Choosing A Practitioner

Licensing: Licensed practitioners of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine use the initials A.P. after their names, and fall under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Health. In order to be a “Licensed Acupuncturist” in Florida, a practitioner must pass national exams, be board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and must complete a minimum of 1800 hours of study in an institution of Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine.

While other professionals may use Acupuncture in their practices, they may not be “Licensed Acupuncturists.” This means they may have taken as little as 50 hours of training in the use of Acupuncture and may have little or no knowledge of Oriental Medicine, the theory of medicine under which Acupuncture was developed.

NCCAOM Certification: NCCAOM certification may be obtained for Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac.), Chinese herbology (Dipl. C.H.) or Oriental body therapies (Dipl. O.B.T.). Such certification indicates that a practitioner has passed board exams and met the standards set by this national regulatory organization of Oriental Medicine.

Other Important Considerations

• Education. Education among practitioners varies. Hours invested in formal education may range from 1800-4200 hours and credentials may include diplomas, masters and/or doctoral degrees. The field of Oriental Medicine is growing and standards are on the rise. Currently there are very few schools offering doctoral degrees. However, this may change in the very near future.

• Experience. It is wise to consider how long an Acupuncturist has been in practice and what experience he/she may have in treating particular types of disorders.

• Comfort. Ease and trust are important aspects of patient/practitioner relationships and often determine the success of treatment. Many people feel most comfortable getting a referral to a practitioner from someone they know.

• Geography. As the profession grows it is easier to choose a practitioner that is geographically convenient to home or work. Since treatment is often required weekly or biweekly, convenience of location can be very important.
  
  

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