Licensing committee hears calls to update clean-needle training and strengthen enforcement

The California Acupuncture Board Licensing Committee on Wednesday considered public calls to update clean-needle technique (CNT) guidance, increase retraining requirements and improve enforcement after several commenters described clinic practices they said left patients at risk.

The discussion, held at a committee meeting in Sunnyvale, followed multiple public comments urging the board to revise the CNT manual and make practical changes such as periodic refresher training and clearer complaint channels. Chair Matecki opened the item, saying updates were timely after decades of practice integration into hospitals and other clinical settings.

Why this matters: The CNT curriculum and associated infection-control practices underpin the safety of acupuncture in clinical and hospital settings. Several commenters said the manual used by schools and course providers is outdated, and enforcement options are limited for the board.

Public commenters recommended several steps. Dr. Farshid Namin, who said he holds a doctorate in acupuncture and teaches in California, told the committee that “the materials and the references are very outdated,” and urged a California-led update involving schools and associations. Dita Garabaghi, who said she has observed clinics, said she has “seen clinics where handwashing is not done before or after patients or in between patients” and asked the board to act to protect patients.

Board staff and members explained regulatory constraints and existing law. Executive Officer Ben Bodea said the board requires CNT instruction but does not currently conduct routine site visits to school clinics: “The board does not have site visit authority anymore. That was re‑voked in 2016.” He described other enforcement avenues and encouraged filing complaints when there is evidence of unsafe practice.

Several commenters urged the board to require periodic CNT refreshers. CalAtma representative Neil Miller suggested regular renewal cycles modeled on hospital privileging: “I would think I would like to go forward and perhaps come up with, you know, you have to take a clean needle technique every 8 years, 10 years,” he said, adding that new editions introduce substantive safety content.

Legal and procedural context: Committee members and staff cited the California Code of Regulations provision the board enforces on single‑use needles (CCR 1399.454) and federal device standards (21 CFR part 880.558). Board staff reiterated that complaints with sufficient detail trigger investigations but that anonymous reports are harder to act on without corroborating evidence.

The committee and commenters also discussed educational pathways for demonstrating CNT competency. Staff noted that schools may issue completion letters attesting that a graduate received CNT instruction from the prescribed textbook (the Council of Colleges’ seventh edition was referenced by commenters as the edition used when regulations were written), and that private CNT courses are another pathway for students.

What the board said it can do now: Staff asked stakeholders to coordinate — schools, accreditors and associations — to prepare updated CNT guidance and suggested the board could consider regulatory or statutory changes if the profession coalesces behind a proposed update. Staff advised the public to submit complaints where they have specific evidence of unsafe practice so the board can investigate.

The committee did not adopt new rules at the meeting but asked staff to accept stakeholder proposals and indicated the matter will return for further consideration.

The committee closed the item after extended public comment and said it would report the discussion to the full board.