New Mexico Laws & Details

Formal Education Requirements:  Completion of 2,400 clock hours of classes including a minimum of 1,100 hours of didactic education in acupuncture and Oriental medicine to include 450 didactic herbology hours and a minimum of 900 hours of supervised clinical practice with 400 hours of actual treatment by the student.

Undergraduate Requirements:  None.

Other Eligibility Requirements:  Applicants must be of good moral character.

Written Exam:  The written examinations approved by the board shall be:

(1) the NCCAOM Foundations of Oriental Medicine module
(2) the NCCAOM Acupuncture module
(3) the NCCAOM Chinese Herbology module
(4) the NCCAOM Biomedicine module
(5) the NCCAOM approved clean needle technique class
(6) the board approved and board administered jurisprudence examination covering the act and the rules.

Practical Exam:  The practical examinations approved by the board shall be:

(1) the NCCAOM Point Location module
(2) the Clinical Skills Examination.

Reciprocity/Endorsement:  Regulations are currently being adopted.

Medical doctors, osteopaths and chiropractors can practice acupuncture in New Mexico with no specific training, however, they cannot call themselves "acupuncturists."

Chiropractors may not use the term "acupuncture," they have to call what they do "meridian therapy."

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.

New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department
Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
PO Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 476-4630
(505) 476-4615 (Fax)

Practice Act:  Title 16, Chapter 2

New Mexico Society for Acupuncture and Asian Medicine (NMSAAM)
PO Box 91353
Albuquerque, NM 87199

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