Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 15 - Mississippi Department of Health › Part 19 - Bureau of Professional Licensure › Subpart 60 - Professional Licensure › Chapter 8 - REGULATIONS GOVERNING LICENSURE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS › Subchapter 1 - General › Rule 15-19-60-8.1.4 - Requirements to Perform Dry Needling

Current through June 25, 2024
As with all other physical agent modalities in
						occupational therapy, dry needling is to be utilized in the therapeutic process
						in order to ultimately achieve improved function and therefore not to be
						applied as a stand-alone treatment. Dry needling does not include the
						stimulation of auricular or distal points. Dry needling is not part of an
						occupational therapist's academic or clinical preparation for entry-level
						practice; therefore, this rule establishes the minimum standards required for
						an occupational therapist to be deemed competent to perform dry
						needling.
1. Dry needling shall be
					 performed only by an occupational therapist who is competent by education and
					 training to perform dry needling as specified in this regulation.
					 Online/virtual/remote study and/or self-study for dry needling instruction
					 shall not be considered appropriate training.
2. An occupational therapist must meet the
					 following requirements in order to be deemed competent to perform dry needling:
a. A minimum of 3 years clinical experience
					 as a licensed occupational therapist
b. Documented successful completion of dry
					 needling course(s) of study approved by the Department that includes:
(i) A minimum of 50 hours face-to-face
					 instruction; an online study is not allowed. Advanced dry needling (i.e.,
					 craniofacial, spine, abdominal, etc..,) will require more advanced training
					 than the minimum requirements. It is the responsibility of each occupational
					 therapist to acquire specialty certification through additional training beyond
					 the minimum requirements.
(ii) Each
					 course shall specify which anatomical regions/structures are included in the
					 certification and whether the instruction was introductory or advanced concepts
					 in dry needling
(iii) Every course
					 instructor must be a licensed healthcare provider and have a minimum of two
					 years of experience performing dry needling
(iv) A practical examination and a written
					 examination with a passing score
(v) Anatomical review for safety and
					 effectiveness
(vi) Indications and
					 contraindications for dry needling
(vii) Management of adverse effects
(vii) Evidence-based instructions on the
					 theory of dry needling
(ix) Sterile
					 needle procedures which shall include the standards of the U.S. centers for
					 disease control or the U.S. occupational safety and health
					 administration
c. An
					 occupational therapist performing dry needling in his/her practice must have
					 written informed consent for each patient that is maintained in the patient's
					 chart/medical record. The patient must sign and receive a copy of an informed
					 consent form created by the therapist. The consent form must, at a minimum,
					 clearly state the following information:
(i)
					 Risks and benefits of dry needling
(ii) The occupational therapist's level of
					 education and training in dry needling
(iii) The occupational therapist will not dry
					 needle any auricular or points distal to the identified treatment
					 area