How Are Acupuncturists Educated?
Licensed acupuncturists complete extensive medical training before they are allowed to practice. In the United States, the pathway typically includes the following:
Graduate-Level Medical Education
Acupuncturists complete a 3–4 year Master’s or Doctorate program in Acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medicine. These programs include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Neuroanatomy and pain physiology
- Western medical pathology
- Orthopedic assessment
- Clean Needle Technique
- Acupuncture theory and clinical methods
- Herbal medicine (varies by program)
Most programs include 2,000–3,000 hours of combined classroom and clinical training.
Supervised Clinical Internships
Students complete hundreds of hours of supervised clinical practice where they learn:
- Diagnosis and treatment planning
- Safe and precise needle insertion
- Electro-acupuncture
- Manual therapy techniques
- Corrective exercise instruction (program-dependent)
National Board Examinations
Most states require passing the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) board exams in:
- Acupuncture
- Biomedicine
- Foundations of Oriental Medicine
- Herbal medicine (if applicable)
State Licensure
After passing national board exams, practitioners apply for a state license and must complete ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure and stay up-to-date with modern clinical research and safety standards.
Training at Big Easy Acupuncture
Glenn Braud, L.Ac., has advanced training in:
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Sports Medicine Acupuncture
- EXSTORE orthopedic assessment
- Electro-acupuncture
- Manual therapy
- Anatomy-based needling for pain, mobility, and strength issues
