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Acupuncture Board: stable finances, rising wall‑license compliance and continuing low exam pass rates
Summary
At its May 15 meeting the California Acupuncture Board reviewed a budget projecting healthy reserves, reported growth in wall‑license compliance, and heard public concern about low licensing exam pass rates (54% overall for July–Dec 2025). The board asked staff to continue outreach and to report retired‑status data next quarter.
The California Acupuncture Board on May 15 received a budget and licensing report showing the board’s fund in sound condition and an uptick in compliance with the new wall‑license requirement, while public commenters urged action on persistently low exam pass rates.
Budget office staff reported the board’s FY2025–26 budget is $3.884 million with projected spending of about $3.751 million and projected revenue near $4.4 million, yielding an estimated fund balance the office described as roughly $6.55 million (about 18.3 months of reserves). "The board has a budget of 3.884 million and is projected to spend approximately 3.751 million," a budget office presenter said during the update.
Licensing staff told the board there were about 10,078–10,084 active acupuncture licenses across recent quarters and that active wall licenses rose to 6,451 after outreach and audits. Staff said the wall license helps the board and consumers by showing a license number and practice address at a treatment location, improving traceability. Board members and staff noted outreach emails and continuing‑education audits helped raise compliance.
The licensing report also included examination statistics for July–Dec 2025: an overall pass rate of 54% and a first‑time taker pass rate of 63%. By language, staff reported a 53% pass rate for the Chinese‑language exam, 54% for English, and 67% for Korean. Public commenter Lori Gotus, who identified herself as a credentialed clinician, said those rates fall well short of the board’s 75% benchmark and urged the board to place exam performance and dual‑pathway options back on a future agenda: "The KO is functioning as a barrier, not a gateway," she said.
Board members asked staff to continue outreach to active licensees, to report retired‑status data (effective April 1) at the next meeting, and to monitor the effects of continuing‑education audits. Staff said they will return monthly projections and additional breakdowns on CE providers and retired status.
Next steps: staff will continue wall‑license outreach and enforcement audits, provide retired‑status reporting at the next meeting, and include further licensing detail in monthly fiscal and licensing updates.
