Acupuncture Licensure & Certification
Welcome to the MCPHS resource for acupuncture licensure and national certification.
If you have any questions left unanswered by this website, please contact the MCPHS University Registrar's Office (617.732.2855 or e-mail RegistrarsOffice@mcphs.edu).
Licensure
Acupuncture licensure requirements vary from state to state. Students are encouraged to check the requirements for the state(s) in which they plan to apply for licensure by the end of the first term of the NESA program, as this may inform program Track selection.
Massachusetts
All NESA graduates meet the educational requirements to practice in Massachusetts. A Massachusetts State Licensure Application Preparation session is offered to students in the last year of the NESA programs to prepare students for the application process. Massachusetts state licensure information is available on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine website.
California
Graduates of the NESA California Track program are eligible to sit for the California state licensing exam. California state licensure information is available on the California Acupuncture Board website.
National Certification
All NESA graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) board exams, which are required to practice in most states, including Massachusetts. An NCCAOM Preparation session is offered to students in the last year of the NESA programs to prepare students for the exams and the application process. The NCCAOM provides information on the exams, the certification process and the certification requirements state-by-state.
Transcript
Acupuncture licensure and national certification applications require submission of an official transcript.
Note: Effective May 13, 2024, all transcript requests must be submitted through the National Student Clearinghouse. If your licensure application requires a transcript only or a transcript plus a form for completion, please submit your request through the National Student Clearinghouse.
If your licensure request requires only a letter or form from MCPHS, then please proceed in sending your licensure request form [PDF] to the Registrar’s Office.