05/21/2025
Acupuncture is such a powerful and effective treatment as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, most professions are trying to get their hands in it. I have been getting so many questions on what is the difference between Licensed Acupuncturist versus Physical Therapist doing Dry Needling and Chiropractors doing Acupuncture. The difference is our training and education depths so let us go over the educational facts.
Physical Therapist can do Dry Needling with additional certification and can only treat trigger point and musculoskeletal layers. BUT Dry Needing is not exclusive for PTs. Licensed Acupuncturist are trained in Dry Needling too and it actually falls under a huge category of Orthropedic Acupuncture. We even have channels, Acupuncture points that overlap with these Dry Needling trigger point and motor points of the muscles known as the since channels that are amazing for pain.
Chiropractic can be either trained in Dry Needling, or get a certification in Acupunture and their training is mostly for pain conditions. They do not have the depths of training as Licensed Acupuncturist have to treat the internal medicine level.
Licensed Acupuncturist have a legit Master in Science in Acupuncture, or Oriental Medicine. Some go further with a Doctorate in Acupuncture. This is 2000 to 3000 hour training including clinic and academic. We need to complete Clean Needle Technique certification, 3 to 4 license board exams, after completing our Masters before even getting approved to be Licensed to practice. We can treating from the physical layer of pain, autoimmune conditions, fertility, digestive, mental health, neurological, dermatology, and so much more.
Licensed Acupuncturist are the OG's in Acupuncture and Dry Needling so I recommend getting your treatments from a Licensed Acupuncturist. And ask your provider to verify their education and licensure to make the best decision for your care.
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