Yes, thank you for the back story. In 2004, I went to visit my aunts in Missouri for the holidays. I gave one of my aunts a treatment for an allergic reaction to her medication and she loved her treatment so much we tried to find her a local acupuncturist. Back then we checked the Yellow pages.
All we could under "acupuncture" were numerous PTs who practice dry needling. There weren't any acupuncturists that we could find in the Kansas City area, at least not in the phone book.
Fighting dry needling hasn't worked out well for us as acupuncturists. The PT profession has their problems too. A PT where I live told me that many who graduate now are overworked and under paid. Many end up becoming fitness coaches.
I know several classmates who graduated with acupuncture degrees but chose not to pursue the profession. Success in any field depends on personal commitment, dedication, and long-term effort.
Adding a new skill or modality does not automatically create success. It is not about “adding something” and expecting results to happen magically. It is about the individual’s goals, discipline, and willingness to fully invest in mastering that profession.
Acupuncture is not a technique you simply layer on top of another career—it is a complete medical system that requires years of focused study, clinical training, and continued education.
Choosing to become an acupuncturist is a personal and professional commitment. Those who truly want to practice it should be willing to follow the same path, training, and standards that licensed acupuncturists have completed.
Respect the medicine. Respect the training. Respect the profession.
I agree - it is frustrating to see what is a very high level skill get watered down to something that is taught in a few weekends. I never take for granted that I stick needles in people's body for a living and that it requires the same attention each time I do it.
Fair Is Fair: Respect the Training Behind Acupuncture
If physical therapists want to become acupuncturists, they should go through the same education, training, and licensure that we did.
Becoming an acupuncturist is not simple or quick. It took me five years of rigorous education—time away from my family, significant financial burden, and constant stress. We invest in tuition, licensing, malpractice insurance, clinic overhead, and ongoing continuing education to refine our skills.
Acupuncture is not just inserting needles. It is a complete medical system that requires deep knowledge, clinical judgment, and years of hands-on training.
Allowing physical therapists to perform dry needling without equivalent education diminishes the profession and creates an unfair imbalance. If the government expands their scope of practice, then fairness must go both ways.
Licensed acupuncturists should be granted equal recognition, expanded scope, and proper reimbursement from insurance companies.
We have done the work. We continue to invest in our education and our patients.
It is only fair that the same standards apply to everyone.
Totally - but unfortunately we are way past that and there are already more non-acupuncturists that are allowed to use acupuncture needles in the US than there are licensed acupuncturists. It’s time to move on from the anger and either adapt and incorporate dry needling training into acupuncture licensing and school or just get left behind.
Yes, thank you for the back story. In 2004, I went to visit my aunts in Missouri for the holidays. I gave one of my aunts a treatment for an allergic reaction to her medication and she loved her treatment so much we tried to find her a local acupuncturist. Back then we checked the Yellow pages.
All we could under "acupuncture" were numerous PTs who practice dry needling. There weren't any acupuncturists that we could find in the Kansas City area, at least not in the phone book.
Fighting dry needling hasn't worked out well for us as acupuncturists. The PT profession has their problems too. A PT where I live told me that many who graduate now are overworked and under paid. Many end up becoming fitness coaches.
I know several classmates who graduated with acupuncture degrees but chose not to pursue the profession. Success in any field depends on personal commitment, dedication, and long-term effort.
Adding a new skill or modality does not automatically create success. It is not about “adding something” and expecting results to happen magically. It is about the individual’s goals, discipline, and willingness to fully invest in mastering that profession.
Acupuncture is not a technique you simply layer on top of another career—it is a complete medical system that requires years of focused study, clinical training, and continued education.
Choosing to become an acupuncturist is a personal and professional commitment. Those who truly want to practice it should be willing to follow the same path, training, and standards that licensed acupuncturists have completed.
Respect the medicine. Respect the training. Respect the profession.
I agree - it is frustrating to see what is a very high level skill get watered down to something that is taught in a few weekends. I never take for granted that I stick needles in people's body for a living and that it requires the same attention each time I do it.
Thank you so much for your research and your publication.
I've been involved with legislation regarding scope of practice matters in New York State.
Educating folks is an endless task!
Thanks Ana!
Fair Is Fair: Respect the Training Behind Acupuncture
If physical therapists want to become acupuncturists, they should go through the same education, training, and licensure that we did.
Becoming an acupuncturist is not simple or quick. It took me five years of rigorous education—time away from my family, significant financial burden, and constant stress. We invest in tuition, licensing, malpractice insurance, clinic overhead, and ongoing continuing education to refine our skills.
Acupuncture is not just inserting needles. It is a complete medical system that requires deep knowledge, clinical judgment, and years of hands-on training.
Allowing physical therapists to perform dry needling without equivalent education diminishes the profession and creates an unfair imbalance. If the government expands their scope of practice, then fairness must go both ways.
Licensed acupuncturists should be granted equal recognition, expanded scope, and proper reimbursement from insurance companies.
We have done the work. We continue to invest in our education and our patients.
It is only fair that the same standards apply to everyone.
Totally - but unfortunately we are way past that and there are already more non-acupuncturists that are allowed to use acupuncture needles in the US than there are licensed acupuncturists. It’s time to move on from the anger and either adapt and incorporate dry needling training into acupuncture licensing and school or just get left behind.
Super insightful
Thanks for reading!