Licensing staff reports miscalculation of license counts, outlines rollout of online tools and wall‑license enforcement steps

California Acupuncture Board licensing staff reported a recent miscalculation in its published counts of active and renewable licenses and presented quarterly licensing statistics and planned technology improvements to board members during the March 7 meeting.

Licensing manager Jay (given as "g Hurdett" in the transcript) told the board staff and DCA information-services teams discovered the error while working on new reporting tools and clarified that the licensing system previously displayed multiple primary statuses, which led to the miscount. Staff said they are working to clarify and publish corrected counts and to deliver improved tools that will show separate totals for active and renewable licenses going forward.

During the quarter-two report staff provided counts and operational data the board asked to be published: an “active” license count given in the presentation as 10,122; an inactive count of 1,451 and a delinquent count of 1,688. The transcript contains additional numeric items that staff said they are reconciling; where figures were unclear in the record (for example “1302 hundred and 61”), board staff told members they would confirm and return the corrected numbers in follow-up communications.

Staff told the board there were 73 initial acupuncture license approvals in the quarter, and the board reported a net of 103 cancellations in the same period. Licensing staff also reported continuing-education provider approvals, course-application volumes, school‑curriculum application activity and tutorial‑training program statistics; staff said no schools lost board approval in the quarter.

On regulatory changes, licensing staff reaffirmed a rulemaking package that would add a retired status; that package is with DCA and the Office of Administrative Law, staff said. Members asked about whether the number of cancelled licenses represented an uptick; staff said the recent fee increase and licensees maintaining out‑of‑state California registration have both affected counts and cited an aging licensed population as a factor.

Staff described ongoing business modernization work: a new online CE audit capability, the ability to move between active and inactive status online, replacement pocket licenses, expanded exam functionality and a future back‑office migration to allow more renewals processing within the Connect online system. Licensing staff said roughly 75% of licensees have adopted the online licensing system for transactions and that a combined review of legacy and connect systems had produced a near‑98% email-harvest rate for licensees — enabling broader electronic outreach. Staff also reported they have obtained a contract to build an enforcement module, including an online complaint intake, and that module work will continue over the next two years.

On the wall‑license requirement for display in clinics, staff and enforcement leaders said enforcement is complaint driven. Board members and several public commenters urged outreach and targeted reminders rather than immediate fines, and staff said renewal reminders, postcards and email outreach are in place; staff agreed to work on improved messaging and possibly targeted email to licensees without posted wall licenses. Several board members suggested requiring an explicit attestation about wall‑license display during renewal as a compliance lever.

Public commenters — including representatives of professional associations and licensees — urged clearer public materials and easier access to compliance steps. Licensing staff said they will provide corrected counts, continue outreach, and report back to the board on compliance and tool rollout.