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Board hears calls for clearer scope language, consumer warnings on dry needling and updates to practice terms
Summary
Commenters asked the board to update wording in the acupuncture practice scope—replacing the generic phrase “exercise” with “therapeutic exercise”—and to make explicit that needling techniques (including dry needling and trigger‑point needling) are within the board’s acupuncture jurisdiction.
Members of the public and professional associations urged the California Acupuncture Board Licensing Committee to clarify practice language and push public outreach about unlicensed dry needling during a licensing committee meeting.
Lede
Commenters asked the board to update wording in the acupuncture practice scope—replacing the generic phrase “exercise” with “therapeutic exercise”—and to make explicit that needling techniques (including dry needling and trigger‑point needling) are within the board’s acupuncture jurisdiction. They also urged the board to warn consumers that non‑acupuncturists who practice needling may be working outside their legal scope.
Why it matters
Speakers said inconsistent terminology and emerging labels ("dry needling," "trigger point needling," "acute dry needle") cause confusion for patients and providers and may enable unlicensed or undertrained practitioners to provide invasive procedures. Ryan McCarthy, representing the California Acupuncture Coalition, told the committee the coalition “recommends replacing the term exercise with the term therapeutic exercise … to ensure greater cohesion with the insurance code.” He also urged the board to issue a consumer advisory on unlicensed dry needling and to include dry needling in public informational materials so patients can verify their practitioner's acupuncture licensure.
Safety and scope arguments
Several commenters pressed the board to state explicitly that needling performed to restore function or reduce pain is acupuncture. Lynn Yang (AACMA) told the committee that “a trigger point to acupuncture or dry needling is acupuncture,” and urged the board to “clarify the practice scope” by listing dry needling among techniques encompassed by acupuncture rather than leaving room for alternative labels. Veterans and patients who testified described clinical benefit from university clinics; one veteran, Jerry Bernadette, said free university treatments improved his pain and mobility after VA referrals.
Board staff and legal context
Board members reminded the public that the statutory definition of acupuncture in the Business and Professions Code describes “stimulation … by insertion of needles” and that scope changes intersect with statute. Staff and legal counsel said the board can publish consumer advisories and educational materials and urged formal, coordinated proposals if stakeholders want statutory language changes.
Next steps
The committee did not adopt new scope language at the meeting. Speakers recommended the board: publish a consumer advisory on unlicensed dry needling; update public brochures to include dry needling and therapeutic exercise; and work with associations, athletic programs and universities to raise awareness about licensure requirements. Staff said such outreach is within the board’s existing communications tools and can be pursued while any statutory changes are developed by proponents.
Ending
The committee left the matter open for follow‑up and urged associations and educational programs to coordinate proposed language changes and consumer education materials for the board to consider in future meetings.
