Unfortunately, figuring out whether an acupuncturist is licensed is not as easy as it looks.
Although the most common degree designation for an acupuncturist is LAc, some states use different titles
or abbreviations to signify that their practitioners are licensed.
Listed below are some of the most commonly used abbreviations (and their titles)
in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession. If you know of another
title or organization that should be on this list, please contact us at
and we will add it to the list.
Professional Titles
Abbreviation
Title
ABT
Asian Bodywork Therapist
AcD
Acupuncture Doctor (used in Canada)
AP
Acupuncture Physician (used in Florida)
CA, CAc
Certified Acupuncturist
CH
Chinese Herbalist
CT
Clinical Technician
DAc
Doctor of Acupuncture (used in Hawaii)
D. Acu
Doctor of Acupuncture (used in Rhode Island)
Dipl. ABT
Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy
Dipl. Ac.
Diplomate in Acupuncture
Dipl. CH
Diplomate in Chinese Herbalism
Dipl. OM
Diplomate in Oriental Medicine
DNBAO
Diplomate, National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics
DAOM
Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
DOM
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
DTCM, Dr. TCM
Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (used in Canada)
FIAMA
Fellow, International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
LAc, Lic. Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist
MAOM
Master, Art of Oriental Medicine
MSOM
Master, Science of Oriental Medicine
MTCM
Master, Traditional Chinese Medicine
MTOM
Master, Traditional Oriental Medicine
OMD
Oriental Medicine Doctor
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
RAc, Reg. Ac.
Registered Acupuncturist (used in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Canada)
R. TCM. H.
Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist (used in Canada)
R. TCM. P.
Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (used in Canada)
TCMD
Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor (used in Canada)
Organizational Titles
Abbreviation
Organization
AAMA
American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
AAOM
American Association of Oriental Medicine
ACAOM
Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
AOBTA
American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia
CCAOM
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
FAOMRA
Federation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Regulatory Agencies
IAMA
International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
IVAS
International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
NADA
National Acupuncture Detoxification Association
NAOMA
National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance
NCCAOM
National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine
and we will add it to the list.