reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 125 - Psychologists; Exclusion of Other Professions or Occupations From Applications of Licensing or Registration Requirements

Section 125. Nothing in sections one hundred and eighteen to one hundred and twenty-nine A, inclusive, shall be construed to prevent qualified members of other professions or occupations such as physicians, teachers, members of the clergy, authorized Christian Science practitioners, attorneys-at-law, social workers, guidance counselors, clinical counselors, adjustment counselors, speech pathologists, audiologists or rehabilitation counselors from doing work of a psychological nature consistent with the accepted standards of their respective professions, provided, however, that they do not hold themselves out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that they are psychologists or are licensed to practice psychology.
Nothing in sections one hundred and eighteen to one hundred and twenty-nine A, inclusive, shall be construed to prevent school psychologists certified by the department of education from practicing and functioning within the scope of their employment in public or private schools or performing as certified school psychologists at any time in private practice or the public sector; provided, however, that they use the title Certified School Psychologists.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 126 - Psychologists; Fees

Section 126. The following fees shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven and shall be collected by the board: (a) application fee; (b) initial license fee; (c) temporary license fee; and (d) biennial renewal fee.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 127 - Psychologists; Term of License; Renewal

Section 127. Licenses shall be valid for two years and shall be renewed biennially. On or before April fifteenth every two years the secretary of the board shall forward to each licensed psychologist an application form for renewal. Upon the receipt of the completed form and the renewal fee on or before June first, the secretary shall renew the license for two years commencing July first. Any application for renewal of a license which has expired shall require the payment of a new application fee. Pursuant to the renewal, the applicant shall present to the board documented evidence of the completion of twenty hours of continuing education programs designed to improve the professional competence of the licensee. Such programs shall be completed during the licensed period immediately prior to renewal. In order to qualify, a program shall be approved by the American Psychological Association or such other accreditation program that the board may designate as appropriate.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 129 - Psychologists; Reinstatement of License

Section 129. After three years from the date of revocation, an application for reinstatement may be made to the board, which may, upon the affirmative vote of at least five of its members, grant such reinstatement.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 129b - Psychologists; Contractual Restrictions on Right to Practice

Section 129B. A contract or agreement which creates or establishes the terms of a partnership, employment, or any other form of professional relationship with a psychologist licensed under this chapter, which includes a restriction of the right of the psychologist to practice in any geographic area for any period of time after termination of the partnership, employment or professional relationship shall be void and unenforceable with respect to the restriction; but, nothing herein shall render void or unenforceable the remainder of the contract or agreement.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 132 - Social Workers; Examination of Applicants; Re-Examination; Issuance of License Without Examination

Section 132. Examinations for licensed certified social workers, including those in independent clinical practice, licensed social workers and licensed social work associates shall be conducted at least two times per year at times and places designated by the board. Examinations shall be written, oral or both written and oral, as requested by the individual applicant. An applicant shall be held to have passed such examination upon the decision of at least four members of the board. Any person who shall have failed an examination conducted by the board may be admitted to the next subsequent examination.
The board may issue a license without examination to an applicant who satisfies the board that he has passed an examination and is or has been licensed or registered under the laws of another state, territory, or political subdivision of the United States, whose standards, in the opinion of the board, are substantially the equivalent of the requirements of section one hundred and thirty-one, and whose license has not been suspended or revoked by the licensing jurisdiction.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 133 - Social Workers; Penalty for Illegal Representation or Practice

Section 133. No person shall engage in the practice of social work unless he is licensed under the provisions of section one hundred and thirty-one.
No person shall hold himself out to be a licensed certified social worker, or a licensed social worker, or a licensed social work associate unless he has met the applicable requirements set forth in section one hundred and thirty-one.
No person shall engage in the independent practice of clinical social work or hold himself out to be a licensed independent clinical social worker unless he is licensed under the applicable provisions of section one hundred and thirty-one.
Violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than three months or by both such fine and imprisonment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 134 - Social Workers; Practice of Social Work by Certain Parties

