Most UK acupuncturists are not statutorily regulated. As a member of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS) healthcare professionals subject to statutory regulation are offered training in Western medical acupuncture up to full accreditation status with the Diploma of Medical Acupuncture (Dip Med AC).
Professionals included are doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, health visitors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and podiatrists (306). The Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP) offers training courses for registered physiotherapists (307). The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is a self-regulating body for the practice of traditional acupuncture and represents most of the non-medically qualified acupuncturists (308).
The Local Government Act 2003 (similar laws in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) gives local authorities specific powers to regulate acupuncture practices (302).
302. DH (Department of Health) Professional Stadards Division. Joint UK-wide consultation on the Report to Ministers from the DH steering Group on the statutory regulation of practitioners of herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and other traditional medicine systems practised in the UK. London: 2009 Contract No.: 12123.
306. The British Medical Acupuncture Society (BMAS). Acupuncture Training Courses. The British Medical Acupuncture Society; 2012 [cited 2012 January 11, ]; Available from: http://www.medicalacupuncture.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=63.
307. Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP). Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists: Integrating evidence-based acupuncture into physiotherapy for the benefit of the patient. 2012 [cited 2012 January 11, ]; Available from: http://www.aacp.org.uk/.
308. British Acupuncture Council (BAcC). Statutory regulation. British Acupuncture Council; 2012 [cited 2012 January 11]; Available from: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/about-us/statutoryregulation.html.
