Acupuncture

Regulations of the Commissioner

Part 52.16 Acupuncture

§52.16

Programs needed for a certificate to practice acupuncture as set forth in subparagraph (b)(1)(i) of section 60.9 of this Title or for a license to practice acupuncture as set forth in Subpart 79-2 of this Title may be registered only upon compliance with the requirements set forth in this section. No program may be offered in New York State unless duly registered or approved pursuant to this Part.

Programs may be offered within New York State only by an institution which is either chartered by the Board of Regents or otherwise approved to offer professional training pursuant to section 6506(3) of the Education Law.

1. Certificate Programs. In addition to meeting all applicable provisions of this Part, a certificate program to be registered shall meet the following requirements:
   
   
   1. Admissions. Admission shall be limited to licensed physicians and dentists eligible for authorization to practice acupuncture as provided in section 60.9(b)(1)(i) of this Title.
      
      
   2. Instruction. A program shall provide:
      
      
      1. at least 100 hours of instruction and clinical demonstrations in general and basic aspects of acupuncture;
         
         
      2. at least 100 hours of sequential specialized instruction in specific uses and techniques of acupuncture; and
         
         
      3. at least 100 hours of supervised experience acceptable to the department and under the supervision of a licensed physician or dentist certified in acupuncture.
         
         
   3. Records. Programs shall maintain adequate individual student records, including all evidence of prior experience submitted by applicants and of the performance of students in both the academic and clinical portions of the program.
      
      
2. Licensure Programs. In addition to meeting all applicable provisions of this Part, a licensure program to be registered shall meet the following requirements:
   
   
   1. Admissions. Admission shall be limited to persons who have successfully completed at least 60 semester hours of study, including at least nine semester hours in the biosciences, creditable as part of one or more college or university programs which are:
      
      
      1. registered by the department pursuant to this Part; or
         
         
      2. offered by a college or university accredited by at least one accrediting agency accepted by the department as a reliable authority for the purpose of accreditation at the postsecondary level, which applies its criteria for granting accreditation in a fair, consistent, and nondiscriminatory manner, such as an agency recognized for these purposes by the United States Department of Education; or
         
         
      3. determined by the department to be the equivalent of a program approved pursuant to subparagraphs (i) or (ii) of this paragraph.
         
         
   2. Curriculum. A program shall provide a minimum of 4,050 hours, of at least 50 minutes each in length, of classroom instruction, supervised clinical experience, and out of classroom or out of clinic study assignments. For each hour of classroom instruction there shall be two hours of out of classroom study assignments. For each hour of supervised clinical experience there shall be one-half hour of clinic study assignments. To be registered a program must provide:
      
      
      1. at least 200 classroom instructional hours in the biosciences including anatomy, physiology and pathology; and
         
         
      2. at least 600 classroom instructional hours in acupuncture including acupuncture principles; acupuncture channel and point theory; acupuncture physiology; acupuncture pathology; acupuncture clinical examination and diagnosis; acupuncture techniques; acupuncture treatment principles; and sterilization and precautions; and
         
         
      3. at least 650 hours of supervised clinical acupuncture experience in general health problems to include acupuncture diagnosis; therapeutic treatment planning; acupuncture needling technique; moxibustion; electroacupuncture; pre- and post- treatment instruction; contraindications and precautions; treatment of emergencies; when to refer to appropriate health professionals; and acupuncture hygiene.
         
         
3. Educational programs for the training of persons to practice acupuncture for the treatment of alcoholism, substance dependence, or chemical dependency in hospital or clinical programs approved by the Division of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, the Division of Substance Abuse Services or the Department of Health as provided in section 8216(4) of the Education Law, may be approved upon meeting the following conditions:
   
   
   1. Sponsorship. An acceptable program for training in the use of acupuncture for detoxification may be offered by a hospital or a medical or dental school satisfactory to the department and shall have adequate equipment and resources.
      
      
   2. Instruction. Such programs shall include didactic and clinical instruction in the use of acupuncture for detoxification purposes.
      
      
   3. Faculty. Such programs shall provide a sufficient number of qualified instructors and a director with satisfactory professional training for both the clinical and the didactic portions of the program.
      
      
   4. Records. Such programs shall maintain adequate individual student records, including evidence of the performance of students in both the didactic and clinical portions of the program.