Section 134. Nothing in sections one hundred and thirty to one hundred and thirty-seven, inclusive, shall be construed to prevent qualified members of other professions or occupations such as licensed physicians, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed psychologists, members of the clergy, attorneys, clinical members of the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, school adjustment or school guidance counselors who are employed by recognized private educational institutions while performing those duties for which they are employed, registered occupational therapists or certified occupational therapist assistants who are certified by the American Occupational Therapy Association, certified rehabilitation counselors who are certified by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification of the National Rehabilitation Counselors Association and the American Rehabilitation Counselors Association, from doing work of a social service nature; provided, however, that they do not hold themselves out to the public by any title or description stating or implying that they are engaged in the practice of social work, or that they are licensed to practice social work or independent clinical social work.
Nothing in sections one hundred and thirty to one hundred and thirty-seven, inclusive, shall prevent the practice of social work by students of social work or social work interns or persons preparing for the practice of social work under qualified supervision in a recognized educational institution or facility so long as they are designated by such titles as ''social work student'', ''social work trainee'', or ''social work intern'', or others clearly indicating such training status.
Nothing in sections one hundred and thirty to one hundred and thirty-seven, inclusive, shall prevent the practice of social work or the use of the official titles social worker or social work associate by individuals employed in state, county, or municipal governmental agencies, provided that such persons are performing those activities as part of the duties for which they are employed or solely within the confines or under the jurisdiction of the agency in which they are employed.
A license to practice social work shall not be a requirement for qualification for civil service examinations nor shall it be a requirement for employment in any state, county, or municipal agency.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 135 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 135 to 135b

Section 135. As used in this section and sections one hundred and thirty-five A and one hundred and thirty-five B the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:—
''Client'', a person with whom a social worker has established a social worker-client relationship.
''Communications'', includes conversations, correspondence, actions and occurrences regardless of the client's awareness of such conversations, correspondence, actions and occurrences and any records, memoranda or notes of the foregoing.
''Reasonable precautions'', reasonable efforts to take one or more of the following actions as would be taken by a reasonably prudent social worker under the same or similar circumstances:
(a) communicates a threat of death or serious bodily injury to any reasonably identified victim or victims;
(b) notifies an appropriate law enforcement agency in the vicinity where the client or any potential victim resides;
(c) arranges for the client to be hospitalized voluntarily; or
(d) takes appropriate steps, within the legal scope of social work practice, to initiate proceedings for involuntary hospitalization.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 135c - Social Workers; Restriction of Right to Practice After Termination of Partnership, Employment or Professional Relationship Void

Section 135C. A contract or agreement creating or establishing the terms of a partnership, employment, or any other form of professional relationship with a social worker licensed under this chapter that includes a restriction of the right of the social worker to practice in any geographic area for any period of time after termination of the partnership, employment or professional relationship shall be void and unenforceable with respect to that restriction. This section shall not render void or unenforceable the remainder of the contract or agreement.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 136 - Social Workers; Licenses; Effective Date; Expiration; Renewal; Continuing Education Requirements, Waiver

Section 136. All licenses shall be effective when issued by the board. The license of licensed certified social workers, including those engaged in independent clinical practice, licensed social workers and licensed social work associates shall expire on a date to be determined by the board.
A license may be renewed by the payment of the renewal fee to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven and by the completion and submission on a form provided by the board of a sworn statement by the applicant that his license has been neither revoked nor is currently suspended and that he has not been convicted of a felony involving moral turpitude in connection with the practice of social work.
The application for renewal may be made within one year of the expiration of the license.
At the time of license renewal, each applicant shall present satisfactory evidence that in the period since the license was issued, he has completed the continuing education requirements specified by the board.
In the case of renewal of licenses for state, county, and municipal employees, the continuing education requirement shall be waived provided that the applicant can show satisfactory evidence of his continued employment in the field of social work during this period of time.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 138 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 138 to 147

