California Acupuncture Board committee hears calls to raise entry requirements, standardize science prerequisites

At a meeting of the California Acupuncture Board licensing committee, members and public commenters debated raising minimum educational prerequisites for entry into acupuncture training programs and whether science coursework should be standardized before students start professional programs.

Committee members and public speakers said the discussion matters for patient safety, professional credibility and graduates’ ability to work in integrated medical settings. No formal rule was adopted; the committee said it will continue discussions and ask the profession and schools to develop shared recommendations.

Supporters of higher prerequisites described wide variation across programs and said higher college-level prerequisites make it easier to teach clinical science and…