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58-72-302
58-72-302.5
0
Acupuncturist Licensing Amendments
2026 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Kristen Chevrier
Senate Sponsor:
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill modifies provisions related to licensure as an acupuncturist.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
creates an alternate pathway for licensure as an acupuncturist;
creates a temporary license for applicants completing supervised training; and
makes technical and conforming changes.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
This bill provides a special effective date.
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
58-72-302
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 339
ENACTS:
58-72-302.5
, Utah Code Annotated 1953
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section
58-72-302
is amended to read:
58-72-302
. Qualifications for licensure.
An applicant for licensure as a licensed acupuncturist shall:
(1)
submit an application in a form
prescribed by
the division
approves
;
(2)
pay a fee
determined by the department under
the department determines in accordance
with
Section
63J-1-504
;
(3)
pass the examination the division requires by rule made in accordance with Title 63G,
Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act;
(4)
establish, in accordance with rule the division makes in accordance with Title 63G,
Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, a procedure to collect a patients
informed consent for treatment;
(5)
at the board's request, meet with the board for evaluation of the applicant's
qualifications for licensure; and
(3)
(6)
(a)
meet the requirements for current active
submit evidence of a current
certification in acupuncture under guidelines
established by the National
Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
as demonstrated through a current certificate or other appropriate documentation;
that
the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine makes; or
(b)
submit evidence of completing:
(i)
an acupuncture curriculum of at least 850 hours of instruction that covers:
(A)
point location;
(B)
needle technique;
(C)
East Asian medical theory;
(D)
human anatomy and physiology;
(E)
professional ethics;
(F)
boundaries;
(G)
draping; and
(H)
consent;
(ii)
an acupuncture curriculum that meets any other requirements the division makes
by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
Rulemaking Act; and
(iii)
at least 500 hours of supervised training in accordance with standards the
division makes by rule made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act.
(4)
pass the examination required by the division by rule;
(5)
establish procedures, as defined by rule, which shall enable patients to give informed
consent to treatment; and
(6)
meet with the board, if requested, for the purpose of evaluating the applicant's
qualifications for licensure.
Section 2. Section
58-72-302.5
is enacted to read:
58-72-302.5
. Qualifications for temporary licensure.
(1)
The division may issue a temporary license to an applicant for an acupuncture license
who:
(a)
completes the requirements for a licensed acupuncturist in accordance with
Subsection 58-72-302(6)(b), except for Subsection 58-72-302(6)(b)(iii); and
(b)
practices acupuncture under the direct supervision of an acupuncturist licensed in
accordance with Section 58-72-302.
(2)
The temporary license is valid for up to six months.
Section 3.
Effective Date.
This bill takes effect on
November 1, 2026
.
2-12-26 9:49 AM