Section 138. As used in this section and sections one hundred and thirty-nine to one hundred and forty-seven, inclusive, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
''Audiologist'', any person who is duly licensed as an audiologist in the commonwealth and who engages in the practice of audiology.
''Audiology'', the application of principles, methods and procedures of measurement, prediction, evaluation, testing, counseling, consultation and remediation related to the development and disorders of speech, language and learning for the purposes of identifying, evaluating or modifying an individual's hearing and the planning, direction or participation in identification and hearing conservation programs. Any representation to the public by title or by description of services, methods or procedures for the evaluation, examination, counseling or remediation of persons suffering or suspected of suffering from conditions or disorders affecting hearing shall be considered to be the practice of audiology. Remediation includes, but is not limited to, hearing aid evaluation, recommendation, fitting and dispensing and aural habilitation or rehabilitation.
''Audiology assistant'', a person duly certified in accordance with section 139 who assists in the practice of audiology and who works under the supervision and direction of a duly licensed audiologist.
''Board'', the board of licensure for speech-language pathology and audiology.
''Speech-language pathologist'', any person who is duly licensed as a speech-language pathologist in the commonwealth and who engages in the practice of speech-language pathology.
''Speech-language pathology'', the application of principles, methods and procedures of measurement, prediction, evaluation, testing, counseling, consultation and remediation related to the development and disorders of speech and language. Any representation to the public by title or by description of services, methods or procedures for the evaluation, examination, counseling or remediation of persons suffering or suspected of suffering from conditions or disorders affecting speech and language shall be considered to be the practice of speech-language pathology.
''Speech-language pathology assistant'', a person duly certified in accordance with section 139 who assists in the practice of speech-language pathology and who works under the supervision and direction of a duly licensed speech-language pathologist.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 139 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Examination and Qualification of Applicants; Complaints; List of Licensees

Section 139. The board:
(1) shall evaluate the qualifications of applicants, supervise examinations and grant licenses to those persons who pass the examination and who are determined to be qualified as speech-language pathologists or audiologists. Examinations shall be held at such times and places as may be determined by the board and at least two examinations for each discipline shall be held in each calendar year. An applicant who fails the examination shall be allowed to take the examination two additional times. Fourth and subsequent examinations shall be at the discretion of the board.
(2) shall evaluate the qualifications of applicants and grant certificates to those persons who are determined to be qualified as speech-language pathology assistants or audiology assistants and may require applicants for certificate renewal to present evidence of the satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements as determined and published by the board;
(3) may require applicants for license or certificate renewal to be re-evaluated and re-examined and to present evidence of the satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements as determined and published by the board;
(4) shall receive and investigate complaints relating to the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology and may report the same to the proper prosecuting officers where appropriate. The board may, after a hearing held pursuant to chapter 30A, revoke, suspend or place on probation the license or certificate of or reprimand a speech-language pathologist or audiologist or a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant if such person:
(a) fraudulently procures a license or certificate;
(b) has violated any laws relative to the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder;
(c) has committed professional misconduct in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology; or
(d) has practiced speech-language pathology or audiology while the ability to so practice was impaired by alcohol or drugs; provided, however, that a person whose license or certificate has been revoked may apply for relicensure or recertification after 1 year from the date of revocation and the board may, in its discretion, grant such relicensure or recertification upon such terms and conditions as the board may deem appropriate; and
(5) shall prepare annually a list of the names and addresses of persons who are licensed or certified to practice speech-language pathology or audiology.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 140 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Application; Fee

Section 140. A person who desires to be licensed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist or certified as a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant shall apply to the board in writing on an application form prescribed and furnished by the board. At the time of filing the application, an applicant for licensure or certification shall pay to the board a fee which shall be set by the secretary of administration and finance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 141 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Nonresidents; Licenses; Fees

Section 141. The board may at its discretion and without examination license as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist or certify as a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant any applicant who is duly licensed or registered under the laws of another state or territory in the United States, the District of Columbia or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; provided, however, that the applicant shall meet the requirements for licensure or certification in the commonwealth and shall pay the appropriate fee set by the secretary of administration and finance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 142 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Certificate of Licensure; Issuance

