Acupuncture Education for Nonphysician Practitioners in the UK: An Overview

Acupuncture is not regulated in the United Kingdom, and in this review article, we look at how voluntary regulation, predicated on accredited degree-level acupuncture courses, is structured for professional nonphysician acupuncturists. These are practitioners for whom acupuncture is their primary mode of treatment, and who do not have an additional medical qualification.

We describe how acupuncture education is set up and accredited, at the common syllabus shared by accredited acupuncture colleges, and how best teaching practices are employed.

Patient safety is an essential component of any healthcare training program, and we explore how professional acupuncturists meet the same standards required of other healthcare professionals through registration with the UK government Professional Standards Authority. There are also a number of nonaccredited courses available within the United Kingdom that do not meet this standard, and we explain how a patient can ensure that they find an appropriately qualified practitioner.

The voluntary accreditation system that underpins the high-level college education available in the United Kingdom also makes it possible for there to be reciprocal agreements with organisations globally, such as the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in the United States. These reciprocal agreements allow students from around the world to come to the United Kingdom to train, knowing that their qualifications will be recognized in their home country.