How To Choose The Right NYC Acupuncturist in Manhattan New York

“How To Choose The Right Acupuncturist...”

Looking for an acupuncturist may be a daunting experience for some people, but it doesn’t have to be if you know what to look for. The best way to find a good acupuncturist is to ask your friends and family for the name of a practitioner they’ve had a good experience with. But if that’s not possible here are some things to remember when interviewing an acupuncturist for the first time.

Make sure your acupuncturist attended a nationally accredited school. In states with strict licensing laws (New York is one of them), acupuncturists must have completed four years of training and passed rigorous national and state board exams. But, in other states, less qualified people may legally practice.

New York requires passage of the national certification exam administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) to be eligible for state licensure. NCCAOM specifically requires graduation from an ACAOM accredited or candidate program to be eligible to sit for NCCAOM's certification exam(s).

Before scheduling the appointment, ask for a free consultation, or at least the opportunity to speak with the acupuncturist on the phone. If they are too busy to talk to you on the phone, they may be too busy to give you high quality care. If they are with a patient when you call, leave a message so they can call you back. You’ll want to discuss such details as rates for visits, insurance billing, and the practitioner's appointment cancellation policy. Remember to make a list of questions before you call.

The training and experience of acupuncturists may also vary from state to state. While some states allow only MDs to practice acupuncture, be aware that a medical doctor licensed to practice acupuncture may not have the same breadth and depth of knowledge as a practitioner with a diploma in acupuncture and oriental medicine.