Section 142. The board shall license as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist or certify as a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant each applicant who meets the requirements set forth in section 144 or 144A. It shall issue a license or certificate to each person so licensed or certified, which shall be conclusive evidence of the right of such person to practice.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 143 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; License Renewal; Fee

Section 143. A licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist or certified speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant shall apply to the board every 2 years on dates determined by the board for renewal of such license or certificate and shall pay to the board a fee which shall be set by the secretary of administration and finance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 144 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Qualifications for License

Section 144. To be eligible for license by the board as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, an applicant shall:
(1) be of good moral character,
(2) possess at a minimum (a) a bachelor's degree or its equivalent and (b) a master's degree or its equivalent in the area of speech-language pathology or audiology granted by an educational institution which incorporates academic course work and the minimum hours of supervised training required by the national certifying body for speech-language pathology and audiology,
(3) have completed the period of supervised professional practice in the area in which the license is being sought required by the national certifying body for speech-language pathology and audiology,
(4) pass an examination approved by the board except that such examination may be waived by the board for applicants who hold a current and valid certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology or audiology from the national certifying body for speech-language pathology and audiology.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 144a - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Certification Requirements

Section 144A. To be eligible for certification by the board as a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant, an applicant shall:—
(1) be of good moral character;
(2) possess at a minimum an associate's degree in a speech-language pathology or audiology training program approved by a national certifying body for speech-language pathology or audiology, a bachelor's degree from a college with a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant certificate program or an equivalent course of study with a major emphasis in the area of speech-language pathology or audiology; and
(3) meet the minimum criteria established by a national certifying body for speech-language pathology or audiology for certification as a speech-language pathology assistant or audiology assistant.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 144b - Speech-Language Pathologist; Provisional Licensure; Qualifications; Fees

Section 144B. (a) The board may issue a provisional license to an applicant who meets the requirements of provisional licensure as a speech-language pathologist under this section; provided, however, that any provisional license issued shall be in the area in which the applicant will apply for licensure under section 144.
(b) To be eligible for provisional licensure as a speech-language pathologist, an applicant shall:
(i) be of good moral character; and
(ii) possess at a minimum: (A) a bachelor's degree or its equivalent; and (B) a master's degree or its equivalent in the area of speech-language pathology granted by an educational institution that incorporates academic course work and the minimum hours of supervised training required by a national certifying body for speech-language pathology.
(c) An applicant for provisional licensure as a speech-language pathologist shall apply to the board in writing on an application form prescribed by the board. At the time of filing the application, an applicant for provisional licensure shall pay to the board a fee, which shall be set by the secretary of administration and finance.
(d) The provisional license shall be valid for not longer than the period of supervised professional practice required by a national certifying body for speech-language pathology.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 145 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Activities and Services of Certain Parties

Section 145. The provisions of sections one hundred and thirty-eight to one hundred and forty-seven, inclusive, shall not prohibit the activities and services of:
(1) a qualified person licensed in the commonwealth under any other law from engaging in the profession or business for which he is licensed, including activities and services by a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery and by a person employed by and under the direct supervision of such physician.
(2) a person engaged in the specialty of hearing aid fitting and sales; provided, however, that no separate or additional fee for hearing testing or interpretation of such tests is received; and provided further, that the person fitting or selling such hearing aids does not present himself as an audiologist unless such person is licensed as an audiologist in the commonwealth. This clause does not preclude remuneration for any other service offered solely in conjunction with the fitting or maintaining of a hearing aid.
(3) a teacher of esophageal speech, a certified industrial audiometric technician or an audiometric screening technician provided that such person engages in no other practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.
(4) a person engaged in fulfilling the requirements set forth in clauses (2) and (3) of section one hundred and forty-four.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 146 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Penalty for Illegal Representation or Practice

Section 146. No person shall hold himself out as a speech-language pathologist or practice speech-language pathology unless he is licensed in accordance with the requirements of section 144 or section 144B or certified in accordance with the requirements of section 144A. No person shall use the title speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant or any other similar title or description in connection with his name or place of business unless that person is so licensed or certified.
No person shall hold himself out as an audiologist or practice audiology unless he is licensed in accordance with the requirements of section 144 or section 144B or certified in accordance with the requirements of section 144A. No person shall use the title audiologist or audiology assistant or any other similar title or description in connection with his name or place of business unless that person is so licensed or certified.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 147 - Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists; Fines and Penalties; False Oath or Affirmation; Fraudulent Representation

