Mississippi Laws & Details

Formal Education Requirements:  An applicant to be a licensed acupuncturist must successfully complete any of the following:

• 36 months training in a school or clinic of traditional Chinese acupuncture approved by the board.
  
  
• Passing the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine(NCCAOM) certification examination

Physician Referral Needed: A licensed acupuncturist can ONLY treat patients with a written referral or prescription for acupuncture from a physician. As specified in the referral or prescription, the acupuncturist shall provide reports to the physician on the patient's condition or progress in treatment and comply with the conditions or restrictions on the acupuncturist's course of treatment. The practitioner shall perform the technique of acupuncture under the general supervision of the patient's referring or prescribing physician. General supervision does not require that the acupuncturist and physician practice in the same office.

A physician licensed to practice medicine or surgery (MD or DO) or a dentist licensed to practice dentistry in the state may practice acupuncture in Mississippi.

There is no specific training required for a medical or osteopathic doctor to practice acupuncture.

Acupuncture is not within the scope of practice of chiropractors.

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.

Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure
1867 Crane Ridge Drive, Suite 200-B
Jackson, Mississippi 39216
(601) 987-3079
(601) 987-4159 (Fax)

Practice Act:  Bill HB 458

Mississippi Oriental Medicine Association
President: Jerusha De Groote Stephens, MSOM, L.Ac.
(601) 850-0970
[email protected]