Effective July 1, 1999, it became unlawful for any person to practice acupuncture in Idaho without being licensed or certified pursuant to Idaho Law.   No person may in any way advertise or indicate to the public that they may practice acupuncture in any form, or that they have been licensed or certified to practice acupuncture, unless they possess a current license or certification that is in good standing. 

A person may obtain either a license, a certification, or a technician certificate by submitting a completed application and the required fees to the Board.  

LICENSURE

Each application for licensure must document, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant has met the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of either:

• the requirements to be a candidate for certification by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM); or 

• graduation from an approved formal full-time acupuncture program of at least 1725 hours of entry level education; 

and

2. Successful completion of an acupuncture internship, or other equivalent experience, and

3. Received a passing grade on an NCCAOM acupuncture examination or other equivalent demonstration of proficiency, and

4. Successful completion of a Clean Needle Techniques course and examination, incorporating Blood Borne Pathogen curriculum and OSHA procedures. For more information about this course contact the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM).

CERTIFICATION

Each application for certification must document, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant has met the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of either:

2. Received a passing grade on a Board approved examination that measures minimum competency, or other equivalent demonstration of proficiency; and

3. Successful completion of a Clean Needle Techniques course and examination, incorporating Blood Borne Pathogen curriculum and OSHA procedures. For more information about this course contact the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM).

TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE

Generally, the conditions set forth in Idaho Code 54-4708 regarding the course of study requirements through the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture (IAMA) or other comparable requirements, and the successful completion of a Clean Needle Technique Course, and the Proficiency Examination are the minimum requirements for applying for the Technician Certificate.  Each application for a technician certificate must document, to the satisfaction of the Board, that the applicant has met the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of:

2. Received a passing grade on a Board approved examination that measures minimum competency, or other equivalent demonstration of proficiency; and

3. Successful completion of a Clean Needle Techniques course and examination, incorporating Blood Borne Pathogen curriculum and OSHA procedures. For more information about this course contact the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM).

In addition, it is important to note that this Technician Certificate is limited in its scope of practice since it is primarily for four (4) classes of applicants:

 1.         For the convenience of a supervising medical practitioner or other licensed/certified acupuncturists where such supervising individual is permitting the technician to remove needles or assist, via supervision in the application of moxibustion; 

2.         For an individual conducting case studies under the IAMA program, or similar courses of study;

3.         For NADA Technicians limited to needle insertion to five points of the ears only as consistent with their demonstrated training;

4.         Except for NADA Technicians, and individuals who are completing their case studies, the Technician Certificate generally is restricted and prohibits needle insertion, prohibits independent diagnosis, and generally requires working under direct supervision. 

ENDORSEMENT

Licensure only is also available through endorsement.  The board may waive the above requirements and grant a license to any applicant who presents proof of holding a current license to practice of acupuncture in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory of the United States, if the standards for said licensure are considered by the board to be equivalent to the requirements for licensure in Idaho.  

All applicants must complete and submit an application with the required documentation and appropriate fees to be considered for licensure.

You may download the application for Acupuncture License, Certification, & Technician or request an application by contacting:

Idaho Board of Acupuncture
Bureau of Occupational Licenses
1109 Main St., Suite 220
Boise, ID 83702-5642

Please provide your name, address, and daytime phone number with your request.

Last Modified - October 25, 2007