Section 147. Any person who violates any provision of sections one hundred and thirty-nine to one hundred and forty-six, inclusive, or who willfully makes a false oath or affirmation in any case in which an oath or affirmation is required under said sections, or who obtains or attempts to obtain registration by any willful fraudulent representation shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 148 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 149 to 162

Section 148. As used in sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive of this chapter, section one of chapter one hundred and fifty-six A, section forty-seven D of chapter one hundred and seventy-five, section sixty B of chapter two hundred and thirty-one, the following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—
''Acupuncture'', the practice of medicine based on Traditional Oriental Medical Theories; primarily the insertion of metal needles through the skin at certain points on the body, with or without the application of electric current, and with or without the application of heat to the needles, skin, or both, in an attempt to relieve pain or improve body function. Electroacupuncture, whether utilizing electrodes on the surface of the skin or current applied to inserted needles will be considered the practice of acupuncture.
''Board'', the board of registration in medicine, established under the provisions of section ten of chapter thirteen.
''Committee'', the committee on acupuncture of the board of registration in medicine, established under the provisions of section one hundred and forty-nine.
''Acupuncturist'', a person licensed under the provisions of sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive, to practice acupuncture.
''Acupuncture intern'', an acupuncture student engaged in practical training including needle insertion on human subjects in an acupuncture internship program approved by the committee on acupuncture.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 149 - Committee on Acupuncture

Section 149. The board of registration in medicine shall form a committee on acupuncture. Committee members will be appointed by the board with the following qualifications: one member shall be a licensed physician member of the board, one member shall be a licensed physician who has been actively involved with the practice of acupuncture for at least two years, one member shall be from the general public and shall not be engaged in or have a financial interest in the delivery of health services, and four members shall be acupuncture practitioners, chosen from a list of recommended individuals submitted by the Massachusetts Acupuncture Society, the New England School of Acupuncture, the Acupuncture Practitioners Association, the Oriental Traditional Medical Association, and any other professional acupuncture organization or institution engaged in teaching acupuncture under the provisions of chapter seventy-five D.
The board shall appoint four of the initial members to terms of three years, and three of the initial members to terms of two years. Thereafter, all appointees shall serve for terms of three years. Vacancies shall be filled by the board with persons who possess the qualification required of the original appointees. Those members appointed to the initial committee as acupuncturists need not be licensed as acupuncturists. Such members so appointed after the initial committee is appointed shall be licensed under the provisions of sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive, prior to such appointment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 150 - Adoption of Rules; Register of Licensed Acupuncturists; Meetings; Compensation

Section 150. The committee may adopt reasonable rules to carry into effect sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive, and may amend and revoke such rules at its discretion. The committee shall keep a record of its proceedings under said sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive, and a register of all persons registered and licensed by it. The register shall contain the name of every living registrant, his last known place of business and last known place of residence, and the date and number of his registration and certificate as a licensed acupuncturist. The committee shall during the month of May in every year in which the renewal of registration is required, compile a list of the name and address of every licensed acupuncturist in the commonwealth.
The committee shall meet not less than four times per calendar year. At the first meeting of each year, the committee shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary.
Committee members will receive the same compensation as members of the board of registration in medicine as set forth in section ten of chapter thirteen.
All monies received by the committee shall be paid monthly to the General Fund. All expenses and compensation of the committee shall be paid by the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 151 - Acupuncturists; Application for License

Section 151. A person who desires to be licensed and registered as an acupuncturist shall apply to the committee in writing on an application form prescribed and furnished by the committee. He shall include in his application statements under oath satisfactory to the committee, showing that he possess the qualifications preliminary to examination required by section one hundred and fifty-two. He shall pay to the committee at the time of his filing such application a fee which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 152 - Acupuncturists; Eligibility for Registration and Licensure

