The New Jersey Acupuncture Society (NJAS), is the Garden State’s professional organization of Licensed Acupuncturists and supporters of East Asian Medicine dedicated to promoting the profession of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine by always striving for the highest standards of patient care, education, and integrity to ensure the health and well-being of the public.
The profession grows and evolves through practitioner support and The New Jersey Acupuncture Societysupports the practitioner by speaking for legislation that advances our profession while also fighting against legislation that would harm or hinder our profession.
The New Jersey Acupuncture Society serves the public through education via lectures, the media, publications, and referral services. NJAS serves the members by offering invaluable benefits and discounts that essentially pay for the membership. NJAS offers students of acupuncture the opportunity to become more aware of the profession’s landscape (nationally and locally), awareness of job opportunities, and the support of networking with other students and acupuncturists before they graduate.
Courtesy of The New Jersey Acupuncture Society President Jaime Wherry
Education and Practice Standards for Licensed Acupuncturists in New Jersey
Acupuncture Institute Accreditation
The US Department of Education recognizes the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (ACAHM) as a specialized accreditation agency to accredit professional non-degree and graduate degree programs, including professional doctoral programs, in the field of acupuncture and/or East Asian medicine, as well as freestanding institutions and colleges of acupuncture and/or East Asian medicine that offer such programs, including programs offered via distance education.
The ACAHM is a not-for-profit corporation in the United States charged to ensure that the accrediting body meets specific standards established by Congress. For a directory of ACAHM Accredited and Pre-accredited Programs/Institutions, visit https://acahm.org/directory-menu/directory/
The Secretary of Education is charged with reviewing accrediting bodies and providing recognition to those accrediting agencies that meet the Secretary of Education’s criteria.
Acupuncture Licensure in New Jersey
After completion of an accredited master’s or doctorate degree in acupuncture, there are several requirements for acupuncture licensure in New Jersey. Be sure to visit the websites for the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs Acupuncture Examing Board for the most current information.
- New Jersey requires a Bachelor’s degree that is independent of the courses taken to obtain an acupuncture degree.
- Candidates must pass three board exams from the NCCAOM in Acupuncture, Foundations of Oriental Medicine, and Biomedicine.
- In order to practice herbal medicine in New Jersey, practitioners must have an accredited master’s degree that includes herbal medicine (ex: MSTOM), and must pass the NCCAOM Chinese Herbology exam.
- Candidates must complete the Clean Needle Technique course and exam, administered by the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine before being eligible to sit for any board exams.
- The Acupuncture Examining Board requires every applicant for licensure to complete the New Jersey Acupuncture Safety and Jurisprudence Examination.
- All applicants must submit to a state-administered background check and fingerprinting.
Licensing standards are consistent with other medical practice applications and procedures, including continuing education requirements.
Continuing Education
Consistent with the standards of other licensed medical professionals, licensed acupuncturists in New Jersey are required to complete continuing education in order to maintain their license. Practitioners must complete at least 30 credit hours of continuing education every two years in order to renew their license. Visit NCCAOM.org and the New Jersey Acupuncture Examining Board’s website for more information.
For more information: NJACUS
