We, Utah licensed acupuncturists and community members, urge lawmakers to oppose HB 202, a bill that threatens patient safety by dramatically lowering acupuncture licensing standards in Utah.

HB 202 creates an alternate licensure pathway that reduces education requirements and eliminates national board exams. These changes would allow individuals to practice acupuncture without meeting nationally recognized standards for training or clinical competency.

Currently, licensed acupuncturists complete approximately 2,000 to 2,500 hours of graduate-level education, extensive supervised clinical training, and national certification through the National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (NCBAHM). These rigorous standards protect patients and are what allow acupuncture to be safely integrated into hospitals, cancer centers, and multidisciplinary medical settings throughout Utah and across the United States.

HB 202 lowers required education hours to just 1,350 and removes the requirement for national board exams entirely. This represents a serious weakening of safeguards for a profession that involves invasive procedures and direct patient care. Without these protections, patients face increased risk of injury, delayed medical referrals, and reduced trust in regulated healthcare providers.

Utah has made meaningful progress integrating acupuncture into modern healthcare. Hospitals and medical systems rely on nationally recognized credentials when allowing providers to participate in collaborative care. Weakening licensure standards jeopardizes this progress and could ultimately limit patient access to integrative services.

If alternative licensure pathways are considered, the minimum safeguard must be NCBAHM certification for all licensees. This ensures verified competence, ethical accountability, and alignment with national healthcare standards.

This is a public health and patient safety issue.

Please join us in opposing HB 202 and protecting high standards of acupuncture care in Utah. Sign this petition to support patient safety, professional integrity, and evidence-based healthcare.