Advisory Committee for Acupuncture
Licenses and regulates the practice of acupuncture in Tennessee to ensure public safety and requires practitioners to be qualified.About the Advisory Committee for Acupuncture
To assist the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, the Tennessee Advisory Committee for Acupuncture was established by the General Assembly in 2000 to license those individuals actively engaged in the practice of acupuncture as that termed as defined in T.C.A. § 63-6-1001(2).
The Committee is responsible for safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans by requiring those who practice acupuncture are qualified. The Committee, working with the Board of Medical Examiners, interprets the laws, rules, and regulations to determine the appropriate standards of practice to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct.
The Committee is authorized to issue licenses to qualified candidates who have completed appropriate education and successfully completed required examinations. The Committee, along with the Board, determines the appropriate standard of care, investigates alleged violations of laws and rules, and disciplines licensees who are found guilty of such violations.
Administrative staff of the Division of Health Related Boards supports the Committee by issuing licenses to those who meet the requirements of the law and rules. Renewal notices are mailed from the Committee’s administrative office sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the license to the licensee’s current address on record. Licenses can be renewed sixty (60) days prior to the expiration. Licensees are responsible for renewing their licenses on time and keeping the Committee appraised of current information. It is a violation of the law and of the Committee’s rules to practice on an expired license.
The Committee meets two (2) times per year. The meetings are open to the public. The Governor appoints all members of the Committee. The Committee consists of five (5) members. Three (3) of the members shall be certified acupuncturists; one (1) shall be an acupuncture detoxification specialist; and one (1) shall be a consumer members who is not employed in a health care profession.
Licensure Scam Alert
The Department of Health has been made aware that some licensees of a few different health licensure boards have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from those licensee’s licensing boards. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require payment of fines. Some of them have been accompanied by fraudulent letters claiming to suspend the license. Please note:
- Phone calls may “spoof” or appear to be from the boards’ number;
- If you need to verify the identity of a TN board investigator, call (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov.
- The health-related board investigators will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as a social security number, date of birth, or bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
- These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.
If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
- If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
- Report the communication to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Internet Crime Complaint Center at using the code "TDHHPBSCAM2026". This will allow law enforcement to link these scams for improved investigation.
- Complainants can alternatively call the Fusion Center Tipline (800TBIFIND) or submit a tip online at TBI but the IC3 is preferred.
· Notify the Department of Health at (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov
Contact
Call 615-532-3202 (local) or 1-800-778-4123 (nationwide)
Medical.Health@tn.gov
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243
Filing Complaints
Click to file an online complaint against a healthcare provider.
Call 800-852-2187 to speak with someone in the Office of Investigations.
Click to download a copy of the complaint form to print and mail.
Board Websites & Meeting Playlists
Click the alphabetical menu below to visit the websites of individual Health Professional Boards
Click the alphabetical menu below to view recorded meetings of Tennessee Health Professional Boards
Applying for Licensure
When completing the initial application process, you will be required to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be mailed directly from the educational institution to the board office located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243 or e-mailed to Medical.Health@tn.gov.
Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier. The Department of Health has implemented an online application process that will allow all health care professionals to apply online for an initial license and complete (and update as necessary) a practitioner profile mandatory for certain professions. The process is user friendly and convenient and even allows you to pay for your initial application utilizing a credit card, debit card or e-check. You will also be able to upload many of the documents required to complete your initial application! Please go to the initial application link below to begin the online process.
- Declaration of Citizenship (PH-4183)
- Declaration of Eligibility for Expedited Licensure Process for a Military Member (PH-4279)
- Declaration of Eligibility for Expedited Licensure Process for a Spouse of a Military Member (PH-4280)
- Request for Duplicate License
- Application Instructions for Licensure as an Acupuncturist (PH-3771)
- Application for Certification as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (PH-3772)
- Renewal Application/Instructions
- Application Instructions for Licensure Reinstatement (PH-3556)
- Affidavit of Retirement From Practice in Tennessee (PH-3460)
- Name and Address Change Request
Military members and military spouses with transfer orders to Tennessee, complete this application, Portability Act Application, and email to Medical.Health@tn.gov with a copy of the military orders.
