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How to become a licensed acupuncturist in Louisiana. NCCAOM certification required. Herbal medicine included in license. Credential: L.Ac.. Total fees: $1400. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Acupuncturist
Governing Authority
Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners - Acupuncture
Official website →(504) 568-6820
Yes
License Required
Yes
NCCAOM Required
Yes
Herbs Included
Yes
CNT Required
15 hrs
CE Hours
$1400
Total Initial Fees
Education & Program Requirements
VerifiedDegree Required
Graduation from ACAOM-accredited program (36 months minimum training)
ACAOM Accreditation
Required
Program Hours
1,905 hours
Clinical Hours
660 hours
Prerequisite Education
Minimum 60 semester credits of undergraduate education
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
VerifiedRequired
NCCAOM
Required
Clean Needle (CNT)
Not Required
State Exam
NCCAOM Exam Modules
Retake Policy
Per NCCAOM retake policies
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
Louisiana allows PT dry needling with additional training requirements
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 | $200 |
NCCAOM Fee Paid directly to NCCAOM for examination modules | $800 |
License Fee | $250 |
Renewal Fee | $250 |
CNT Fee Clean Needle Technique course fee | $150 |
Total Initial Fees Includes application, NCCAOM, CNT, and license fees | $1400 |
Renewal & CE/PDA Requirements
Verified1 year
Renewal Period
15 hrs
CE/PDA Hours Required
CE Topics
Renewal Fee
$250
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
NCCAOM certification is required and accepted for licensure
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.
Louisiana requires 36 months of acupuncture training and licenses through the Board of Medical Examiners with annual renewal.
Louisiana licenses acupuncturists through the Board of Medical Examiners.
NCCAOM certification is required.
Requires 36 months of training.
Annual renewal with 15 CE hours.
Chinese herbal medicine is included in scope.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Louisiana.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Cost
#39 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
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: Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners - Acupuncture — Licensing Requirements
4–8 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners - Acupuncture — Licensing Requirements
Study guides and practice tests for the NCCAOM certification exam.
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Louisiana requires license for acupuncturists. NCCAOM certification is required. Herbal medicine is included in the license scope. All licensing is managed through the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners - Acupuncture.
Requirements vary by state. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.