Practitioner Credentials FAQ

Acupuncture | Chinese Herbal Medicine | Therapeutic Massage | Community Clinic | N.A.E.T. | Qualifications

For Acupuncturists
Licensure is required in Connecticut. You can go on line to the Department of Health to check a Connecticut acupuncturist’s status.

Most states license acupuncturists. Either the Department of Health, Department of Medicine, or the State Medical Board have a list of licensed acupuncturists. In Connecticut, the Board of Health oversees licensure.

The Connecticut Society of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine’s (CSAOM) website has a “Find an Acupuncturist” page  which lists its members in good standing, all of whom are licensed.

You can also check with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). This body administers the national board examination that acupuncturists are required to take. Most states recognize this exam and require it for licensure. The NCCAOM maintains a “Find a Practitioner” page on their website to check national credentials.

In Connecticut licensed acupuncturists are not required to renew NCCAOM certification annually. Therefore, qualified acupuncturists who have current Connecticut licensure may not be listed on the NCCAOM website. However, they were required to pass the NCCAOM board exam in order to obtain their licenses.

For Chinese Herbalists
Herbal medicine is not regulated in most states. In Connecticut there are no laws concerning the practice of herbal medicine. It is very important to make sure your Chinese Herbalist is qualified. They should have passed the NCCAOM board examination in either Chinese Herbology or Oriental Medicine and/or completed a two year herbal certificate program or its equivalent at an acupuncture school.

You can also go to the NCCAOM’s website to find an herbalist who has either Chinese Herbology or Oriental Medicine certification. This means they passed the national board examination for Chinese herbs. This is not the same as having NCCAOM acupuncture certification. It is also not the same as being a “candidate” for the NCCOM exam or holding a “certificate” for herb training.

If your practitioner is not listed on the website, ask to see the certificate stating that they have passed the NCCAOM board examination. If they have not taken this exam, you can ask to see a diploma in herbal medicine from a three year Chinese Herbal program.

There are a number of Chinese herbalists in the state who have trained for many years in China and had practices there. Although they may not have taken the NCCAOM exam, these herbalists may be well educated in herbal medicine. If you are in doubt, ask to see credentials.

For Massage Therapists
Massage therapists are required to be licensed in the state of Connecticut. They must have attended an accredited massage school and have passed a Connecticut examination. You can check your massage therapist’s license on the Connecticut Department of Health’s website.