How to Become an Acupuncturist

A licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.) uses fine needles beneath the skin to encourage the proper circulation of the energy force - chi - within the body. Due to the wide variety of licensing requirements in many states, you must graduate from a school of acupuncture in the state where you will eventually practice.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Career Counseling
• Computers

1. Discover your state's licensure requirements for acupuncturists. Peruse the National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance Web site (acuall.org), which lists schools and colleges of acupuncture and Oriental medicine, along with state-by-state requirements for licensure.

2. Understand that you will have to attend school full-time for two to four years, taking courses such as anatomy, physiology, psychology and biology. Some states have undergraduate prerequisites or degrees that you must first complete.

3. Confirm that your intended school is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). You can only apply for federal student loans if you study at an ACAOM-approved school. Be aware that a school's status is not permanent; it is reviewed every few years.

4. Keep in mind that the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which creates the test for certification, also requires that your school be ACAOM-approved or in candidacy at the time you take your test before graduation.

5. Consider including Chinese herbology in your course list, since it is often used by acupuncturists.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find the thought of inserting needles into the skin uncomfortable, this probably isn't the career for you.