Table of Contents Sec. 20-206aa. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 20-206bb and 20-
206cc: Sec. 20-206bb. Qualification for licensure. Fee. Exemptions. (a) No person shall
perform acupuncture without a license as an acupuncturist issued pursuant to this section. Sec. 20-206cc. Disciplinary actions. The department may take any action set forth
in section 19a-17 if a person issued a license pursuant to section 20-206bb fails to
conform to the accepted standards of the acupuncturist profession, including, but not
limited to, the following: Conviction of a felony; fraud or deceit in the practice of acupuncture; illegal conduct; negligent, incompetent or wrongful conduct in professional
activities; emotional disorder or mental illness; physical illness including, but not limited
to, deterioration through the aging process; abuse or excessive use of drugs, including
alcohol, narcotics or chemicals; wilful falsification of entries into any patient record
pertaining to acupuncture; misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact in the
obtaining or reinstatement of an acupuncturist license; or violation of any provisions of
subsection (c) of section 19a-14. The commissioner may order a license holder to submit
to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to
practice safely is the subject of an investigation. The commissioner may petition the
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action
taken pursuant to section 19a-17. Notice of any contemplated action under said section,
the cause of the action and the date of a hearing on the action shall be given and an
opportunity for hearing afforded in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
Sec. 20-206aa. Definitions.
Sec. 20-206bb. Qualification for licensure. Fee. Exemptions.
Sec. 20-206cc. Disciplinary actions.
Secs. 20-206dd to 20-206ii.
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Public Health.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
(3) "Acupuncture" means the treating, by means of mechanical, thermal or electrical
stimulation effected by the insertion of needles or by the application of heat, pressure
or electrical stimulation at a point or combination of points on the surface of the body
predetermined on the basis of the theory of physiological interrelationship of body organs with an associated point or combination of points for diseases, disorders and dysfunctions of the body for the purpose of achieving a therapeutic or prophylactic effect
but shall not include the practice of physical therapy.
(4) "Recognized regional accrediting body" means one of the following regional
accrediting bodies: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Middle States
Association of Colleges and Schools; North Central Association of Colleges and
Schools; Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges; Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
(P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; 95-321, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health in 1995 public and special acts, effective July 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1999
a reference in Subdiv. (4) to "North Central Association of College and Schools" was changed editorially to "North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools").
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(b) Each person seeking licensure as an acupuncturist shall make application on
forms prescribed by the department, pay an application fee of one hundred dollars and
present to the department satisfactory evidence that the applicant (1) has completed
sixty semester hours, or its equivalent, of postsecondary study in an institution of postsecondary education that, 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,
(2) has successfully completed a course of study in acupuncture in a program that, at
the time of graduation, was in candidate status with or accredited by an accrediting
agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and included a minimum of one thousand three hundred fifty hours of didactic and clinical training, five
hundred of which were clinical, (3) has passed an examination prescribed by the department and (4) has successfully completed a course in clean needle technique prescribed
by the department. Any person successfully completing the education, examination or
training requirements of this section in a language other than English shall be deemed
to have satisfied the requirement completed in that language.
(c) An applicant for licensure as an acupuncturist by endorsement shall present
evidence satisfactory to the commissioner of licensure or certification as an acupuncturist, or as a person entitled to perform similar services under a different designation, in
another state or jurisdiction whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are
substantially similar to or higher than those of this state and that there are no disciplinary
actions or unresolved complaints pending. Any person completing the requirements
of this section in a language other than English shall be deemed to have satisfied the
requirements of this section.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the department
shall (1) prior to September 1, 1999, issue a license to any applicant who presents to
the department satisfactory evidence that the applicant has (A) passed the National
Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists written examination by test or by
credentials review, (B) successfully completed the practical examination of point location skills offered by the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists,
and (C) successfully completed a course in clean needle technique prescribed by the
department pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, and (2) prior to September 1, 1999,
issue a license to any applicant who presents to the department satisfactory evidence
that the applicant (A) is a member of or has been certified by the National Commission
for the Certification of Acupuncturists, and (B) has at least ten years' experience in the
practice of acupuncture.
(e) Licenses shall be renewed annually in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) of section 19a-88. The fee for renewal shall be one hundred dollars.
(f) No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant against whom
professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an unresolved complaint in this or any other state or territory of the United States.
(g) Nothing in section 19a-89c, 20-206aa, 20-206cc or this section shall be construed to prevent licensed practitioners of the healing arts, as defined in sections 20-1
and 20-196, physical therapists or dentists from providing care or performing services
consistent with accepted standards within their respective professions.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person
certified by an organization approved by the Commissioner of Public Health may practice auricular acupuncture for the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse, provided the
treatment is performed under the supervision of a physician licensed under chapter 370
and is performed in either (1) a private free-standing facility licensed by the Department
of Public Health for the care or treatment of substance abusive or dependent persons,
or (2) a setting operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
The Commissioner of Public Health shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the
provisions of chapter 54, to ensure the safe provision of auricular acupuncture within
private free-standing facilities licensed by the Department of Public Health for the care
or treatment of substance abusive or dependent persons.
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, no license to
practice acupuncture is required of: (1) Students enrolled in a college or program of
acupuncture if (A) the college or program is recognized by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine or licensed or accredited by the Board of
Governors for Higher Education and (B) the practice that would otherwise require a
license is pursuant to a course of instruction or assignments from a licensed instructor
and under the supervision of the instructor; or (2) licensed faculty members providing
the didactic and clinical training necessary to meet the accreditation standards of the
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at a college or program recognized by the commission or licensed or accredited by the Board of Governors
for Higher Education. For purposes of this subsection, "licensed faculty member" and
"licensed instructor" means a faculty member or instructor licensed under this section
or otherwise authorized to practice acupuncture in this state.
(P.A. 95-321, S. 2; P.A. 96-225, S. 1, 4; P.A. 97-213, S. 9, 13; P.A. 98-9; P.A. 99-249, S. 1, 10; June Sp. Sess. P.A.
99-2, S. 71, 72.)
History: P.A. 96-225 inserted new Subsec. (c) concerning alternative means of qualification, relettered previously
existing Subsecs. and added Subsec. (g) re auricular acupuncture, effective June 4, 1996; P.A. 97-213 amended Subsec.
(c) to substitute "shall, prior to January 1, 1999," for "may, not later than thirty days following June 4, 1996" re issue of
license, deleted existing Subdivs. (1) to (3) inclusive, substituted new Subdiv. (1) and (2) re examination by the National
Commission for the Certification of Acupuncturists, redesignated existing Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (3), and deleted Subdiv.
(5), effective June 26, 1997; P.A. 98-9 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision that completion of education, examination
or training in language other than English is deemed to have satisfied the requirement completed in that language, inserted
new Subsec. (c) re licensure by endorsement and relettered Subsecs. (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) as (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h),
respectively; P.A. 99-249 amended Subsec. (d) to substitute "September" for "January", added new Subsec. (i) re exemption for certain students and faculty and made technical changes, effective June 29, 1999; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 99-2 amended
Subsec. (d) by redesignating subparagraphs and adding Subdiv. (2) re alternative method of licensure available prior to
September 1, 1999, effective June 29, 1999.
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(P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4−6; 95-321, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 88-230, 90-98, 93-142 and 95-220 authorized substitution of "judicial district of Hartford" for "judicial
district of Hartford-New Britain", effective September 1, 1998.
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