Pacific College of Health and Science offers several programs leading to professional licensure or certification within the states of California, Illinois, and New York. The following acupuncture and/or Chinese Medicine programs may lead to a professional license or certification that is required for employment:
| Program | California | Illinois | New York |
| Certificate in Chinese Herbal Medicine (CCHM) | n/a | Yes | Yes |
| Master of Science in Acupuncture (MSAc) | n/a | n/a | Yes |
| Master of Science in Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (MSAcCHM) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc) | n/a | Yes | n/a |
| Doctor of Acupuncture with a Chinese Herbal Medicine Specialization (DAcCHM) | Yes | Yes | n/a |
Please note the state approvals are from the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
For more information, please see the college’s licensure disclosure main webpage at https://www.pacificcollege.edu/about/licensure-disclosure.
Acupuncture/Chinese Herbal Medicine Licensure:Â Qualified graduates of the acupuncture programs that include a Chinese herbal medicine specialization at all three campuses may apply to take the California Acupuncture Licensing Examination (CALE). Only graduates from schools approved by the California Acupuncture Board are allowed to sit for this exam. As of January 2017, only graduates of colleges that have applied for ACAHM accreditation will be eligible to sit for the CALE. To obtain the California acupuncture licensing exam application, please contact the:
California Acupuncture Board
1625 N Market Blvd., Suite N-219
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-515-5200
https://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/.
During the internship year of their program, eligible Pacific College DAc, DAcCHM, MSAc and MSAcCHM students may apply to take the following exams of the National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM): Acupuncture, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, Point Location and Biomedicine. Additionally, DAcCHM, MSAcCHM and CCHM students are eligible to take the Chinese Herbology section of the NCCAOM exam and are eligible for Oriental Medicine and Chinese Herbology certification upon graduation. The NCCAOM acupuncture exam is used by many states outside California, including New York and Illinois, as a part of their licensing requirements. Specific information about state licensure requirements can be obtained at https://www.nccaom.org/state-licensure/# and/or the state agencies listed below. To obtain the NCCAOM board exam applications, please contact the:
NCCAOM
2001 K Street, NW, 3rd Floor North
Washington, DC 20006
888-381-1140
https://www.nccaom.org/
To obtain the New York acupuncture license application, please contact the:
New York State Education Department: Office of the Professions
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000
518-474-3817
https://www.op.nysed.gov/acupuncture.
To obtain the Illinois acupuncture license application, please contact the:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
888-473-4858
https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/acupuncture.html
Licensing and certifying agencies or employers may perform background checks to determine eligibility to become licensed or employed. Applicants who have a conviction should check the regulations of the states in which they want to become licensed to consider their eligibility. Therefore, it is impossible for any institution to guarantee admission to, eligibility for, or passage of any licensing exam required by any state or national licensing or testing board. The date of graduation may affect a student’s eligibility date to sit for required exams. Students must obtain and submit their own applications to sit for any state or national exam and request in writing that Pacific College send academic documentation to the relevant agencies.
Relocation: States, districts and territories have varying rules, requirements and regulations that govern education leading to professional licensure or certification. Should a student relocate during the course of a program to another state, district or territory, it may negatively impact the student’s ability to remain in the program, meet the state licensure requirements, and/or continue to receive financial aid funding. Prior to considering any state relocation, it is very important that you contact your program officials to discuss authorization and licensure eligibility requirements.
International Students:Â Pacific College of Health and Science enrolls nonimmigrant alien students in online programs not leading to professional licensure or certification on a case-by-case basis. Please note that international students, including U.S. citizens living abroad, cannot enroll in any nursing programs which are intended to prepare students for licensure and employment in the United States or have clinical practice requirements. Prior to enrolling, it is very important that you contact program officials to discuss eligibility and program requirements.
State Professional Licensure Disclaimer and Agencies: Please note that states, districts and territories vary in what professions they require to be licensed/certified and how licensure/certification is acquired. Many licensure boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license, such as completion of an examination(s), test(s), background check(s), internship/practicum hours, and other requirements determined by the respective state board. It is the responsibility of the student completing the licensure program to check with the respective state licensing board(s) for the most recent information, rules, and requirements. Pacific College is not responsible and cannot be held liable if the student is unable to qualify for licensure or certification in any jurisdiction or cannot obtain a practicum/internship location.
