HB541 Summary

• Establishes the Alabama Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine consisting of 4 members appointed by the Governor (3 certified acupuncturists and 1 public member) to regulate and license acupuncture practitioners.

• Requires acupuncture practitioners to obtain a valid license from the board effective July 1, 2013, with applicants demonstrating age 21+, good moral character, English proficiency, legal U.S. residency, and active certification from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

• Authorizes the board to set licensing fees not exceeding $200 for initial application and license, $150 for annual renewal, and $50 for reissuance, plus examination fees as determined by the board.

• Permits the board to suspend, revoke, or deny licenses for fraud, failure to meet continuing education requirements, violation of ethics codes, felony conviction, endangering patient welfare, or willful violation of the act.

• Makes unlicensed practice of acupuncture a Class C misdemeanor and allows the board to seek injunctive relief with civil penalties up to $1,000 and attorney fees up to $400.