How to Verify an Acupuncturist License

Quick answer

Verify the state license directly with the state acupuncture board or health professions licensing agency in the state where the acupuncturist practices. For national certification, verify with NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) at nccaom.org. Confirm Active status, license type, expiration date, and any disciplinary history.

License designations by state

Acupuncture license designations vary significantly by state. Common designations include:

Designation	Meaning	Common States
L.Ac. / LAc	Licensed Acupuncturist	California, Massachusetts, many others
Dipl.Ac. / Dipl.OM	NCCAOM Diplomat credential (Acupuncture or Oriental Medicine)	National; accepted in many states
CA	Certified Acupuncturist	Some states use this designation
DOM / OMD	Doctor of Oriental Medicine / Oriental Medical Doctor	New Mexico, some other states
AP	Acupuncture Physician	Florida

Confirm the exact license designation in the state where the acupuncturist will practice, as practice scope tied to each designation varies by state.

State acupuncture board lookup portals

State acupuncture license lookups (selected)

California: California Acupuncture Board — acupuncture.ca.gov; License Search (largest acupuncture licensee population in the U.S.)
New York: NYS Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov/verification; search Acupuncture
Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Acupuncture Physician (AP)
Texas: Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners — tsbae.texas.gov; License Verification
Illinois: Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov/LicenseLookup; search Acupuncturist
New Jersey: NJ Division of Consumer Affairs — njconsumeraffairs.gov; Acupuncture License Lookup
Massachusetts: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine (Acupuncture is regulated under the Board) — mass.gov; License Verification
Washington: Washington DOH — doh.wa.gov; License Lookup for East Asian Medicine Practitioner (EAMP)
New Mexico: New Mexico Medical Board — nmmb.state.nm.us; Doctor of Oriental Medicine (DOM) Verification

For states not listed, search “[State] acupuncture license verification” or “[State] acupuncture board” to find the relevant portal.

NCCAOM national certification

The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is the national standard-setting body for acupuncture and Oriental medicine in the U.S. NCCAOM credentials are accepted in most states as the basis for state licensure.

NCCAOM certifications include:

Dipl.Ac. (Diplomat of Acupuncture): National certification in acupuncture; the most common NCCAOM credential
Dipl.C.H. (Diplomat of Chinese Herbology): National certification in Chinese herbal medicine
Dipl.OM (Diplomat of Oriental Medicine): Combined acupuncture and Chinese herbology certification; the most comprehensive NCCAOM credential
Dipl.A.B.T. (Diplomat of Asian Bodywork Therapy): For practitioners of Asian bodywork including Tui Na and Shiatsu

Verify NCCAOM credentials at: nccaom.org → Practitioner Finder or Verify a Credential (search by name or practitioner ID). NCCAOM certification status and expiration are publicly verifiable.

The CALE exam (California)

California does not use the NCCAOM exams as its licensing pathway. Instead, California administers its own California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE). A practitioner licensed in California may hold an LAc designation without holding NCCAOM certification.

Conversely, a practitioner with NCCAOM certification alone is not automatically licensed in California. If hiring for a California practice location, verify the California Acupuncture Board license specifically — NCCAOM certification does not substitute for a California state license.

Continuing education and license renewal

Acupuncture licenses generally require continuing education for renewal:

NCCAOM: 60 Professional Development Activity (PDA) points every four years for certification renewal
California (CALE): 50 continuing education hours every two years for license renewal; specific requirements for clean needle technique and safety
Most other states: Typically 30–50 CE hours per renewal cycle depending on the state

Disciplinary records and scope of practice

State acupuncture board disciplinary records are public. Common violations include:

Practicing beyond authorized scope (e.g., performing procedures not included in acupuncture practice acts)
Failure to use clean needle technique as required by state regulations
Practicing on a lapsed or expired license
Sexual misconduct with patients
Fraudulent billing or insurance violations
Practicing without a license

Verification checklist

1. Collect the acupuncturist's name, license number, and state of licensure
2. Search the state acupuncture board portal — confirm Active status, license type, and expiration date
3. Review the full disciplinary record on the state board record
4. For national certification: verify NCCAOM status at nccaom.org — confirm Dipl.Ac., Dipl.OM, or other credential is active
5. For California positions: verify California Acupuncture Board license specifically — NCCAOM is not a substitute
6. Confirm authorized scope of practice matches the role requirements for the state where the acupuncturist will practice
7. Set renewal reminder — acupuncture licenses typically renew every 1–2 years; NCCAOM certification renews every 4 years

Verify acupuncture program accreditation

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine programs must be accredited by ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Use VerifyED to confirm that a candidate's program was properly accredited before accepting their educational credentials.

Search Schools and Accreditation →