Animal Acupuncturists need not be Veterinarians in Maryland

[Guest guest]

Hi All, & Joan & Jean,

 

Jean wrote:

> Hello, Does anyone know of any state that allows a LAc who is also a

> vet tech to perform acupuncture on animals? I would love to

> incorporate treating animals into my (future) practice but have

> been told that one must be a vet to do so.

 

Joan Tirro replied:

> Jean Look up Tia Sophia in Maryland. They may be offering

> certification for acupuncturists to treat animals. Don't know the

> numbers, but they may have a web site. Good Luck JT

 

IVAS [intnl Vet AP Soc] and AAVA [Amer Assoc of Veterinary

Acupuncturists] restrict professional training in vet AP to registered

vets. Most National Vet AP Socs outside USA have the same

policy - vets only, with some allowing senior vet students to join the

course.

 

However, anyone can learn a lot about acupuncture (human and

animal) from WWW. See:

Study Page: http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/study.htm

My lectures: http://homepage.eircom.net/~progers/rogpubco.htm

 

Most western Vets using AP have formal training in HUMAN AP as

part of their training in Vet AP. They transpose the relevant human

acupoints to anatomically comparable points in animals.

 

Course in Animal Acupuncture for non-veterinarians - Contact:

Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance 14637 Starr Road SE

Olalla, WA 98359 Phone: 253-851-6896, Fax: 253-851-6883

 

The Maryland AP Board certifies animal acupuncturists.

Requirements for certification include a current license to practice

AP on humans, and training. The program must be a Board-

approved specialty-training program in animal AP from a school

accredited by NACSCAOM or approved by the Maryland Higher

Education Commission. This program consists of a minimum of

135 hours of theory and clinical training. The hours are to include:

diagnoses of energy dynamics and the treatment of animals;

comparative functional anatomy and physiology; animal handling,

restraint and emergencies; and animal diseases and zoonotics. In

addition, the law states that an animal is to have been seen by a

Vet within 14 days before the first AP treatment. A letter of

communication is to be written by the acupuncturist to the Vet

stating that the animal is using AP as a treatment modality. This

portion of the AP law in Maryland came into existence in 1997.

Work of any kind with wild animals requires a special permit and

training. Currently, a class in animal AP is being taught at the Tai

Sophia Institute http://www.tai.edu/ (formerly The Traditional AP

Institute) on a biannual basis. This class is the only one available

in the country, to acupuncturists, that covers all the material

required by the Maryland State law. The course is designed for

licensed acupuncturists, although Vets have also taken it.

Certified animal acupuncturists and Vets teach the course

cooperatively. Among the species discussed are horses, dogs,

cats, ferrets, rabbits, reptiles, cows, sheep, goats, pigs and

several varieties of birds. Physical as well as behavioral problems

are addressed.

 

Graduates of the Tai Sophia program work in a variety of places,

and have been involved in a variety of efforts to donate services

and improve the lot of our nonhuman companions on the planet.

There have been expeditions to Days End, a horse rescue farm in

northern Maryland. Feathered friends have been tended at a parrot

rescue in central Maryland. Each of the classes held by the Tai

Sophia Institute has participated in the treatment of ducks from a

rescue operation in western Maryland. If you would like to contact

one of the certified animal acupuncturists in Maryland, the website

of the Maryland State Board of Acupuncture also has a listing.

 

Sidereus < http://sidereus.org/ > also provides training in meridian

therapy for animals. Email: <info

 

The Maryland Board of Acupuncture licenses suitably qualified

people in both human and animal acupuncture. It does not stipulate

that applicants need be veterinarians, but they MUST show proof of

minimal training in related veterinary matters. See:

http://tinyurl.com/54exr

 

Specifically: 06 Acupuncture on Animals.

 

A. To obtain certification from the Board as qualified to practice

acupuncture on animals, an applicant shall:

 

(1) Possess a current license to practice acupuncture in Maryland;

 

(2) Successfully complete a Board-approved specialty training

program in animal acupuncture from a school accredited by

NACSCAOM or approved by the Maryland Higher Education

Commission that consists of a minimum of 135 hours of theory and

clinical training and includes at a minimum in each of the following:

 

(a) 90 hours in diagnosis of energy dynamics and treatment of

animals,

 

(b) 15 hours in comparative functional anatomy and physiology of

animals,

 

© 15 hours in animal handling, restraints, and emergencies, and

 

(d) 20 hours in introduction to animal diseases and zoonotics that

require the immediate attention of a veterinary practitioner;

 

(3) Complete and submit the application provided by the Board; and

 

(4) Pay the fee as specified in COMAR 10.26.01.

 

B. To practice acupuncture on animals, the licensed acupuncturist:

 

(1) Shall possess certification for animal acupuncture from the

Board;

 

(2) Shall cooperate and consult with a veterinarian by:

 

(a) Beginning acupuncture treatment on an animal only if the

animal has been seen by a veterinary practitioner within the

previous 14 days,

 

(b) Adhering to the terms and conditions of treatment decided by

the veterinary practitioner, including the degree of communication

and collaboration between the veterinary practitioner and the

individual practicing acupuncture, and

 

© Reporting to the veterinary practitioner at the end of the animal's

acupuncture treatment or at monthly intervals at the discretion of

the veterinary practitioner; and

 

(3) May not practice acupuncture on an animal for which the

licensed acupuncturist has not been appropriately trained in

accordance with this regulation.

 

C. The Board shall maintain a list of all:

 

(1) Licensed acupuncturists certified by the Board as qualified to

practice acupuncture on animals; and

 

(2) Animal acupuncture training programs that the Board approves.

 

D. On or after the effective date of this regulation, unless the

person is certified by the Board as qualified to practice

acupuncture on animals, an individual may not:

 

(1) Represent to the public that the individual is an animal

acupuncturist; and

 

(2) Practice acupuncture on animals.

 

E. Exception to Certification. This regulation does not apply to an

individual who practices acupuncture on an animal under a

research protocol which has been approved by an Animal Use and

Care Committee as provided in 9 CFR Ch. 1, Part 2, Subpart C,

2.30-----2.38.

 

F. Violation of this regulation constitutes unprofessional conduct

and may result in disciplinary action as set forth in Health

Occupations Article, §4-315, Annotated Code of Maryland.

 

Best regards,

 

Email: <

 

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