Meetings, Members, & Minutes
Meeting Schedule
Public Notices will remain online until the minutes are ratified and posted on the Meeting Minutes page.
Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 665 Mainstream Drive, MetroCenter.
Members
| Member | Position | Representation | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karman S. Gossett |
Vice Chair | Acupuncturist | 02-29-2024 |
| Alexa Hulsey | Board Member | Acupuncturist | 02-29-2024 |
| Vacant | Board Member | Consumer | |
| Vacant | Board Member | ADS | |
| Bruce K. Roff | Chair | Acupuncturist | 02-28-2025 |
Meeting Minutes
Copies of all minutes are maintained in the official record section of the administrative office. Please contact the board administrator to make arrangements to review minutes of meetings held prior to 2004.
Continuing Education
Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site.
Requirements
All licensees are required to renew their license every two years. The renewal cycle is set up whereby everyone renews in their birth month. The year they renew depends on whether they were born in an even or odd year. Thus the renewal of their professional license is set up in their birth month every two years.
When renewing, the document that is signed states the licensee has fulfilled all the requirements for renewal. This means no continuing education documentation is to be mailed in with the renewal and that the licensee attests to having obtained the required continuing education. The only time continuing education is to be mailed in is when an official audit is conducted and the licensee is mailed a certified letter from this office requiring submission of the documentation.
All certified acupuncturists must obtain thirty (30) Professional Development Activity (PDA) points, as defined by NCCAOM, during the two (2) calendar year (January 1-December 31) period that precedes the year in which certification is renewed.
All documentation must be retained by the licensee for at least four years from the end of the renewal period in which the continuing education was acquired
The Committee or Board may waive or otherwise modify the requirements in cases where there is retirement, or an illness, disability or other undue hardship that prevents a licensee from obtaining the requisite number of continuing education hours. Requests for waivers or modification must be sent in writing to the Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the renewal period in which the continuing education is due.
This request must be received by our office, in writing, before January 1st of the year your license will expire.
Acceptable Continuing Education Courses and Activities
The following professional courses and activities qualify for PDA points of continuing education:
(a) Courses – One (1) point for each hour of courses that directly enhance an acupuncturist’s knowledge and/or practice of acupuncture. Points may be earned for courses in Oriental medical theory and techniques such as bodywork, nutrition, and herbology, as well as courses in western sciences that relate to the practice of Acupuncture. Points may also be earned for the study of tai chi and qi gong.
(b) Research – One point for every two (2) hours of documented research. Acceptable research projects include those that relate to knowledge and/or practice in acupuncture.
(c) Writing for Publication – Ten (10) points for each article; Thirty (30) points for a book or major work. Publications include articles, studies, reports, books, etc., that relate to knowledge and/or practice in acupuncture.
(d) Teaching/Clinic Supervision – One (1) point for each clock hour of instruction or supervision relating to acupuncture. Teaching or supervision refers to the ongoing responsibility for theoretical and/or practical education. Credit can be earned for a variety of teaching positions, including teaching or clinical supervision in a formal school or preceptorship, provided there is appropriate documentation.
(e) Supervised Clinical Experience – One and one-half (1½) points for each clock hour of supervised clinical experience under a senior acupuncturist who has a minimum of five years of experience in acupuncture and is an NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture. The clinical experience may include observation, case discussion, and/or supervised practice.Continuing Education.
CE Broker
At this time, it is not required that licensees register for an account but the board is encouraging licensees utilize CE Broker as a tool to track required continuing education. CE Broker is the official tracking system for the Tennessee Division of Health Professional Boards. Your professional board has provided you with a free Basic Account, so you'll have their helpful continuing education tracking tools right at your fingertips.
