Hawaii Laws & Details

Formal Education Requirements:  An applicant must show completion of a formal acupuncture program, that resulted in the award of a certificate or diploma from an institute, school, or college that is accredited or recognized as a candidate for accreditation by the U.S. Department of Education, or at a foreign institute, school, or college with a formal program in the science of acupuncture, licensed, approved, or accredited by the appropriate governmental authority in that jurisdiction and whose curriculum is approved the board.  The program must consist of at least 2,175 hours in academic and clinical training.

Undergraduate Requirements:  None.

Written Exam:  Hawaii administers the NCCAOM written examination.  The board will waive the NCCAOM exam if taken in another state and the score or passage of the exam is verified directly to the board by the NCCAOM or the licensing state that administered the exam.

Practical Exam:  None specified.

Reciprocity/Endorsement:  No.

Medical doctors, osteopaths, physician assistants and chiropractors must all conform to the above regulations.

It has not been determined whether acupuncture is within the scope of practice of podiatrists.

NOTE: Look for a physician with formal training in the practice of acupuncture. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is an art and a science that takes years to master. While any licensed physician can stick needles into you, for a positive experience and results, find an acupuncturist with experience treating a similar condition (with acupuncture) to what you have.

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Professional and Vocational Licensing Division
Board of Acupuncture
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
(808) 586-3000 (for application information)

Practice Act:  HRS Chapter 436B, HRS Chapter 436E, and HAR Chapter 72

Hawaii Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture Association
P.O. Box 372011
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 538-6692

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