NCBAHM and ASA launch national acupuncture injection therapy credential

NCBAHM and the American Society of Acupuncturists have introduced a national certificate of qualification for licensed acupuncturists who perform acupuncture injection therapy. The new credential is meant to give states, regulators and patients a consistent way to measure advanced training and competency without replacing state licensure. Why it matters: - The new Acupuncture Injection Therapy Certificate of Qualification gives regulators and patients a nationally consistent signal of advanced competency. - The credential is designed for a clinical area where states are increasingly evaluating or adopting acupuncture injection therapy within their rules. - The certificate is meant to complement state licensure, not replace it. - The effort could help set clearer standards for patient safety as acupuncture scope of practice expands. What happened: - The National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and the American Society of Acupuncturists announced the Acupuncture Injection Therapy Certificate of Qualification on June 16, 2026. - The credential is for licensed acupuncturists performing acupuncture injection therapy. - The certificate verifies education, clinical training and competency assessment in acupuncture injection therapy. - The announcement was made in Alexandria, Virginia. The details: - Acupuncture injection therapy combines traditional acupuncture principles with the injection of therapeutic substances into acupuncture points. - The certificate does not grant legal authority to practice acupuncture injection therapy. - ASA approves courses and instructors and aligns education with national learning objectives. - NCBAHM administers the assessment and awards the certificate. - The organizations framed the structure as a separation of education and credentialing functions. - Mina Larson, CEO of NCBAHM, said the credential is intended to establish evidence-based standards that prioritize patient safety while supporting responsible innovation. - Paul Magee, chair of the American Society of Acupuncturists, said the partnership is meant to ensure the education behind the certificate is thorough, consistent and built for real-world clinical practice. Between the lines: - The launch reflects a broader push to standardize qualifications in an area where state policies may differ. - A national credential can make it easier for regulators to compare training benchmarks across jurisdictions. - The partnership also separates curriculum oversight from assessment, a structure that can strengthen credibility for professional credentials. What’s next: - NCBAHM and ASA are positioning the certificate as a reference point as states continue to evaluate acupuncture injection therapy. - The organizations are likely to use the credential to support future training and assessment pathways for licensed acupuncturists. The bottom line: - NCBAHM and ASA are trying to make acupuncture injection therapy easier to regulate, easier to assess and safer to standardize nationwide.