Training Standards and Scope of Practice
The World Health Organization has set training standards at 2500 hours
for acupuncture training programs plus basic biosciences prerequisites.
Acupuncture Physicians in the state of Florida must complete a
four-year program of intensive study of 2700 hours training. This is
similar to the number of hours required of other medical professionals:
MD/DO 2756 hours (+ 3 yrs of residency) and DC’s 2887 hours.
The course of study includes training and supervision in the use of
Oriental Medicine diagnosis and techniques, herbal studies, western
biomedical terms, anatomy and physiology, laboratory tests, and x-ray
imaging.
According to Florida Law Acupuncture
Physicians May
64B1-4.010 Traditional Chinese Medical
Concepts, Modern Oriental Medical Techniques.
Traditional Chinese medical concepts and modern oriental medical
techniques shall include acupuncture diagnosis and treatment to prevent or
correct malady, illness, injury, pain, addictions, other conditions,
disorders, and dysfunction of the human body; to harmonize the flow of Qi
or vital force; to balance the energy and functions of a patient; and to
promote, maintain, and restore health; for pain management and palliative
care; for acupuncture anesthesia; and to prevent disease by the use or
administration of: stimulation to acupuncture points, ah-shi points,
auricular points, channels, collaterals, meridians, and microsystems which
shall include the use of: akabane; allergy elimination techniques;
breathing; cold; color; correspondence; cupping; dietary guidelines;
electricity; electroacupuncture; electrodermal screening (EDS); exercise;
eight principles; five element; four levels; hara; heat; herbal therapy
consisting of plant, animal, and/or mineral substances; infrared and other
forms of light; inquiring of history; jing-luo; listening; moxibustion;
needles; NAET; observation; oriental massage - manual and mechanical
methods; palpation; physiognomy; point micro-bleeding therapy; pulses; qi;
xue and jin-ye; ryodoraku; san-jiao; six stages; smelling; tongue; tai qi;
qi gong; wulun-baguo; yin-yang; zang-fu; Ayurvedic, Chinese, Japanese,
Korean, Manchurian, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uighurian, Vietnamese, and other
east Asian acupuncture and oriental medical concepts and treatment
techniques; French acupuncture; German acupuncture including
electroacupuncture and diagnosis; and, the use of laboratory test and
imaging findings.
Specific Authority 457.102, 457.104 FS. Law Implemented 457.102 FS.
History–New 11-6-01.
64B1-4.011 Diagnostic Techniques.
Diagnostic techniques which assist in acupuncture diagnosis, corroboration
and monitoring of an acupuncture treatment plan or in making a
determination to refer a patient to other health care providers shall
include: traditional Chinese medical concepts and modern oriental medical
techniques, recommendation of home diagnostic screening; physical
examination; use of laboratory test findings; use of imaging films,
reports, or test findings; office screening of hair, saliva and urine;
muscle response testing; palpation; reflex; range of motion; sensory
testing; thermography; trigger points; vital signs; first-aid; hygiene;
and sanitation.
Specific Authority 457.102(1), 457.104 FS. Law Implemented 457.102(1) FS.
History–New 11-6-01.
64B1-4.012 Acupoint Injection Therapies.
Effective March 1, 2002, adjunctive therapies shall include acupoint
injection therapy which shall mean the injection of herbs, homeopathics,
and other nutritional supplements in the form of sterile substances into
acupuncture points by means of hypodermic needles but not intravenous
therapy to promote, maintain, and restore health; for pain management and
palliative care; for acupuncture anesthesia; and to prevent disease.
Specific Authority 457.102, 457.104 FS. Law Implemented 457.102 FS.
History–New 2-18-01.
Oriental Medicine (OM),
including Acupuncture, is
the oldest continuously practiced system of medicine in the world today.
Written texts dated 300-500BC are still studied in schools today and
ancient herbal formulas have been adapted for treatment of modern
diseases. Scientific evidence suggests that this science is many thousands
of years older than the texts that were written to standardize this health
system.
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