The California Acupuncture Board (Board) is a regulatory body under the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA). The Board’s legal mandate is to regulate the practice of Asian medicine through acupuncture in California and is the sole issuer of acupuncture licenses in the state. The Board establishes and maintains entry standards of qualification and conduct within the acupuncture profession, primarily through its authority to license. The Board regulates 12,185 active licensed acupuncturists. The Board’s highest priority is protection of the public when exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. The Board may investigate the criminal conviction history of applicants and licensees, subsequent arrests, allegations of unprofessional conduct, and unsafe or incompetent practice by licensees. Additionally, the Board may discipline licensees who may jeopardize the health, safety, and welfare of consumers.
History of the Acupuncture Board
The Board of Medical Examiners (now called the Medical Board of California) began regulating acupuncture in 1972 under provisions that authorized the practice of acupuncture under the supervision of a licensed physician as part of acupuncture research in medical schools. In 1975, Senate Bill 86 (Chapter 267, Statutes of 1975) created the Acupuncture Advisory Committee under the Board of Medical Examiners and allowed the practice of acupuncture, but only upon a prior diagnosis or referral by a licensed physician, chiropractor, or dentist. In 1976, California became the eighth state to license acupuncturists. Subsequent legislation in 1978 established acupuncture as a “primary health care profession” by eliminating the requirement for prior diagnosis or referral by a licensed physician, chiropractor, or dentist. In 1980, the law was amended to abolish the Acupuncture Advisory Committee and replace it with the Acupuncture Examining Committee within the Division of Allied Health Professions with limited autonomous authority.
Mission:
To protect the people of California by upholding acupuncture practice standards through the oversight and enforcement of the Acupuncture Licensure Act.
Vision:
The exemplary practice of acupuncture for the health and safety of the people of California.
Values:
- Consumer Protection
- Collaboration
- Excellence
- Integrity
- Professionalism
Visit the Acupuncture Board’s Website at: https://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/.
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