DRY NEEDLING REGULATIONS
Dry needling requirements by state.
Explore the published regulatory position for physical therapists, chiropractors, athletic trainers, acupuncturists and physicians or nurse practitioners across the United States.
Start with your profession—but verify independently.
A status shown here is a general reference, not a determination that an individual practitioner may perform dry needling. Requirements can depend on licence type, education, certification, supervision, setting and current board interpretation.
COLOUR MAP BY PROFESSION
AllowedConditional / profession-specificProhibited / separate licenceSilent / unclear
Search the complete state directory
51 jurisdictions shown
| State | Physical therapists | Chiropractors | Athletic trainers | Acupuncturists | Physicians / NPs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Alaska | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Arizona | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Arkansas | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| California | Prohibited | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Colorado | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Connecticut | Silent/No specific provision | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Delaware | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| District of Columbia | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Florida | Allowed | Allowed (certification required) | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Georgia | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Hawaii | Prohibited | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Idaho | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Illinois | Allowed | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Indiana | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Iowa | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Kansas | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Kentucky | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Louisiana | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Maine | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Maryland | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Massachusetts | Silent/No specific provision | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Michigan | Silent/No specific provision | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Minnesota | Silent/No specific provision | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Mississippi | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Missouri | Silent/No specific provision | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Montana | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Nebraska | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Nevada | Allowed | Allowed (certification required) | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| New Hampshire | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| New Jersey | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| New Mexico | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| New York | Prohibited | Prohibited | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| North Carolina | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Allowed | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| North Dakota | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Ohio | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Oklahoma | Silent/No specific provision | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Oregon | Prohibited | Prohibited | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Pennsylvania | Silent/No specific provision | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Rhode Island | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| South Carolina | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| South Dakota | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Tennessee | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Allowed | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Texas | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Utah | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Vermont | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Virginia | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Washington | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| West Virginia | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Wisconsin | Allowed | Prohibited/Requires separate acupuncture license | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |
| Wyoming | Allowed | Silent/Unclear | Silent/Unclear | Allowed (as acupuncture) | Allowed (scope-dependent; training required) |