Acupuncturist Licensing Requirements

Before applying for licensure, please familiarize yourself with the general licensing policies.

An applicant for licensure must meet the eligibility requirements outlined below:

Successful completion of 60 semester hours, or its equivalent, of postsecondary study in an institution of postsecondary education which, if in the United States or its territories, was accredited by a recognized regional accrediting body or, if outside the United States or its territories, was legally chartered to grant postsecondary degrees in the country in which located;

Successful completion of a course of study in acupuncture in a program that, at the time of graduation, was in candidate status with or accredited by The Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), and:

• For a person who completed such course of study before October 1, 2012, a minimum of one thousand three hundred fifty hours of didactic and clinical training, five hundred of which were clinical, or

• For a person who completed such course of study on or after October 1, 2012, a minimum of one thousand nine hundred five hours of didactic and clinical training, six hundred sixty of which were clinical.

Successful completion of all portions of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) required for acupuncture certification; and

Successful completion of a Clean Needle Technique (CNT) Course offered by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine ( CCAOM).  

Documentation Requirements

Applicants must arrange for submission of the following sent directly from the source to:

All postsecondary school transcripts verifying completion of at least 60 semester hours;

Applicants attending postsecondary school outside of the United States are required to arrange for a credential evaluation for all postsecondary (not acupuncture) study completed outside of the United States or its territories, to confirm that the education was completed in an institution of postsecondary education legally chartered to grant degrees in the country in which located and to ensure the equivalency of 60 semester hours granted by an accredited institution of postsecondary education in the United States.  Please contact this office for information regarding credential evaluation services.

Verification of successful completion of an ACAOM accredited course of study in acupuncture,  Please select this link for the required form;

Verification of certification in acupuncture sent from NCCAOM;

Verification, sent directly from CCAOM to this Department, of successful completion of the Clean Needle Technique Course;

Verification of any out-of-state license held, current or expired submitted directly to this office from the source  Some states charge a fee for completion of the verification form. Please contact the state prior to submitting your request;

A completed application with photograph attached.  Applications are only accepted online.  Please select this link to apply online.  The application fee is $200.

Please arrange for all supporting documentation to be sent directly from the source to:

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Acupuncturist Licensure

410 Capitol Ave., MS #12 APP

P.O. Box 340308

Hartford, CT 06134

Phone: (860) 509-7603

Fax:  (860) 707-1929

Email:  dph.dentalteam@ct.gov