HAR §16-72-14. Formal education and training requirements

(a) For applicants applying before September 1, 2000: (1) An applicant shall submit satisfactory proof of graduation from an approved school, and satisfactory proof of completing a course of study of formal education and clinical training consisting of not less than one thousand five hundred hours. (2) To satisfy the formal educational requirements, the applicant shall complete a course of study resulting in the award of a certificate or diploma, consisting of not less than two academic years (not less than six hundred hours) of study of acupuncture or traditional Oriental medicine. The course of study shall cover, but shall not be limited to, the following subjects: §16-72-14 72-8 (A) History and philosophy of traditional Oriental medicine (Nei-Ching, Taoism, Chi and Hsieh, Yin and Yang, and others); (B) Traditional human anatomy, including location of acupuncture points; (C) Traditional physiology, including the five elements organ theory; (D) Traditional clinical diagnosis, including pulse diagnosis; (E) Pathology, including the six Yin and seven Chin; (F) Laws of acupuncture (mother and son, husband and wife, and five elements); (G) Classification and function of points; (H) Needle techniques; (I) Complications; (J) Forbidden points; (K) Resuscitation; (L) Safety and precautions; (M) Use of electrical devices for diagnosis and treatment; (N) Public health and welfare; (O) Hygiene and sanitation; (P) Oriental herbal studies; and (Q) Clinical acupuncture practice. (3) To satisfy the clinical training requirements, the applicant shall complete a course of training consisting of not less than twelve months (not less than nine hundred hours) of clinical internship training under the direct supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. The clinical internship training requirements may be obtained from a licensed acupuncturist at an approved school or from another clinical setting, from a licensed acupuncturist in private practice, or from any combination thereof. The licensed acupuncturist providing direct supervision shall: (A) Have been licensed and actively practicing for a period of not less than five years prior to the start of the applicant's clinical internship training; and (B) Have had a current, valid, and unencumbered license during the course of supervision. (b) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (a), an applicant who started training prior to December 31, 1984, in a school approved by the board prior to December 31, 1984, and who completed the required training by December 31, 1989, and who files an application with the board before §16-72-14 72-9 September 1, 2000, may qualify for licensure, provided that the applicant meets the requirements for examination and licensure as provided in chapter 436D, HRS, and rules adopted by the board as they existed on December 31, 1984, so long as the school has not altered its program so as to lower standards for completion of the program, and provided the applicant submits satisfactory proof of graduation from an approved school, and satisfactory proof of completing a course of study of formal education and clinical training consisting of at least one thousand fifty-six hours. (1) To satisfy the formal education requirements, the applicant shall have completed a course of study consisting of a minimum duration of eighteen months (at least five hundred seventy-six hours) of acupuncture or traditional Oriental medicine. The course of study shall cover, but not be limited to, the subjects listed in paragraph (a)(2). (2) To satisfy the clinical training requirements, the applicant shall have completed a course of training consisting of a minimum duration of six months (at least four hundred eighty hours) of clinical training in the practice of acupuncture on human subjects under the direct supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. The clinical training requirements may have been obtained at an approved school, or from another clinical setting, from a licensed acupuncturist in private practice or from any combination thereof. (c) An applicant applying on or after September 1, 2000, shall submit satisfactory proof of graduation from an approved school and satisfactory proof of completing a course of study of formal education and clinical training consisting of at least two thousand one hundred seventy five hours. (1) To satisfy the formal educational requirements, the applicant shall complete an acupuncture and traditional Oriental medicine course of study consisting of not less than one thousand five hundred fifteen hours. The course of study shall cover, but not be limited to, the subjects listed in paragraph (a)(2). (2) To satisfy the clinical training requirements, the applicant shall complete a course of training consisting of not less than six hundred sixty hours under the supervision of a licensed acupuncturist. The clinical training requirements shall be obtained at an approved school and shall not be obtained from a licensed acupuncturist in private practice or another clinical setting unless it is a part of the clinical training curriculum of an approved school. [Eff 3/12/76; am and ren §16-72-14, 6/22/81; am and comp 12/30/82; am and comp 11/20/86; am and comp §16-72-14 72-10 11/25/88; am and comp 10/26/00] (Auth: HRS §436E-7) (Imp: HRS §436E-5)