Dear CSOMA Community,
Physical Therapy (PT) associations are gearing up for their next legislative push to include dry needling in their scope of practice. Even without this legal authority, we are already seeing unlicensed practices—including PT clinics—advertising and performing dry needling across California.
If you see a practice advertising dry needling without an acupuncture license, please report it immediately to the CAB:
Go to the CAB Online Complaint Form
Complete all required fields.
Please briefly describe your complaint:
Sample text: I am reporting the unlicensed practice and advertising of needle insertion ("dry needling"). Under BPC § 4937, inserting needles into human anatomy constitutes the practice of acupuncture. Under BPC § 4935, performing acupuncture without a valid California Acupuncture Board license is unlawful. The named facility/individual does not hold an active CAB license. Evidence of this unlicensed practice is located here: [INSERT LINK TO CLINIC WEBSITE OR SOCIAL MEDIA]
What do you want the person or facility to do to resolve your complaint:
Sample text: I request the CAB investigate and issue an immediate Cease and Desist order demanding this facility/individual completely stop performing—and advertising—any form of needle insertion. Furthermore, I request the CAB forward this violation to the practitioner's respective regulatory board (e.g., the Physical Therapy Board of California, ) for out-of-scope disciplinary action. Finally, please notify me of the investigative findings and all regulatory or enforcement actions taken to resolve this complaint.Submit
Thank you for helping to hold these practices accountable and for protecting the integrity of acupuncture in California. We are working on additional resources (including our new Dry Needling Fact Sheet) and ways to get involved. Stay tuned.
News from the CAB: New Telehealth Standards Effective October 1, 2026
The Acupuncture Board’s new regulations establishing clear rules for remote care are officially in effect. While telehealth was already authorized under BPC § 2290.5, these new regulations mandate specific operational and documentation standards.
Under the newly established 16 CCR § 1399.452.1, licensed acupuncturists with active, unrestricted licenses have specific guidelines for delivering telehealth services to patients physically located in California.
Key takeaways:
Permitted Services: You may offer services authorized under BPC § 4937, except those involving needles or requiring a physical presence.
Informed Consent: Prior to delivery, you must provide specific disclosures (including potential risks, data security, and technological failure possibilities) and obtain documented verbal or written consent.
Patient Verification: You must provide your name and license number upon initiation of telehealth services.
Security: You must take reasonable steps to securely transmit data and immediately inform the patient of any known breaches.
Compliance: Failure to comply with these specific standards constitutes unprofessional conduct pursuant to BPC § 4955.
We strongly encourage all members utilizing telehealth to review the full text of Standards of Practice for Telehealth Services to ensure your intake and treatment protocols remain fully compliant. Please contact the CAB directly with questions: (916) 515-5200 or [email protected].
Coming up:
Oct 13: Heart Stories: An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health in TCM Practice — with Dennis von Elgg, LAc
Nov 10: Why (Not How) Do Herbs Work? — with Dr. Greg Sperber
Dec 8: Advancing the Acupuncture Profession (2 Ethics CEUs included)— with Dr. Ra Adcock, LAc and Dr. Julie Tran-Olive, LAc, ND and Panelists
Dennis von Elgg,: Heart Stories: An Integrative Approach to Cardiovascular Health in TCM Practice
When: Tuesday, Oct 13 | 7-9PM PST
Where: Online: Register here
CEUs: 2 CAB(Category 1) – includes 2 Ethics CEUs
Registration: $32 for CSOMA Members, $80 for non-members, $0/FREE! No-credit option
Meet the speaker: Dennis von Elgg, LAc., is an acupuncturist, educator, and author who has spent more than three decades exploring the intersection of Traditional Chinese Medicine, modern medical science, and the human experience. He practices in West Sonoma County, where he has dedicated his career to helping patients understand the relationship between psychological well-being and cardiovascular health—and the positive outcomes that can emerge when the two are brought into greater harmony.
About the class: This two-hour course bridges classical Chinese medicine and contemporary cardiology through the lens of psychocardiology, examining how conditions such as takotsubo cardiomyopathy, low heart rate variability, and Type D personality intersect with the TCM concepts of Jing, Qi, Shen, and Blood. Drawing on classical sources — the Su Wen, Ling Shu, and Nan Jing — alongside modern diagnostics like lipid panels, electrocardiograms, and coronary artery calcium scores, participants will explore pattern differentiation, including Blood Stasis, Phlegm Obstruction, and Yin Deficiency, through real-world clinical case material.
CSOMA 2026 Events
Community Bulletin
Fertility & Herbal Medicine Practice for Sale — Encino, CA
Step into an established acupuncture practice with a strong focus on fertility and women’s health, complemented by a full herbal pharmacy and herbal distribution business. Restorative Acupuncture offers an opportunity to build on an existing clinical foundation with mentorship and referral introductions from retiring owner Gilian Lata. Asking price: $119,950. Ideal for an acupuncturist passionate about reproductive health and Chinese herbal medicine. Contact Gilian or view the listing to learn more.
Gilian Lata | [email protected] | (818) 763-2928
Office Hours: Free for Practitioners
Join us for Kan's monthly Office Hours, a free session for partitioners held every second Wednesday. Our next session is October 14, 10:05-10:55am PT, let by Darren Huckle, LAc, DAOM, Kan's lead herbalist and full time practitioner.
Sessions run just 50 minutes, so they fit into a busy clinic day. Save your spot today!
Pacific Symposium: Oct 27-Nov 3
Come say hello to CSOMA at Pacific Symposium 2026 – we’ll be in the exhibit hall!
Thank you for reading,
CSOMA
CSOMA Partners
CSOMA is grateful to the partners who support our work and the broader acupuncture community. Their partnership helps sustain our advocacy and education efforts. Please support them!
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