam. Some states may require additional documentation, supervised practice hours, or state-specific jurisprudence exams for out-of-state applicants.
California is the only state that does not accept NCCAOM certification, instead requiring the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE). It also requires the most training hours (3,000) and highest CE (50 hours) of any state, and has a $500 biennial renewal fee.
California has a dedicated Acupuncture Board.
California does NOT accept NCCAOM; it requires the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE).
California requires significantly more training hours (3,000) than most states.
Chinese herbal medicine is included in the license scope.
50 CE hours per biennium is among the highest in the nation.
At least 50% of CE must be live (in-person or live webinar).
Renewal fee is $500 per biennium plus $50 wall license fee.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in California.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#16 of 51
Cost
#1 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Acupuncturists (SOC 29-1291)
Entry Level
$56,570
25th percentile
Median
$77,640
-1% vs. national avg ($78,140)Experienced
$120,760
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
2,330 employed in this state
Note: BLS data for acupuncturists may have limited state coverage. Many acupuncturists are self-employed, and their total income may differ from reported wages.
Source: BLS OEWS – Acupuncturists (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
+6.8%
Average GrowthNew Jobs
+1,000
over 10 years
Annual Openings
900
per year (avg.)
15,300 currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Estimated total: 186–210 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: California Acupuncture Board — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: California Acupuncture Board — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and practice tests for the NCCAOM certification exam.
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California requires license for acupuncturists. Herbal medicine is included in the license scope. All licensing is managed through the California Acupuncture Board.
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.