Students interested in programs leading to acupuncture and/or Chinese herbology licensure should review the licensure requirements for the state in which they choose to practice below. Please not the following states do not issue professional licensure for acupuncture and/or Chinese herbology: Alabama, Oklahoma and South Dakota.
Updated May 2023
ALASKA DIVISION OF CORPORATIONS, BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING
550 W 7th Avenue, Suite 1500
Anchorage, AK 99501-3567
907-269-8160
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/professionallicensing/acupuncturists.aspx
ARIZONA ACUPUNCTURE BOARD OF EXAMINERS
1740 W. Adams Street, Suite 3005
Phoenix, AZ 85007
602-364-0145
https://acupuncture.az.gov/
ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE AND RELATED TECHNIQUES
4815 West Markham Street, Slot 69
Little Rock, AR 72205-3867
501-671-1569
https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/board-of-acupuncture-related-techniques
CALIFORNIA ACUPUNCTURE BOARD
1625 N Market Blvd., Suite N-219
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-515-5200
https://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/
COLORADO OFFICE OF ACUPUNCTURE LICENSURE
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
303-894-7800
https://dpo.colorado.gov/Acupuncture
CONNECTICUT STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
410 Capitol Avenues, MS #12 APP
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134
860-509-7603
https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Practitioner-Licensing–Investigations/Acupuncture/Acupuncturist-Licensing-Requirements
DELAWARE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE AND DISCIPLINE
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Cannon Building, Suite 203
Dover, DE 19904
302-744-4500
https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/medicalpractice/acupuncture/
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BOARD OF MEDICINE
899 North Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
877-672-2174
https://dchealth.dc.gov/service/acupuncture-licensing
FLORIDA BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3252
850-617-6460
https://floridasacupuncture.gov/
GEORGIA COMPOSITE MEDICAL BOARD
2 MLK Jr. Drive SE
East Tower, 11th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-3913
https://medicalboard.georgia.gov/initial-licensure-acupuncture
HAWAII BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
DCCA-PVL Att: ACU
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
808-586-2696
https://cca.hawaii.gov/pvl/boards/acupuncture/
IDAHO BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID, 83720
208-334-3233
https://dopl.idaho.gov/acu/
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
555 West Monroe Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, IL 60661
888-473-4858
https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/acupuncture.html
MEDICAL LICENSING BOARD OF INDIANA: ACUPUNCTURE COMMITTEE
402 W. Washington, Room W072
Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-232-2960
https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/acupuncture-home/
IOWA BOARD OF MEDICINE
400 SW 8th Street, Suite C
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-281-5171
https://medicalboard.iowa.gov/acupuncture-licensure
KANSAS BOARD OF HEALING ARTS
800 SW Jackson, Lower Level, Suite A
Topeka, KS 66612
785-296-7413
http://www.ksbha.org/professions/LAC.shtml
KENTUCKY BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE
310 Whittington Parkway, Suite 1B
Louisville, KY 40222
502-429-7150
https://kbml.ky.gov/ah/Pages/Acupuncture.aspx
LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
630 Camp Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
504-568-6820
https://www.lsbme.la.gov/licensure/acupuncturists
MAINE BOARD OF COMPLEMENTARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
207-624-8620
https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/board-of-complementary-health-care-providers/licensing/acupuncture-naturopathic-acupuncture-naturopathic-doctor
MARYLAND BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
4201 Patterson Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
410-764-4766
https://health.maryland.gov/bacc/Pages/Index.aspx
MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF REGISTRATION IN MEDICINE: COMMITTEE ON ACUPUNCTURE
178 Albion Street, Suite 330
Wakefield, MA 01880
781-876-8200
https://www.mass.gov/committee-on-acupuncture-board-of-registration-in-medicine
MICHIGAN BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
Bureau of Professional Licensing
611 W. Ottawa
P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909
517-241-0199
https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/bpl/health/hp-lic-health-prof/accupunc#Board_Information
MINNESOTA BOARD OF MEDICAL PRACTICE