Section 152. To be eligible for registration and licensure by the committee as an acupuncturist an applicant shall:
(a) Be at least eighteen years of age,
(b) be of good moral character,
(c) demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language so that he may understand and be understood by patients and physicians, or have a translator available to communicate with patients and physicians,
(d) fulfill one of the following criteria:
(1) the applicant has successfully completed the equivalent of two academic years at an accredited university or college, including courses in anatomy, physiology, and biology, or has taken courses at a facility which is approved by the department of education to offer such courses, and has successfully completed a committee approved course of training in acupuncture of not less than two academic years, and one year of a committee approved acupuncture internship which may run concurrently with the two year academic course in acupuncture; and passes to the satisfaction of the committee an examination conducted by it to determine his fitness to engage in the practice of acupuncture, or
(2) the applicant may possess a current, valid acupuncture license or certificate from another state or foreign nation that is equivalent in its requirements to clauses (a), (b), and (d), or has equivalent training and experience as determined by the committee, and passes the examination administered by the committee as in clause (d).
(3) the applicant has legally practiced acupuncture as his primary activity since January first, nineteen hundred and eighty-three and has legally practiced acupuncture in the commonwealth for the twelve months immediately preceding the date of his application; and the applicant files his application within sixty days from the time the committee first accepts applications for the license to practice acupuncture; or
(4) the applicant is a legally practicing acupuncturist in the commonwealth on January first, nineteen hundred and eighty-six and the applicant files his application within sixty days from the time the committee first accepts applications for the license to practice acupuncture; and passes the examination administered by the committee as in clause (d). If any person so practicing acupuncture fails to pass the first announced examination, he may continue to practice acupuncture under the supervision of a licensed medical practitioner, as defined by the board of registration in medicine until the applicant takes the second announced examination. If any person so practicing acupuncture fails to pass the first and second announced examination, they must cease the practice of acupuncture upon due notice to the applicant of such failure.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 153 - Acupuncturists; Reciprocal Licensing

Section 153. The committee may enter into agreements with medical or acupuncture examination boards of other states and territories of the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, having qualifications and standards at least as high as those of the commonwealth, providing for reciprocal licensing in this state, without further examination, of persons who hold a valid license granted by written examination in the other state or territory, and who apply and remit fees as indicated in section one hundred and fifty-one.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 154 - Acupuncturists; Examinations

Section 154. The committee shall examine applicants for licensure as acupuncturists at least annually in such places as it may determine commencing in calendar year nineteen hundred and eighty-seven. The examination shall test the applicants competency in and knowledge of the theory and practice of acupuncture, medical ethics, medical terminology, and sufficient knowledge of anatomy and physiology so that safe practice could be expected. The type of examination shall be determined by the committee. Any applicant who fails to pass such examination may take a second examination upon the payment of an additional application fee which shall be determined annually by the commissioner of administration and finance under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven, and must be so re-examined at the next scheduled examination. Upon failure of an applicant to pass a second examination, the committee may require him to complete additional courses of study as designated by the committee, in which case he shall be required, before taking another examination, to present to the committee satisfactory evidence of having completed the required additional courses, and shall pay the re-examination fee as noted above.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 155 - Acupuncturists; Registration and Licensure; Certificate of Registration

Section 155. The committee shall register and license as an acupuncturist each applicant who proves to the satisfaction of the committee his fitness for licensure under the provisions of sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive. It shall issue to each person registered a Certificate of Registration, which shall be prima face evidence of the right of such person to represent himself as a licensed acupuncturist and authorized to use the initials L.Ac.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 156 - Acupuncturists; Renewal of Licenses

Section 156. The committee shall require that all acupuncturists registered in the commonwealth renew their licenses at two year intervals. The renewal date shall be the licensee's birthday, in the renewal year. The committee shall, by regulation, determine the renewal year. For the purpose of this section, the birthday of a person born on February twenty-ninth shall be deemed to be February twenty-eighth. Every renewal applicant shall complete a renewal application, as prescribed by the committee, and pay a fee which shall be determined by the commissioner of administration under the provisions of section three B of chapter seven. The license of any licensee who does not file a completed renewal application together with the fee shall be automatically revoked, but shall be revived upon completion of the renewal process.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 157 - Acupuncturists; Internship Programs

