2015 New Hampshire Revised Statutes
Title XXX - OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS
Chapter 328-G - ACUPUNCTURE
Section 328-G:9 - Licensure Required; Renewal; Reissuance; Continuing Education.

    328-G:9 Licensure Required; Renewal; Reissuance; Continuing Education. –
    I. No person shall practice acupuncture within this state without first obtaining a license from the board except physicians licensed under RSA 329 and doctors of naturopathic medicine certified under RSA 328-E:12.
    II. The board shall issue a license to any applicant who satisfies all of the following requirements:
       (a) Is 21 years of age or older.
       (b) Has current, active NCCAOM certification through examination or Credentials Documentation Review.
       (c) Has successfully completed an NCCAOM approved Clean Needle Technique Course.
       (d) Has paid the $110 license fee and filed the application established by the board.
       (e) Is of good moral character.
       (f) Has earned a baccalaureate, registered nurse, or physician's assistant degree from an accredited institution. An applicant who possesses a current, valid license to practice acupuncture from another state who meets all other requirements of licensure may have this requirement waived at the discretion of the board.
       (g) Has successfully completed a post-secondary acupuncture college program which is ACAOM or board approved. For one year from the date on which the first license is issued this requirement will be waived for an applicant who possesses a current, valid license to practice acupuncture in another state, provided that the applicant meets the other requirements of this chapter. After one year from the date on which the first license is issued, this requirement may only be waived at the discretion of the board. The board of acupuncture licensing will review on a case by case basis valid apprenticeship programs that demonstrate a balanced approach of clinical training and fundamental sciences and that conform to NCCAOM standards. In addition, all applicants who have not graduated from an accredited acupuncture school must show proof of successful completion of a college level course in anatomy and physiology.
    III. Only a person licensed under this chapter or a physician licensed under RSA 329 or a doctor of naturopathic medicine certified under RSA 328-E:12, shall hold out to members of the public that such person is practicing acupuncture, or use a title or description which suggests such, including any of the following:
       (a) C.A. or Certified Acupuncturist.
       (b) Acupuncturist.
       (c) M.D., C.A. or M.D., Certified Acupuncturist.
       (d) Any other letters or words denoting that the person practices acupuncture.
    IV. Notwithstanding paragraph III, the title, "Licensed Acupuncturist'', and its abbreviations, "L.Ac.'' or "Lic. Ac.'', shall be used only by persons licensed under this chapter.
    V. Whoever, not being licensed or exempted as provided in this chapter, shall advertise oneself or in any way hold oneself out as qualified to practice acupuncture, or shall practice acupuncture, or whoever does so after receiving notice that one's license has been revoked, and whoever, being licensed as provided in this chapter, shall advertise or call oneself or allow oneself to be advertised or called a physician or a doctor in such a way as to imply that such credential relates to the provision of acupuncture services, or use any physician's or doctor's insignia for such purposes shall be in violation of this chapter.
    VI. Persons licensed pursuant to this chapter who engage in the practice of acupuncture without complying with this chapter shall be subject to refused renewal, limitation, revocation, or suspension of their license.
    VII. Nothing in this chapter is intended to limit, interfere with, or prevent any other licensed health care professionals from practicing within the scope of their licenses as defined by each profession's New Hampshire licensing statutes, but they shall not hold themselves out to the public or any private group of business by any title or description of services that includes any of the terms in paragraphs III or IV unless they are licensed under this chapter, RSA 329, or RSA 328-E:12.
    VIII. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, those health care professionals licensed under RSA 316-A who are practicing acupuncture as of July 1, 1997 may petition the board for an exemption to the licensure requirements of this chapter. The board shall consider the educational qualifications and the clinical experience of those individuals licensed under RSA 316-A seeking exemption to the licensure requirements of this chapter.
    IX. All licenses issued by the board shall be renewed biennially on or before June 30 or reissued pursuant to rules adopted, and upon payment of a $110 renewal fee.
    X. As a condition of renewal of license, the board shall require each licensee to show proof of having completed for each biennial period 30 continuing education units at approved institutions or as approved by the board. Maintaining continuous NCCAOM certification shall fulfill the continuing education requirement as long as NCCAOM certification continues to require at least 30 Professional Development Activity points for each biennium.

Source. 1997, 251:1. 2000, 181:5, 6, 7, eff. July 25, 2000. 2014, 167:2, 3, eff. July 1, 2014. 2015, 229:15, eff. July 1, 2015.