CA
A Certified Acupuncturist usually completes between 2,000 and 3,000 hours of training through an accredited program, and receives accreditation after successfully passing a board exam.

D.C.
Doctors of Chiropractic will have a wide range of acupuncture experience, and like medical doctors, their requirements to practice acupuncture are typically lenient, but vary from state to state. Many chiropractors use acupuncture as an adjunct to their practice and may have minimal experience to considerable expertise in a specialized area like orthopedic acupuncture. Ask for specific acupuncture training and experience treating certain conditions.

Dipl.Ac. and Dipl.CH.
The Diplomate of Acupuncture and Diplomate of Chinese Herbology are certified by the NCCAOM after passing the national board exam. In order to sit for the national exam prospective individuals must satisfy certain requirements such as completing a diploma program at any of various nationwide schools accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This generally includes three academic years of study.

Dipl.OM.
The Diplomate of Oriental Medicine is a newer certification granted by the NCCAOM board. Like the Dipl.Ac. and Dipl.CH., the Dipl.OM. also signifies completion of a diploma program at any of various nationwide schools certified by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This generally includes three academic years of study, including instruction in acupuncture, herbology and a western biomedicine component.

DOM
The Doctor of Oriental Medicine is a degree, but not a license to practice. It may indicate additional training beyond state licensure to practice acupuncture, but it may also indicate a variety of training levels.

L.Ac.
The Licensed Acupuncturist is certified by the state licensure board. Generally, requirements include three years of education at one of the nationwide schools certified by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and passing a state exam.

M.Ac.
The Master of Acupuncture signifies completion of a master's level academic program in acupuncture. Programs generally take two to three academic years, and in most states, practitioners with the MAc degree can apply for state licensure.

MAOM
The Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is a post-graduate degree. Most such degrees offer a comprehensive curriculum, often totaling 2,500 hours of rigorous classroom and clinical experience. Many are also accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

M.D. and D.O.
Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine typically require no formal training to advertise themselves as acupuncturists. Therefore, you are advised to choose a physician who is a member of the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture; it requires a minimum of 200 hours of training for membership.

N.D.
Doctors of Naturopathy are the newest holistic health care player on the field, and like chiropractors, may or may not have considerable acupuncture experience. Educational requirements for N.D.s vary from state to state and some academic programs include extensive acupuncture training while others have only a ‘token’ acupuncture training module. Ask for specific acupuncture training and experience treating certain conditions.

NCCAOM
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) is a non-profit organization that establishes, assesses, and promotes standards of competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine.