Urgent Petition on Dry Needling in Virginia

Please sign Virginia's petition to oppose Athletic Trainers adding needling to their scope of practice without sufficient training

📅 Closes at midnight on Wed. May 7

💻 https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/Comments.cfm?petitionid=429

Please sign this petition to oppose Athletic Trainers adding needling to their scope of practice without sufficient training.

🔹 While other professions require 100+ hours of specific training to add this to their scope, athletic trainers typically only require a 27 hour course with no national certification or accreditation. We believe this endangers patient safety and reflects poorly on all providers who are properly trained to provide this treatment.

🔹 Minimum training requirements for other professions include:

• Licensed acupuncturists certified by NCCAOM:

  • 3 year ACAHM accredited masters degree including:

    • Needling specific anatomy training in addition to standard anatomy and physiology coursework common to other professions

    • 300 hours of hands on needling training in classroom

    • 660 hours of supervised clinical practice of needling

  • National CNT training followed by national written and practical exam

  • 3 National Board Exams

  • Continuing Education to retain certification

• MD/DOs certified by ABMA:

  • 300 hour nationally certified course with at least 100 hours of hands on needling training in classroom

  • 200 hours of clinical practice performing at least 500 treatments

  •  National board exam

  • Continuing Education to retain certification

• Chiropractors certified by ABCA:

  • 300 hour nationally certified course with at least 100 hours of hands on needling training in classroom

  • National board exam

  • Continuing Education to retain certification

🔹 About this petition:

• Can be signed by individuals from any state, the petition will ask you what state you are from.

• Closes this Wednesday at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (12:59 AM in MN)

• Asks for a title (include "oppose" in your title") and a message which can be as brief or as detailed as you feel necessary.

• As a small profession who is greatly outnumbered it is critical that we get as many people as possible to sign this petition. 

🔹 Thank you for supporting a minimum standard of care for needling!

 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at mnacuassociation@gmail.com

In health,

Your Minnesota Acupuncture Association