Bringing the ear acupuncture 5-needle protocol (5NP) to Utah (and beyond!)
How do I get to do this?
Utah Health Care Provider licensees, please read carefully to determine if you qualify for our upcoming trainings.
If you are not a Health Care Provider licensed in Utah, contact your state licensing board (or see this summary to determine if you are eligible to provide the 5-NP in your state).
We are unable to train individuals who are not qualified by state law to provide 5-NP in their state of residence.
Current Process to Practice the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox) for Utah licensees:
START HERE:
Are you actively licensed by DOPL in Utah with one of the accepted health care provider licenses* per HB 195 (2022)?
-
Utah Nursing, Mental Health and PA licenses are included. Utah-Licensed Acupuncturists, Physicians, Naturopaths and Chiropractors are also able to provide acupuncture based on language in their practice acts.
-
* (a) "Health care provider" means an individual who is licensed under:
-
​32 (i) Subsection 58-31b-301(2)(a), (b), (d), or (e);
-
33 (ii) Chapter 60, Mental Health Professional Practice Act;
-
34 (iii) Chapter 61, Part 3, Licensing; or
-
35 (iv) Chapter 70a, Utah Physician Assistant Act.
-
-
*Eligible Utah licensees are MD, DO, Chiropractor, Naturopathic Physician, Licensed Acupuncturist, RN, APRN, LPN, PA, Psychologist, LCSW, CSW, LMFT, CMHC, SUDC, ASUDC. [Please note that Physical Therapists and Licensed Massage Therapists are not currently eligible in Utah.] Master Addiction Counselors and Associate Master Addiction Counselors will be eligible once those licenses begin to be issued in Utah.
If you meet the qualifications above,
Utah has 2 pathways (NADA ADS or POCA AAT) to receive a certificate to practice the
5-Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox): [only one pathway is required]
-
PATHWAY 1: Complete NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) Acudetox training:
-
Apply for a NADA-approved training.
-
Provide your qualifying UT healthcare professional license number. Pay associated fees.
-
Complete a NADA-approved training, practice sessions and all other requirements as outlined here.
-
NADA will send you a certificate of completion as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS).
-
-
PATHWAY 2: Complete POCA (People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture) training:
-
Join POCA at the AAT Trainee Level and obtain a POCA username. More info HERE.
-
Apply for a POCA AAT Training. Pay associated fees. You will need to enter your qualifying information, license number, etc as required by the training sponsor.
-
Complete a POCA-approved AAT Training, practice sessions and all other requirements.
-
Submit all required materials to POCA through the Trainee Portal.
-
POCA will send you a certificate of completion as a POCA Auricular Acu-Technician (AAT).
-
Questions? See the POCA AAT FAQs.
-
~~~
-
After obtaining a NADA ADS or POCA AAT certificate, MD’s, DO’s, chiropractors, naturopaths and licensed acupuncturists can officially practice the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox) under their license in Utah. No documentation needs to be sent to DOPL by Utah MD's, DO's, chiropractors, naturopaths or licensed acupuncturists.
~~~
-
However, all other licensed Utah providers (RN, APRN, LPN, PA, Psychologist, LCSW, CSW, LMFT, CMHC, SUDC, ASUDC) must also:
-
Submit their NADA ADS Certificate or POCA AAT Certificate to the applicable licensing board at Utah DOPL. ​​[Email to Larry Marx (lmarxATutah.gov or mail a hard copy to Larry Marx, Bureau Manager, Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, 160 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 or PO Box 146741, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6741. Write your Utah License Number on the copy.].
-
Utah DOPL will add the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox) certificate to the DOPL file.
-
Then and only then will those licensed Utah providers be able to independently practice the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox).
​​​