KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to California

AB-2668 • 2026

Acupuncture: license requirements and title protection.

Acupuncture: license requirements and title protection.

Education Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Fong
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about enforcement or consequences for misuse of titles.

Acupuncture Licensing and Title Protection

This bill updates licensing requirements for acupuncturists, including educational standards starting in 2032 and title protections.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates the Department of Consumer Affairs to reflect a recent reorganization plan.
  • Requires acupuncture training programs to offer a doctoral degree starting in 2032.
  • Specifies that only those with valid licenses or specific degrees can use titles like 'Doctor' and 'Licensed Acupuncturist'.
  • Prohibits using the abbreviation 'LAc' unless a person has a valid acupuncture license.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People applying for or holding licenses to practice acupuncture.
  • Educational institutions offering acupuncture training programs.
  • Patients seeking acupuncture services and titles used by acupuncturists.

Terms To Know

Doctoral degree
A high-level academic degree that requires advanced study and research, often beyond a master's degree.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone uses titles without proper qualifications.
  • It is unclear how existing acupuncturists will transition to the new educational requirements by 2032.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  2. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

  3. 2026-03-16 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on B. & P.

  4. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  5. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2668, as amended, Fong.
Acupuncture:
Department of Consumer Affairs.
license requirements and title protection.
Existing law, the Governor’s Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 2025 (GRP), which became effective on July 5, 2025, reorganized specified state agencies and departments, as provided. Existing law, beginning July 1, 2026, separates the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency into the Business and Consumer Services Agency and the California Housing and Homelessness Agency and transfers the Department of Consumer Affairs to the Business and Consumer Services Agency.
Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, establishes the Acupuncture Board to license and regulate the practice of acupuncture. Existing law requires an applicant for a
license to practice acupuncture to furnish satisfactory evidence of completion of an approved educational and training program, unless the applicant satisfies specified other requirements. Existing law defines “approved educational and training program” to mean a school or college that offers education and training in the practice of an acupuncturist that, among other requirements, offers a curriculum that includes at least 3,000 hours, of which at least 2,050 hours are didactic and laboratory training and at least 950 hours are supervised clinical instruction.
Existing law, the Acupuncture Licensure Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of the practice of acupuncture. Existing law requires the Acupuncture Board to issue a license to practice acupuncture to any person who makes an application and meets
specified requirements, including by passing a written exam developed by the Office of Professional Examination Services of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
This bill would make a nonsubstantive change to these provisions to reflect the GRP’s reorganization of the Department of Consumer Affairs.
This bill, on and after January 1, 2032, would require an approved educational and training program to offer a curriculum that confers a doctoral degree in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine consisting of not less than 3,300 hours, of which at least 2,220 hours are didactic and laboratory training and at least 1,080 hours are supervised clinical instruction.
Existing law
makes it unprofessional conduct for an acupuncturist to use the title “Doctor” or the abbreviation “Dr.” in connection with the practice of acupuncture unless they possess a license that authorizes that use or they possess a doctoral degree from a specified educational institutions.
This bill would make those provisions applicable to the title “Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine” or the abbreviation “D.A.H.M.” The bill would also prohibit a person from using the title “licensed acupuncturist” or the abbreviation “LAc” unless the person holds a valid, unrevoked, and unsuspended license pursuant to the act. The bill would make conforming changes.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF