IMPORTANT MESSAGE: To practice acupuncture and East Asian medicine in Maryland a practitioner must be a licensed Acupuncturist. The Maryland Acupuncture Practice Act does not allow licensed Acupuncturists to delegate to or allow other persons to assume any of the practice scope as Assistants or Technicians. Only licensed Acupuncturists can provide all aspects of scope approved treatment for patients. For more information please review the Board’s FAQs.
IMMUNIZATION: Can Health Be Found at the End of a Needle?
According to the CDC, the purpose of National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is to:
- highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.
- raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and
- encourage people to talk to a healthcare provider they trust about staying up to date on their vaccinations.
Vaccines are a form of preventive healthcare that protect the health of both our families and the broader national & international communities. As was emphasized during the COVID 19 Pandemic, the system of vaccination not only protects those that are inoculated from disease, but also those that are vulnerable and unable to be vaccinated. This is known as
community immunity or
herd immunity- when a significant number of people are vaccinated and therefore, protected from being infected by disease, the likelihood of infecting others is significantly decreased. In this way communicable disease activity is minimized and even eliminated. This is known as immunization.
Vaccines were introduced to the
United States at the end of the eighteenth century and steady development followed. The United States made significant progress in the use of vaccinations, eradicating some disease and allowing Americans to enjoy living in a healthy society. However, success in the United States was not the beginning of immunization history. Efforts to immunize populations
worldwide dates back to the 15th century and even includes intentional infection of healthy people as a strategy.
The goal of immunization – preventing serious disease, improving communal health and prolonging life – comports well with the purpose of acupuncture and East Asian medicine (EAM} – maintaining harmony between man and nature toward achieving a healthy state physically, mentally and spiritually. What we describe as immunization today was known as variolation, an early immunization method documented in a Chinese text first published in 1549. However, additional evidence of early vaccination activity toward the goal of immunization is difficult for historians to pinpoint, because Chinese inoculators did not document or share their practices.
Skipping forward centuries, acupuncture and East Asian medicine transitions its immunity building practices to addressing the root of health disease from just responding to symptoms displayed after the onset of illness. This transition can be directly correlated to an increase in vaccination hesitancy amongst those that prefer TCM/EAM as their vehicle to both prevent and treat disease. This is an interesting twist considering that the TCM/EAM practitioner community is usually trying to convince Western medicine that TCM/EAM can coexist and support its methods.
In summary, acupuncture and East Asian medicine’s (a.k.a Traditional Chinese Medicine) approach to immunity as a basis for health is to target the source of illness and not just symptoms that manifest. However, TCM/EAM has a history using vaccinations to promote communal health and continues to employ such measures when necessary. TCM/EAM is valuable to supporting environments where vaccination is the primary vehicle for achieving immunity. This is another example of Western and Eastern medicine being leveraged to achieve optimal health goals.
Resources:
Regulatory Basics You must have a license to practice Acupuncture and East Asian medicine. It is illegal to practice acupuncture and East Asian medical therapies without a license (the exception is Auricular Detoxification Specialists that are licensed in other professions). You must also obtain additional certification to practice on animals. Certain non-acupuncturist professionals may practice as
Auricular Detoxification Specialists only if they register with the Board and renew their registration. If your license or registration has lapsed please take action to reinstate before you practice.
The
National Auricular Detoxification Association (NADA), is the professional organization for all certified Auricular Detoxification Specialists (ADS). NADA offers the training to become a certified ADS in Maryland, offers membership and is a valuable resource for ADS practitioners.
The
American Acupuncture Society (ASA), the practice’s professional organization, has a Maryland arm - The
Maryland Association of Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine (MAAEAM)- that offers membership. MAAEAM is a valuable resource for Licensed Acupuncturists.
About Paper Licenses The Board does not issue printed licenses. Please visit the
License Verification and Roster Information page to print and/or save a copy of your license status.
About Forms of Payment The Board no longer accepts checks or money orders. All payments must be made by credit or debit card.
About Practice Scope The practice statutes and regulations can be accessed from the Board’s landing page via the
Regulations, Board Meeting Minutes & Newsletters menu item on the left. The Board does not have the authority to interpret statute or regulations. Please consult with a legal professional if additional understanding is required.
About Continuing Education At present the Board does not approve, accredit, or endorse specific
continuing education (CEU) providers. Licensees should ensure that the CEU provider is legitimate and provides content that meets industry standards. From time to time the Board does share training information. This does not mean that the Board has a relationship with this provider.
About License Status The Board has two renewal cycles annually: Spring & Fall. This means that the renewal system is only open twice a year beginning April 1st and October 1st. Spring renewals expire on May 31st and Fall renewals on November 30th. The Board sends notices by email and mail to licensees when it is time to renew.
About Contact Information The Board must be able to contact licensees at all times. This means that the Board must have licensees correct contact information at all times. If you change your address, phone number or email address please
inform the Board of the change so that we may reach you.
About Contact Information Licensees are required to advertise and practice in the name for which they are licensed. Name changes must be
reported to the Board with supporting documentation.
*The form to report contact and name changes can be accessed in two ways on the Board’s website: 1) on the
Apply for an Acupuncture License page and on the
Resources, Requirements & Information Requests page.
WHAT’S ON THE 2025 CALENDAR:
- 2025 FSOMA Acupuncture & Eastern Medicine Conference - August 8th - 10th
- International Summit on Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine - August 8th
- International Conference on Alternative Healthcare and Acupuncture - August 23rd
- Labor Day Holiday September 1st - office closed
- International Summit on Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine - September 5th
- September 9th Board Meeting
- International Summit on Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine - September 20th
- Fall License Renewal Season: October 1st - December 31st
- International Summit on Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine -October 10th
- Columbus Day Holiday October 13th - office closed
- Pacific Symposium - Oct. 28-Nov. 4, 2025
- November 4th Board Meeting
- International Summit on Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine - November 7th
- Veterans’ Day Holiday November 11th - office closed
- Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Fall Conference (Virtual) November 12th - 14th
- Thanksgiving Day Holiday November 27th - office closed
- American Indian Heritage Day Holiday November 28th - office closed
- International Summit on Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine - December 5th
- International Conference on Alternative Healthcare and Acupuncture - December 20th
- Christmas Day Holiday December 25th - office closed
- Maryland State Legislative Session January 2026
- 9th Edition of International Conference on Traditional Medicine and Integrative Health June 22-24, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain.
