Professional Licensure Disclosures

Federal regulations 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) and 34 CFR 668.43 (c) require educational institutions which grant degrees leading to professional licensure or certification to disclose specific information regarding state licensure requirements. For each program leading to licensure, institutions must determine whether or not that program meets the licensure requirements of each state. Institutions are also obligated to notify prospective and enrolled students if the degree program in which they are enrolled, or for which they are applying, does not meet the state licensing requirements of the student’s state of residence.

In most states, a Master’s degree in acupuncture/Oriental medicine is the entry-level degree required for licensure. The American Academy of Health and Wellness offers two degree programs which are designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for licensure as an acupuncturist: a Master of Acupuncture (MAc) program and a Master of Acupuncture with Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MACHMS) program. Specific licensure requirements vary from state to state, but most state licensing agencies require applicants to pass two or more of the four national board exams administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), and many states also require passage of the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (CCAHM) Clean Needle Technique (CNT) exam. NCCAOM board exams validate entry-level competency in the practice of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. AAHW’s MAc program prepares its graduates to sit for the NCCAOM board examinations in Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture with Point Location, and Biomedicine. AAHW’s MACHMS program additionally prepares graduates to sit for the NCCAOM Chinese Herbology exam. Both programs require a 15-hour OSHA/CNT course, which prepares students to take the CCAHM CNT exam. While AAHW’s programs qualify graduates to take the NCCAOM and CCAHM exams, AAHW does not guarantee passage of exams, licensure, certification to practice, or employment upon completion of its programs.

The American Academy of Health and Wellness also offers a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) degree, which is not designed to meet educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment. The DAOM program is designed to provide advanced training in traditional Chinese medicine theory and practice. A Master’s degree is a requirement for enrollment in the DAOM program. Therefore, DAOM students have already met eligibility for state licensure and national certification based on prior master’s level education, and do not receive direct disclosures about licensing requirements in different states when they matriculate or change location during their enrollment.

In the table below, AAHW has done its best to provide up-to-date information on state licensure requirements in regard to its Master’s degree programs. However, prospective students should additionally check their state’s licensure requirements and contact the appropriate licensing agency to seek information and guidance before beginning any professional-degree program. Program graduates should be aware that legislation changes can take place, and take the precaution of checking state licensing requirements prior to applying for a license, especially if considering relocation to another state post-graduation. In addition, states can have a number of licensure requirements that are not related to the educational content of a program, such as background checks or fingerprinting, years of experience, age, English proficiency, professional examinations, etc.

Below is a list of states in which AAHW’s Master’s degree programs do and do not meet licensure requirements. Please note that Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Dakota do not have licensing requirements.

For more information regarding state acupuncture licensing laws and conditions, please use these links to visit the following websites:

https://www.nccaom.org/state-licensure/

https://www.acufinder.com/Acupuncture+Laws

State Licensure Notes:

Alabama, Oklahoma, and South Dakota do not have an acupuncture practice act. In states without a licensing act, one cannot obtain a license but may still be able to practice, depending on state requirements.

Arizona and Vermontrequire 800 hours of supervised clinical practice. The MAc program requires 780 hours of clinical practice. A MAc graduate who documented an additional 20 hours of clinic practice would thereby meet the 800-hour requirement of Arizona and Vermont.

California requires graduation from a school approved by the California Acupuncture Board, and passage of the California Acupuncture Board exam to qualify for licensure. Students must be trained in Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and biomedicine to qualify for the CAB exam, and have completed at least 950 hours of supervised clinical instruction. Graduates of non-qualifying programs have become licensed in California after completing additional coursework.

Florida requires 60 hours of education in injection therapy. Requires 20 hours’ education in FL laws and rules.

Maine requires special certification to formulate and dispense custom-made Chinese herbal formulas. Requires undergraduate qualification of Baccalaureate degree, R.N. license, or Physician’s Assistant qualification.

Michigan mandates that practice of acupuncture by non-physicians requires physician delegation and supervision.

Minnesota: The Minnesota Board of Medical Practice is the licensing agency for practicing acupuncture in Minnesota, and requires NCCAOM certification for licensure. Address: 335 Randolph Ave. Suite 140, St. Paul, MN 55102. Website: https://mn.gov/boards/medical-practice/

Mississippi requires that licensed acupuncturists can only treat patients with a written referral or prescription from a physician, and treatments must be performed under the general supervision of the referring physician.

New Hampshire requires undergraduate qualification of Baccalaureate degree, R.N. license, or Physician’s Assistant qualification.

New York requires 4,050 hours of training, which exceeds AAHW’s MAc and MACHMS programs, but states that completion of an ACAHM-accredited program may be accepted as meeting NY professional education requirements.

Policy on Determination of Student Location
Institutions must determine each student’s location (i.e. State) at the time of the student’s initial enrollment and upon receipt of information from the student regarding a change in the student’s location. Institutions must have a process for determining student location at the time of the student’s initial enrollment, and a process for tracking student location and change of address during the student’s continuing enrollment. The institution’s location-determination and tracking process and policy must be applied consistently to all students.

In regard to AAHW’s policy/procedure, “initial enrollment” refers to the date the student begins classes, as opposed to submission of an application form by a prospective student, or receipt by a prospective student of an official acceptance letter from AAHW. A student’s “current address” is defined as the address given on the student’s most recent Registration form, or the address given by a student in a change-of-address notification. Under AAHW’s Student Records policy, students are required to keep AAHW informed of their current address and phone number.

Location is Determined by the Registration Form: Prior to the beginning of each term, enrolled Master’s degree students submit a Registration form to the school Registrar. Students are asked to provide their name, street address, phone number, and email address on their Registration form. When processing a student’s Registration form, it is the Registrar’s responsibility to note the student’s State location, and the program the student is enrolled in, and to determine if the student’s program meets the educational requirements for licensure of the State the student is located in. If the Registrar determines that the student’s program curriculum does not meet the licensure requirements of the student’s stated location, the Registrar will notify the student within 14 days of said determination. The Registrar will notify the student directly, via mail or email, and will ask the student to verify that they have received the notification. The Registrar will also communicate any location/licensure issues to other administrative personnel, including the Academic Dean, Financial Aid Administrator, and Campus Director. Upon request by the Secretary of Education, AAHW will provide the Secretary with written documentation of its determination of a student’s location, including the basis of such determination.

On its website, AAHW publishes the federally-required Professional Licensure Disclosures, including a list of the states for which AAHW has determined that its program curricula meet the state’s educational requirements for licensure, and the states for which AAHW has determined that its program curricula do not meet the state’s educational requirements for licensure. It is this information the Registrar refers to when determining whether it is necessary to notify a student of state licensure issues.

Notification of Prospective Students: AAHW’s application form does not include its professional licensure disclosures, but does require prospective students to give their address/location information. It is the responsibility of the Admissions Officer to note the applicant’s stated location and the program the applicant is applying for, and to inform the applicant of any state licensure issues based on location. While AAHW’s legal obligation is to notify enrolled students, it is AAHW’s policy to inform prospective students as well as enrolled students of any licensure issues based on state location and/or change of address.