# Title 112 — Integrative Health Care

## Article 112-04 — Acupuncture Licensure

## Chapter 112-04-03 — Continuing Acupuncture Education

### § 112-04-03-01. Continuing education requirements.

1. All active licensees shall complete a minimum of thirty hours of approved continuing education
credit during the biennial licensing cycle. Only hours earned at board-accepted continuing
education programs will be allowed. One hour of credit is earned for every fifty minutes of
actual class time.
a. CPR recertification is required each biennial cycle and is granted four continuing
education units.
b. Two credits are required in either ethics or safety each biennial cycle.
2. An extension of time or other waiver to complete the hours required in subsection 1 shall be
granted upon written application if the licensee failed to meet the requirements due to illness,
military service, medical or religious missionary activity, or other extenuating circumstance.
History: Effective July 1, 2017.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-57-03, 43-61-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-57-03, 43-57-07, 43-61-03
### § 112-04-03-02. Exceptions.

The following licensed acupuncturists are not required to meet the continuing education
requirements of this chapter:
1. Acupuncturists who are enrolled in full-time graduate acupuncture education programs
(doctoral degrees, residencies, and fellowships).
2. Acupuncturists who hold a provisional temporary license, and acupuncturists who have not
renewed their licenses for the first time since being granted a regular permanent license by
the board.
3. Acupuncturists who have retired from the active practice of acupuncture and oriental
medicine. This exception is available only to retired acupuncturists who have completely and
totally withdrawn from the practice of acupuncture and oriental medicine. Any acupuncturist
seeking to be excused from completing continuing acupuncture education requirements under
this subsection must submit an affidavit to the board (on the board's form) certifying that the
acupuncturist will render no acupuncture services during the term of the next continuing
education reporting period.
History: Effective July 1, 2017.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-57-03, 43-61-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-57-03, 43-57-07

### § 112-04-03-03. Board approval.

1. In order to receive board approval, a continuing education program must be accepted by the
credentialing commission.
2. It is the responsibility of the licensee to verify the appropriate credit designation with the
source of the program. All licensees must verify eligibility for continuing credit and the
appropriate credit designation before taking any particular course.
History: Effective July 1, 2017.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-57-03, 43-61-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-57-03, 43-57-07, 43-61-03
### § 112-04-03-04. Board audit.

Each biennium the board will audit randomly selected acupuncturists to monitor compliance with
the continuing education requirements. Any acupuncturist so audited will be required to furnish
documentation of compliance, including the name of the continuing education provider, name of the
program, hours of continuing education completed, dates of attendance, and verification of attendance.
Any acupuncturist who fails to provide verification of compliance with the continuing education
requirements will be subject to revocation of licensure. In order to facilitate the board's audits, every
acupuncturist is required to maintain a record of all continuing education activities in which the
acupuncturist has participated. Every acupuncturist must maintain those records for a period of at least
two years following the time when those containing education activities were reported to the board.
History: Effective July 1, 2017.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-57-03, 43-61-04
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-57-07, 43-57-08, 43-61-03
### § 112-04-03-05. Inactive status.

On or before December thirty-first of each even-numbered year, licensees may elect to renew their
licenses as inactive. The inactive status is at a reduced fee for those licensees who do not practice,
consult, or provide any service relative to the acupuncture profession in the state. The inactive licensee
does not have to provide proof of continuing education hours. Any inactive licensee may activate the
license at any time by paying an additional fee and showing proof of thirty hours of continuing
acupuncture education in the preceding twenty-four months.
History: Effective July 1, 2017.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02, 43-57-03
Law Implemented: NDCC 43-57-07, 43-57-08
