What Is the Five-Year Strategic Plan?
Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners
Five-Year Strategic Plan
Executive Summary
The Acupuncture Board of Examiners is a nine member board who are appointed for three year terms by the governor. The Board consists of three consumer members, four licensed acupuncturists and two health professionals licensed in the state.
Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes:
"Acupuncture" means puncturing the skin by thin, solid needles to reach subcutaneous structures, stimulating the needles to affect a positive therapeutic response at a distant site and the use of adjunctive therapies.
"Adjunctive therapies" means the manual, mechanical, magnetic, thermal, electrical or electromagnetic stimulation of acupuncture points and energy pathways, auricular and detoxification therapy, ion cord devices, electroacupuncture, herbal poultices, therapeutic exercise and acupressure.
The Board regulates the licensed acupuncturists and certificated auricular acupuncturists in Arizona. At the present time, there are 665 licensed acupuncturists and 45 auricular acupuncturists. The auricular acupuncturists are permitted to practice for the purpose of treating alcoholism, substance abuse or chemical dependency and are supervised by licensed acupuncturists
The Board is to evaluate the qualifications of applicants and issue licenses to qualified applicants, initiate investigations and take disciplinary actions, establish fees, and adopt rules establishing and approving training.
The course of study for a school of acupuncture must be reviewed and approved by the Board.
Mission
The mission of the Acupuncture Board of Examiners is to benefit, educate and protect the public through regulation of licensure; provision of consumer information; and enforcement of the rules, regulations and statutes governing the safe practice of acupuncture.
Vision
The Acupuncture Board of Examiners is committed to the enhancement of the health and safety of the people of Arizona by ensuring:
- Protection for and confidence by the consumer through enforcement of laws governing the practice of acupuncture.
- Highly qualified practitioners working as health care professional.
- Fair and ethical standards of professional conduct.
- Excellence in practitioner training and education.
Agency Description
The Acupuncture Board of Examiners regulates the practice of acupuncturists and auricular acupuncturists.
The Board reviews and examines and evaluates the qualification of applicants and issues acupuncture licenses and auricular acupuncture certificates to qualified applicants.
Licensed acupuncturists and certified auricular acupuncturists renew their licenses and certificates annually.
The Board upon receipt of complaints against licensed acupuncturists and certificated auricular acupuncturists conducts investigations and will take disciplinary action as necessary to protect the general public.
Review and approval of continuing education courses is conducted by the Board.
FY 20 Goals for the Next 5 Years
| Goal: | Creation of a quarterly Newsletter to inform licensees of Board actions and current events affecting regulation of the profession |
| Goal: | Research the feasability of a 2 year license renewal cycle. |
| Goal: | Introduce legislation to remove the requirement that Auricular Acupuncturists practice only in a Chemical Dependency Program |
| Goal: | Research and if appropriate introduce legislation to include the treatment of Trauma as part of the scope of Auricular Acupuncturists as they are already educated in such. |
| Goal: | Introduce legislation to define "Stimulating" to include both insertion and removal of needles. |
| Goal: | Review Statutes and rules to reduce adminstrative burdens and streamline the application process. |