The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) is poised to formally recognize acupuncture as an independent profession. In a proposed change to official standards, the BLS recently issued a new independent Standard of Occupational Code (SOC).
The designation is a result of a decade-long effort initiated by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).
The new code, SOC 29-1291, will support the work of current and future Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) practitioners, including students and faculty at ACTCM at CIIS, by granting the field of acupuncture an independent status.
Previously, the occupations were included under the broad SOC 29-1000, “other diagnosing and treating health professions.”
ACTCM’s London Helps Secure Milestone Designation
Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, CEO of NCCAOM, and her colleagues, including Eugene London, Commission Chair and ACTCM at CIIS faculty, were instrumental leaders in moving this important change forward.
“This federal recognition of Acupuncturist as a distinct profession has profound implications for the AOM profession,” said London of this critical development. “It will mean recognition of acupuncturists across all federal agencies and, ultimately, increased public access to the services of licensed acupuncturists throughout the United States.”
The code will appear in the next edition of the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook to be published in 2018.
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About American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture, massage and Chinese medicine since 1980. In addition to its graduate curriculum, ACTCM offers continuing education, public education, community outreach and clinical services in acupuncture and herbal medicine. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian. ACTCM is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and is a private, nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization