2023 West Virginia Code › Chapter 30. Professions and Occupations › Article 36. Acupuncturists › §30-36-10. Qualifications of Applicants for Licensure; and Qualifications for Certificate Holders

(a) To qualify for a license, an applicant shall:
(1) Be free of a felony conviction bearing a rational nexus to the profession pursuant to 30-1-24 of this code;
(2) Be at least 18 years of age;
(3) Demonstrate competence in performing acupuncture by meeting one of the following standards for education, training, or demonstrated experience:
(A) Graduation from a course of training of at least 1,800 hours, including 300 clinical hours, that is:
(i) Approved by the national accreditation commission for schools and colleges of acupuncture and oriental medicine; or
(ii) Found by the board to be equivalent to a course approved by the national accreditation commission for schools and colleges of acupuncture and oriental medicine;
(B) Achievement of a passing score on an examination that is:
(i) Given by the national commission for the certification of acupuncturists; or
(ii) Determined by the board to be equivalent to the examination given by the national commission for the certification of acupuncturists;
(C) Successful completion of an apprenticeship consisting of at least 2,700 hours within a five-year period under the direction of an individual properly approved by that jurisdiction to perform acupuncture; or
(D) Performance of the practice of acupuncture in accordance with the law of another jurisdiction or jurisdictions for a period of at least three years within the five years immediately prior to application that consisted of at least 500 patient visits per year; and
(4) Achievement of any other qualifications that the board establishes in rules.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this code to the contrary, to qualify for a certificate as an auricular detoxification specialist, an applicant shall:
(1) Be at least 18 years old;
(2) Be authorized in this state to engage in any of the following:
(A) Physician assistant, pursuant to 30-3E-1
et seq.
of this code;
(B) Dentist, pursuant to 30-4-1
et seq.
of this code;
(C) Registered professional nurse, pursuant to 30-7-1
et seq.
of this code;
(D) Practical nurse, pursuant to 30-7A-1
et seq.
of this code;
(E) Psychologist, pursuant to 30-21-1
et seq.
of this code;
(F) Occupational therapist, pursuant to 30-28-1
et seq.
of this code;
(G) Social worker, pursuant to 30-30-1
et seq.
of this code;
(H) Professional counselor, pursuant to 30-31-1
et seq.
of this code;
(I) Emergency medical services provider, pursuant to 16-4C-1
et seq.
of this code;
(J) Corrections medical providers, pursuant to 15A-1-1
et seq.
of this code; or
(K) Any other profession the board determines is eligible to engage in the practice of auricular acudetox.
(3) Provide evidence of successful completion of a board-approved auricular acudetox program;
(4) Submit a completed application as prescribed by the board; and
(5) Submit the appropriate fees as provided for by legislative rule.
(c) A certificate may be issued to a retired or inactive professional as described in 30-36-10(b) of this code:
Provided
, That the professional meets the qualifications for a certificate holder and the last three years of professional activity were performed in good standing:
Provided, however
, That a person who holds a certificate or its equivalent in another jurisdiction as an auricular detoxification specialist may be approved by the board to practice auricular acudetox during a public health emergency or state of emergency for a duration to be provided for in legislative rules of the board.