SB1371 Summary

• Amends the acupuncture board of examiners composition starting January 2021-2022, creating a phased transition that reduces licensed acupuncturists from four to three members and adds one auricular acupuncture specialist, while adjusting consumer and other health professional member requirements.

• Reduces the minimum experience requirement for licensed acupuncturist board members from three years to one year of practice in this state or any other state.

• Expands auricular acupuncture detoxification specialist certification to treat trauma in addition to alcoholism, substance abuse, and chemical dependency, and requires certified specialists to obtain signed board-approved informed consent from patients before treatment.

• Removes the restriction limiting auricular acupuncture practice to only substance abuse or chemical dependency programs approved by the board, state, or federal government.

• Modifies continuing education requirements to allow licensees to submit documentation on request rather than include it with renewal applications.