In accordance with Article 160 of the Education Law the practice of Acupuncture is restricted to licensed or certified professionals unless otherwise authorized by law or specifically exempt from licensure requirements. Individuals who are not licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by law or exempt from licensure requirements may not provide Acupuncture services. People who are employed to assist Acupuncturists in such activities as cleaning equipment, preparing a room for therapy, or performing secretarial duties should not be referred to as Acupuncturist Assistants or Aides, as these terms may be misleading to the public.
Delegation to unlicensed persons: Certain support functions such as monitoring telecommunication devices, reading and transferring report information, education and technical writing, for example, may be delegated to unlicensed persons. Acupuncturists must be certain that such support activities do not require a professional license. Activities such as moxibustion, cupping, or any contact with acupuncture needles related to insertion or removal would fall under the practice of a licensed or certified Acupuncturist. Activities such as massage also cannot be delegated to unlicensed persons as Massage Therapy is a licensed profession in New York State. Read more information on the Massage Therapy profession. The delegation of professional tasks to unlicensed personnel may be considered aiding and abetting the unlawful practice of the profession and may be defined as unprofessional conduct.