Acupuncturists are licensed by the Medical Board of California's Acupuncture Committee. To sit for the Acupuncture Committee's written and practical exams, one must have successfully completed four years of education at an accredited college of Oriental Medicine. Once licensed 30 hours of continuing education are required biannually to maintain the license. Many Acupuncturists choose to take specialized training beyond the states requirements, for example the National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics offers certification by examination after the completion of a 300 hour program. Their Diplomates, who use the designation D.N.B.A.O., are trained in the evaluation and management of orthopedics with an emphasis on the particular requirements of workers' compensation and managed care.
Cupping is a modality that uses a partial vacuum in a specially designed glass or plastic cup.
When applied to the surface of the skin the underlying soft-tissue is drawn into the cup. The cups may be moved to provide a form of massage. Cupping is unique in its ability to provide a negative pressure to the soft-tissue. Moxibustion is a form of heat therapy where an herb, usually artemesia vulgaris, is burned and used to indirectly heat specific acupuncture points or regions of the body. Generally a series of treatments is required.