                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

UNLAWFUL TO PRACTICE ACUPUNCTURE WITHOUT LICENSE; UNLAWFUL DESIGNATION AS
ACUPUNCTURIST; BOARD TO REGULATE ACUPUNCTURISTS (§ 54.1-2956.9)

It shall be unlawful for a person to practice or to hold himself out as
practicing as an acupuncturist unless he holds a license as such issued by the
Board. A person licensed to practice acupuncture, when using the title
&#8220;acupuncturist,&#8221; shall include therewith the designation Lic.Ac. or
L.Ac.
		In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person who is not licensed under
this chapter, whose licensure has been suspended or revoked, or whose licensure
has lapsed and has not been renewed to use in conjunction with his name the
words &#8220;licensed acupuncturist&#8221; or to otherwise by letters, words,
representations, or insignias assert or imply that he is licensed to practice
acupuncture.
		The Board of Medicine shall prescribe by regulation the qualifications
governing the licensure of acupuncturists. Such regulations shall not restrict
the practice of this profession to practitioners regulated by the Board on June
30, 1992, to practice the healing arts. The regulations shall at a minimum
require that, prior to performing acupuncture, any acupuncturist who is not
licensed to practice medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic or podiatry shall either
(i) obtain written documentation that the patient had received a diagnostic
examination from a licensed practitioner of medicine, osteopathy, chiropractic
or podiatry with regard to the ailment or condition to be treated or (ii)
provide to the patient a written recommendation for such a diagnostic
examination. The regulations may include requirements for approved education
programs, experience, and examinations. The regulations shall exempt from the
requirement for Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) any foreign speaking acupuncturist who speaks the language of
the majority of his clients.

HISTORY: 1991, c. 643; 1993, c. 753; 1996, c. 470; 1999, c. 779; 2000, c. 814.