Free Access
Within the free Basic Account, you will have access to your Course History and CE Compliance Status. This lists all of the courses which have been reported thus far and indicates whether or not you have satisfied your renewal requirements. From here, you may easily find and report any CE that might be missing. CE Broker is 100% free to use and you will never have to pay to access all of the necessary tools to renew your license!
How to activate your free CE Broker account
Activating your free Basic Account provided to you by your board is a simple 3-step process.
- Visit the CE Broker basic account webpage
- Next, enter your license number
- Track your continuing education!
Comprehensive Course Search
One of the best free tools CE Broker provides is the Course Search. You can easily find every course needed to successfully complete your license renewal, with just a few clicks! After you are finished with each course, educational providers will report the credits directly into CE Broker for you - but you should always retain a copy of the certificates for your records. To find courses, visit courses.cebroker.com/search/tn and select your profession.
Helpful Support Center
CE Broker provides dedicated support 8AM- 8PM ET, Monday through Friday, with a team of experts trained on the rules and regulations of the Tennessee's Health Professional Boards. You can Reach CE Broker by phone at 877-434-6323, or click for information on the CE Broker Customer Support Team.
Other Benefits of using CE Broker
Track and know precisely how many hours you've completed and how many hours are remaining;
Available convenience features like a personalized transcript and a personal account manager;
Bring CE compliance wherever you go with the CE Broker mobile app (available for Iphone and Android).
Educational Programs
Currently, Acupuncture educational programs are not available in the State of Tennessee. Please visit NCCAOM for more information regarding education for the Acupuncture profession.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I renew my license?
A: You can renew online or by paper renewal application. To renew online, please visit https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/. To renew using the paper renewal application you receive in the mail, please complete the paper renewal application, and return it along with the required renewal fee to the address specified on the renewal notice. If you lose the paper application you received in the mail, you can contact us at 615-532-4384 for a generic renewal notice to be e-mailed to you. Approximately ninety (90) days in advance of your expiration date, you will receive a paper or electronic renewal notice notifying you of your upcoming expiration. Individuals who are “opted in” to receive electronic notifications from our office will receive the notification at the email address we have on file. Licensees who did not opt in will receive a paper renewal notice.
Q: My license is due to renew, where do I send proof of my continuing education?
A: The Committee is not a records keeper of your continuing education. You will only be requested to send in continuing education proof if you are randomly selected for an audit after renewing your license.
Q: What happens if I failed to meet the required continuing education hours?
A: The Committee may conduct a continuing education audit of any licensee after the licensee renews. Upon receipt of the audit notice, if you fail to provide the required continuing education then the Committee’s administrative office will enforce the Committee’s policy on continuing education: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/ACU_CEPolicy.pdf
Q: How many total hours of continuing education am I required to complete each year?
A: All certified acupuncturists must obtain thirty (30) Professional Development Activity (PDA) points, as defined by NCCAOM, during the two (2) calendar year (January 1-December 31) period that precedes the year in which certification is renewed.
Q: How do I know whether a particular course is acceptable to the Committee?
A: The following professional courses and activities qualify for PDA points of continuing education:
(a) Courses – One (1) point for each hour of courses that directly enhance an acupuncturist’s knowledge and/or practice of acupuncture. Points may be earned for courses in Oriental medical theory and techniques such as bodywork, nutrition, and herbology, as well as courses in western sciences that relate to the practice of Acupuncture. Points may also be earned for the study of tai chi and qi gong.
(b) Research – One point for every two (2) hours of documented research. Acceptable research projects include those that relate to knowledge and/or practice in acupuncture.
(c) Writing for Publication – Ten (10) points for each article; Thirty (30) points for a book or major work. Publications include articles, studies, reports, books, etc., that relate to knowledge and/or practice in acupuncture.
(d) Teaching/Clinic Supervision – One (1) point for each clock hour of instruction or supervision relating to acupuncture. Teaching or supervision refers to the ongoing responsibility for theoretical and/or practical education. Credit can be earned for a variety of teaching positions, including teaching or clinical supervision in a formal school or preceptorship, provided there is appropriate documentation.
