North Dakota Laws & Details

Formal Education Requirements:  Completion of an approved accredited acupuncture program, which requires, at a minimum, a 4-year, full time program of academic and clinical study plus a six-month full time clinical internship at an approved internship site.

Written Exam: All applicants must pass the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) board certification exams before submitting a license application. North Dakota does not administer the board certification exam; applicants should take it wherever possible. Information about the board certification exam is available from the NCCAOM.

Applicants holding a professional designation from the NCCAOM (Dipl. Ac. – Diplomate of acupuncture; Dipl. OM – Diplomate of Oriental Medicine) must submit a photocopy of the professional designation granted by the NCCAOM. The copy must include the type of designation and designation number.

Reciprocity/Endorsement:  Yes. If you are currently licensed by another state, you may choose the license by endorsement process to expedite your North Dakota license.

Medical doctors, osteopaths and chiropractors may practice acupuncture in North Dakota.

Chiropractors may practice acupuncture after 100 hours of acupuncture training.  A chiropractor may not supervise a non-physician acupuncturist.

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.

North Dakota State Board of Integrative Health Care
6046-B 14th Street S
c/o a Music Therapy in Motion
Fargo ND 58104
(218) 791-0908

North Dakota Century Code Title 43 Chapter 43-61  Acupuncturists

The State Board of Chiropractic Examiners does make special provisions to allow qualified chiropractors to perform acupuncture within the scope of chiropractic practice.  See Regulation of Acupuncture - Options.

North Dakota Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine