So frequently my patients have asked me what it took to become an acupuncturist, and my reply is that it was the hardest endeavor I have ever undertaken and the most fulfilling one. To get into a reputable school, you must have a baccalaureate and fulfill all science prerequisites for the Masters of Science program for Traditional Chinese Medicine. The school is a full-time load for 3-4 years and requires complete dedication. The student will have over 4,000 contact hours as a intern and memorize over 150 formulae and over 350 herbs and their properties along with learning acupuncture points, location, meridian theory, diagnosis, nutrition, and trad. Chinese medicine theory and philosophy. It is a complete and integral medicine and will stand the test for any family medicine, gynecological, gastrointestinal, neurological, and internal medicine.

Up until 1994 acupuncture was not even licensed in state of Texas and anyone could start a practice with just the rudimentary knowledge of needling. This means that a large majority of acupuncturists were grand fathered in as acupuncturists who never attended a school. Also, if you are a medical doctor or a dentist; you can practice acupuncture in this state but this usually indicates that the physician did not attend a full program in study of Chinese Medicine.

Now the requirements are very rigorous and you must have attended and graduated from an accredited school and have passed the National Acupuncture and Herbal Exams and Clean Needle Technique course to be licensed. So please ask your future acupuncturist if they actually have taken these exams and where they went to school; you will be doing yourself a great favor.