| Current law requires a minimum acupuncture curriculum of 2348 hours. This bill is based on the recommendations of the California Acupuncture Board's Task Force on Competencies and Outcomes, that consists of acupuncturists and representatives from acupuncture schools. After meeting and discussing curriculum for nine months, the Task Force recently voted 10-9 in support of a 3,000 hour curriculum. |
| The CA State Acupuncture Board voted unanimously to adopt the Task Force's recommendation at their May 2002 meeting. |
| AB 1943 was introduced in order to increase educational standards and quality of care for individuals practicing acupuncture in the state of California. Increased professional standards would result in increased quality of care for consumers and produce a pool of more confident and experienced acupuncture practitioners to meet the growth in demand for acupuncture treatment. |
| High standards for acupuncturists are critical to the quality of care in California since it is the only state in the union that recognizes acupuncturists as physicians in the Workers Compensation system. Numerous surveys have indicated a need for greater training. Most recently, Acupuncture Today survey of 280 practitioners resulted in 50.2% describing their education at their acupuncture school as "poor to average." |
| "This bill represents a major victory for the acupuncture profession and one step toward greater acceptance of the healing art in California's healthcare system." stated Chu. |
| The bill now goes to the Governor who has until September 30, 2002 to sign or veto the measure. |
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| AB 1943 and SB 1951 Sent to Governor Davis |
| AB 1943 Final Amended Text August 5 |