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Stakeholders urge higher training, unified degree titles and clearer clinical standards
Summary
Stakeholders at the California Acupuncture Board Licensing & Education Committee urged moving toward a first-professional doctorate, unified degree titles, stronger science prerequisites and expanded supervised clinical externships; staff noted the board can set curriculum but not degree requirements without legislation.
Members of the public, educators and professional groups spoke at length on Nov. 5, 2025 about proposals to modernize acupuncture education in California, saying higher and clearer standards are needed so acupuncturists can work in hospitals and integrative settings.
Chair Francisco Kim opened the broader discussion by saying the committee would revisit degree naming, prerequisites, science requirements and clinical hours and asked for more participation from experienced practitioners to update curriculum. Staff reminded attendees that "the board does not set the degree requirements. The board says the curriculum requirements," and that any mandatory change to degree-level entry would require legislative action.
Several deans, school representatives and coalition members urged a move to a first professional doctorate as a route to greater public confidence and integration with conventional health systems. Lillian Li, academic dean at Alhambra Medical University, argued that…
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