Section 157. A student of acupuncture who has creditably completed not less than one year of study in a committee approved acupuncture school, may practice acupuncture, but only in a committee approved internship program. Said internship program will require the supervision of interns by an instructor; which instructor shall be a registered and licensed acupuncturist in the commonwealth and a duly appointed field faculty member of a committee approved school of acupuncture. Said intern shall be identified as an acupuncture intern when in a clinical setting.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 158 - Acupuncturists; Revocation, Suspension, or Cancellation of Licenses; Liability of Complainants

Section 158. The committee may, after a hearing pursuant to chapter thirty A, revoke, suspend, or cancel the license of an acupuncturist, or reprimand or censure an acupuncturist if it finds upon proof satisfactory to the committee that such acupuncturist:
(a) fraudulently procured licensure as an acupuncturist;
(b) violated any provision of law relating to the practice of medicine or acupuncture, or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder;
(c) acted with gross misconduct in the practice of acupuncture or of practicing acupuncture fraudulently, or beyond its authorized scope, or with gross incompetence, or with gross negligence on a particular occasion or negligence on repeated occasions;
(d) practiced acupuncture while the ability to practice is impaired by alcohol, drugs, physical disability or mental instability;
(e) was habitually drunk or being or having been addicted to, dependent on, or a habitual user of narcotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having similar effects;
(f) knowingly permitted, aided or abetted an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license for purposes of fraud, deception or personal gain;
(g) has been convicted of a criminal offense which reasonably calls into question the ability to practice acupuncture;
(h) violated any rule or regulation of the board or the committee;
[There is no clause (i).]
(j) acted in a manner which is professionally unethical according to ethical standards of the profession of acupuncture.
No person filing a complaint or reporting information pursuant to this section or assisting the committee or board at its request in any manner in discharging its duties and functions shall be liable in any cause of action arising out of receiving such information or assistance, providing the person making the complaint or reporting or providing such information or assistance does so in good faith and without malice.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 159 - Acupuncturists; Enforcement; Penalties; Injunctions

Section 159. Any person who practices acupuncture in the commonwealth without a license granted pursuant to sections one hundred and fifty to one hundred and fifty-seven, inclusive, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than three months, or both such fine and imprisonment.
The committee may petition in any court of competent jurisdiction for an injunction against any person practicing acupuncture or any branch thereof without a license. Such injunction may be issued without proof of damage sustained by any person. Such injunction shall not relieve such person from criminal prosecution for practicing without a license.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XVI - Public Health › Chapter 112 - Registration of Certain Professions and Occupations › Section 160 - Acupuncturists; Penalty for Illegal Representation or Practice

Section 160. A person who does not possess a valid license and existing and current certificate of registration as an acupuncturist pursuant to the provisions of sections one hundred and forty-nine to one hundred and sixty-two, inclusive, shall not in any manner represent himself as an acupuncturist nor use in connection with his name the words or letters ''Acupuncturist'', ''Licensed Acupuncturist'', ''Doctor of Acupuncture'', ''Acupuncture Therapist'', ''L.Ac.'', ''R.Ac.'', or any other letter, words, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that he is an acupuncturist. Whoever, not being lawfully authorized to practice acupuncture within the commonwealth and registered under section one hundred and fifty-five, holds himself out as a practitioner of acupuncture or practices or attempts to practice acupuncture, or whoever practices acupuncture under a false or assumed name or under a name other than that by which he is registered, or whoever impersonates another practitioner, or whoever practices or attempts to practice any fraud in connection with the filing of an application, or whoever files an application under a false or assumed name or under a name other than his own, or whoever impersonates or attempts to impersonate another applicant for registration during an examination, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not less than one month nor more than one year, or both. A person rendering acupuncture services in violation of this section shall recover no compensation therefor.