(e) Supervised Clinical Experience – One and one-half (1½) points for each clock hour of supervised clinical experience under a senior acupuncturist who has a minimum of five years of experience in acupuncture and is an NCCAOM Diplomate in Acupuncture. The clinical experience may include observation, case discussion, and/or supervised practice.
Q: How do I request a duplicate of my certificate?
A: You can request a duplicate certificate after logging into your online account. From a drop down on the main menu, select Request a Duplicate Renewal Certificate or Duplicate Wall Certificate. The Duplicate Renewal Certificate will be a duplicate of the small certificate with your expiration date on it and it is free. The Duplicate Wall Certificate will be a duplicate of the large brown certificate, and costs $25. The certificate(s) will print and be mailed to the mailing address we have on file. We cannot provide an electronic copy of your license.
Q: How do I file a complaint on an acupuncturist?
A: Contact the Bureau of Investigations at 1-800-852-2187; 615-532-3421 or click the "Report Concerns" link on the the Health Professional Boards' main page.
Q: I am retiring from the practice of acupuncture. What should I do?
A: You may retire your acupuncture license with the submission of an affidavit of retirement. Click to access the affidavit. There is no fee to retire your license; however, should you seek to reinstate your license at a later date, the Committee may require that you submit evidence that you have maintained your clinical competency.
Application Processing Questions
Q: How can I contact the Committee’s Office?
A: You can reach us by phone at 615-532-4384. All documents being mailed to our office should be sent to: The Advisory Committee for Acupuncture, 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243.
Q: I allowed my Tennessee acupuncture license to lapse. How do I reactivate my license?
A: If your license has been expired for greater than two (2) years you must apply for initial licensure. If your license has been expired for less than two (2) years you must submit a renewal application accompanied with the renewal fee, late renewal fee, and proof of continuing education completion.
Q: I voluntarily retired my Tennessee acupuncture license. How do I reactivate my license?
A: You must submit a reinstatement application to seek active licensure again. In the event of retirement in excess of two (2) years or the receipt of derogatory information or communication during the reactivation process, the applicant should be prepared to meet or accept other conditions or restrictions as the Committee and/or Board may deem necessary to protect the public. If retirement was in excess of five (5) years, the applicant may be required to successfully complete whatever educational and/or testing requirements the Committee and/or Board feels necessary to establish current levels of competency.
Q: How do I check the status of my license application?
A: You may confirm that your application is in progress through our license verification page: https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/default.aspx. If you applied for licensure online, then updates to your application are available by logging into your online account. The Board’s administrative staff makes every effort to keep applicants apprised of their application status. This includes an effort to send deficiency letters to applicants every couple of weeks. Frequent calls and emails to our office for license status updates interrupt our administrators’ work processes and reduce the amount of time available to review applications and correspond with applicants regarding application deficiencies.
Q: How do I complete the background check process and what is my OCA number?
A: Instructions on completing a background check is on the Health Professional Boards' main page, click "Criminal Background Checks." Your OCA Number is 2483.
Q: May I work while waiting for my license/certificate to be ratified by the Committee?
A: Yes, if you have been issued a license/certificate number you are allowed to commence practice in Tennessee. If your license/certificate is not ratified by the Committee you will be promptly notified to suspend your practice in Tennessee with an explanation for why your license/certificate was not ratified.
Q: Can my application be expedited if I have an employment opportunity pending the approval of my application?
A: No. Applications are reviewed and considered in the order in which they are received. To emphasize this point, the application instructions recommend that you do not make arrangements to accept employment to practice in Tennessee prior to being issued a license number. Requesting documents from outside organizations or others could be done prior to submitting your application which would assist in your file being promptly complete.
Policies, Rules, & Statutes
Policies
Rules
Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Advisory Committee for Acupuncture
Statutes
Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Committee, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Committee are found at T.C.A. § 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. § 63-6-1001, et seq. (Tennessee Advisory Committee for Acupuncture)
Click here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).
This Page Last Updated: March 31, 2026 at 9:53 AM