Acupuncture Studies in Maryland - MD

Requirements for acupuncture training in Maryland include both formal training and certification. The state requires that students acquire a minimum of 1,800 hours of training in an ACAOM accredited program, including at least 300 clinical hours which have been approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Training programs which are not ACAOM accredited may suffice granted the Maryland Board of Acupuncture has declared the course to be roughly equivalent to an accredited program.

After the completion of a training program, students must pass the exams issued by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). While the vast majority of ACAOM accredited programs are intended to prepare students for NCCAOM examination, many up and coming acupuncturists opt to further prepare for certification by taking practice exams. The NCCAOM offers their practice exams on-line for $75.

Application fees to the Maryland Board of Acupuncture range between $450 and $525 depending on specific needs. Licensure by the board is legally required before practicing acupuncture, and intermittent renewals are necessary in order to maintain a licensed status. Additionally, practitioners in the state are required to designate themselves as Registered Acupuncturists, and must wear a tag or badge stating as much while practicing.