335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 140
St. Paul, MN 55102
612-617-2130
https://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/?id=1083-231337#/list/appId//filterType//filterValue//page/1/sort//order/
MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE
1867 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite 200-B
Jackson, MS 39216
601-987-3079
https://www.msbml.ms.gov/Licensure/Acupuncturists
MISSOURI ACUPUNCTURIST ADVISORY COMMITTEE
P.O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102-1335
573-526-1555
https://pr.mo.gov/acupuncturist.asp
MONTANA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
406-444-6880
https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/medical-examiners/license-information/acupuncturist
NEBRASKA OFFICE OF MEDICAL AND SPECIALIZED HEALTH
DHHS Licensure Unit
Attn: Acupuncture
P.O. Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
402-471-2118
https://dhhs.ne.gov/licensure/Pages/Acupuncture.aspx
NEVADA STATE BOARD OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE
3191 E. Warm Springs Road
Las Vegas, NV 89120
702-675-5326
https://orientalmedicine.nv.gov/
NEW HAMPSHIRE BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE LICENSING
Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
7 Eagle Square
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-2152
https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-acupuncture-licensing
NEW JERSEY ACUPUNCTURE EXAMINING BOARD
P.O. Box 46021
Newark, NJ 07101
973-273-8092
https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/acu/Pages/default.aspx
NEW MEXICO BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
P.O. Box 25101
Sante Fe, NM 87504
505-476-4630
https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/acupuncture-and-oriental-medicine/
NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: OFFICE OF THE PROFESSIONS
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12234-1000
518-474-3817
https://www.op.nysed.gov/acupuncture
NORTH CAROLINA ACUPUNCTURE LICENSING BOARD
P.O. Box 10686
Raleigh, NC 27605
919-821-3008
https://www.ncalb.com/
NORTH DAKOTA BOARD OF INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CARE
1606 Dellwood Court
Grand Forks, ND 58201
218-791-0908
https://www.ndbihc.org/lic/apply/index.asp
STATE MEDICAL BOARD OF OHIO
30 East Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
614-466-3934
https://www.med.ohio.gov/Apply/Acupuncture-AC
OREGON MEDICAL BOARD
1500 SW 1st Avenue, Suite 620
Portland, OR 97201
971-673-2700
https://www.oregon.gov/omb/Licensing/Pages/Acupuncturist.aspx
PENNSYLVANIA STATE BOARD OF MEDICINE
P.O. Box 2649
Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649
717-783-1400
https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/Medicine/Pages/Acupuncturist–Licensure-Requirements-Snapshot.aspx
RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE
3 Capitol Hill, Suite 205
Providence, RI 02908-5034
401-222-1392
https://health.ri.gov/licenses/detail.php?id=248#section1
SOUTH CAROLINA BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
110 Centerview Drive
Columbia, SC 29210
803-896-4500
https://llr.sc.gov/med/ac.aspx
TENNESSEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ACUPUNCTURE
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
615-532-3202
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/ac-board/ac-board/about.html
TEXAS STATE BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE EXAMINERS
P.O. Box 2029
Austin, TX 78768
512-305-7030
https://www.tmb.state.tx.us/page/licensing-acupuncture-overview
UTAH ACUPUNCTURE LICENSING BOARD
Division of Professional Licensing
P.O. Box 146741
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
801-530-6254
https://dopl.utah.gov/acupuncture/
VERMONT OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
89 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Montpelier, VT 05620-3402
802-828-1505
https://sos.vermont.gov/acupuncturists/
VIRGINIA BOARD OF MEDICINE
9960 Maryland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
804-367-4600
https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Medicine/AbouttheBoard/RegulatedProfessions/LicensedAcupuncturist/
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
P.O. Box 47852
Olympia, WA 98504-7852
360-236-4700
https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/acupuncture-and-eastern-medicine-practitioner
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
179 Summers Street, Suite 711
Charleston, WV 25301-2122
304-558-1060
https://www.wvacupuncture.org/
STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705
608-266-2112
https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/Professions/Acupuncturist/Default.aspx
WYOMING BOARD OF ACUPUNCTURE
2001 Capitol Avenue, Room 127
Cheyenne, WY 82002
307-777-5403
https://acupuncture.wyo.gov/