Acupuncture may be performed by Medical Doctors (M.D.) or Chiropractors (D.C.) or by a licensed practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Each of these three types of practitioners are trained and licensed differently.

Medical Doctors may legally perform acupuncture and may have received continuing education coursework and/or experience in acupuncture. Chiropractic schools offer a several week class on acupuncture as an elective to students as part of their chiropractic training, and professional education seminars are open to all graduates of chiropractic schools.

Acupuncturists are licensed separately by the state. Illinois requires that license be granted only to those who have completed a 3 to 4 year course of study at an accredited school of Chinese Medicine AND who have passed a two-day national board exam (NCCAOM). The state requires these practitioners to also pass a Clean Needle Exam and to have had at least 900 hours of clinical training. Licensed practitioners must complete continuing education training to maintain their national board certification.

The best way to know if a practitioner is qualified is to ASK questions about the specific training, experience, and licensure of the practitioner. If a practitioner is state licensed and board certified as an acupuncturist you will find the initials Lc.Ac.(state license) and Dipl.Ac. (national board certification) used after the name.