Dear FSOMA Members,
Thank you for your continued support of your state association, FSOMA. It is our mission to keep you engaged and informed about events that affect your practice and the acupuncture profession in Florida. Below are important updates from the recent Florida Board of Acupuncture meeting held on June 20, 2025.
Brief Summary of the Florida Board of Acupuncture Meeting
The Board covered several important topics that directly impact licensed acupuncturists in Florida. Please review the key points below.
Fingerprinting and FDLE Background Checks
Starting with the February 2026 renewal cycle, all Florida licensed acupuncturists will be required to present proof of fingerprinting and completion of an FDLE criminal background check for re-licensure.
If you hold multiple state-regulated professional licenses (such as massage therapy, nursing, chiropractic, physical therapy, or medicine), you only need to complete this process once. However, you must sign the confidentiality statement and link the CHAI information from your other license to your acupuncture license.
AIT (Acupoint Injection Therapy) Credentialing
NCCAOM has developed a new Acupoint Injection Therapy (AIT) Certificate of Qualification. This was created by a task force of experienced AIT instructors and establishes 14 core competencies and clear educational objectives to ensure safe practice.
The certificate requires a minimum of 40 hours of training, with at least 16 hours of clinical experience. This new credential was inspired by developments in Arizona, where their AIT scope includes substances that may require additional safety training, such as bee venom or blood products.
The new certificate is now available for practitioners wishing to demonstrate evidence of advanced training and competency in AIT.
Continuing Education (CEU) Updates
The Board discussed whether to automatically approve any NCCAOM course for Florida CEU credit. One idea was for the Florida Board of Acupuncture to recognize any NCCAOM-approved provider as a Florida CEU provider.
However, concerns were raised about maintaining the quality and rigor of course reviews. Currently, only two Board members oversee all CEU course and provider requests, which creates challenges given the high volume of submissions.
Legislative Updates
- HB1299: The Board discussed mobile licensure changes. The previous requirement of three out of the last four years of active practice for licensure in Florida has been reduced to two years of active practice.
- SB1808 (FS 456.0625): This new legislation requires that any overpayments made to a provider by an insurance company must be reimbursed back to the patient within 30 days.
Distribution of Excess Re-licensure Fees
A Board member raised the issue of surplus funds resulting from higher re-licensure fees during renewal years. The suggestion was made that any excess funds should be returned to licensees rather than reallocated to other government funds or agencies.
Vacancies on the Florida Board of Acupuncture
Currently, the Board of Acupuncture has only three active members (all acupuncturists), which is less than half of its full membership of seven (including two non-acupuncturists).
The Board is actively seeking qualified acupuncturists to apply for open positions. Please note that applications expire after one year if not appointed, so if you have previously applied but were not selected, you are encouraged to reapply.
Stay Informed and Engaged
Your involvement helps protect and advance our profession. FSOMA will continue to advocate for you and provide timely updates on the issues that matter most to your practice.
Thank you for being a valued member of FSOMA and for your dedication to the acupuncture profession.
Warm regards,
Dr. Stuart Shipe and the FSOMA team
President
Florida State Oriental Medical Association
www.fsoma.org
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