Continuing Acupuncture Education Approved Provider Application Instructions

The Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners (TSBAE) requires a license holder to complete continuing acupuncture education (CAE) approved by the board each year in order to maintain licensure. 

Courses offered by approved providers may be used by a licensee to satisfy the CAE requirement.  Approved providers do not have to submit each individual course for approval by the TSBAE.   

Board rules regarding CAE and approved providers can be found at http://www.tmb.state.tx.us/, under Laws, Rules & Guidelines, Chapter 183.20.  Here are highlights of some of the requirements:

• Providers must obtain approval of different course submissions on an annual basis for three consecutive years
• Providers must have no history of complaints or reprimands.
• Provider approval expires three years after it is issued by the board and may be renewed.
• Approved providers must offer CAE programs that are presented or instructed by persons who meet the minimum criteria for instructors, as defined in board rule.
• Approved providers must maintain certain records for a period of four years.
• Approved providers must submit certain records within ten days of the board's request.
• Approved providers must issue certificates of completion to participants containing certain information within a specified time.
• Approved providers must notify the board within 30 days of any changes in organizational structure and other key information.
• Provider approval is non transferable.

To apply for approved provider status:

1. Complete and submit the CAE Provider Approval Application.
2. Submit the required fee of $50.
3. Submit a list of CAE courses previously approved by the board, with the date of approval for each course, to demonstrate three years previous experience providing approved CAE courses in Texas. The TSBAE defines three continuous years experience as submission and approval of courses for three consecutive years

CAE Approved Provider Application

Applications must be processed by staff and found to be in order at least 30 days prior to the next board meeting to be assured consideration at that meeting. The form in this packet must be used.

Texas State Board of Acupuncture Examiners

Continuing Acupuncture Education:

Guidelines for Approval/Recognition of Courses for Credit

May 4, 2007

The following guidelines are used by staff to determine course approval/recognition.

Course Approval

CAE courses are recognized for credit without approval of staff or the board if the provider is a preferred provider.

o   Preferred providers must submit application, fee, documentation, and be approved by the TSBAE. 

o   Once approved, the preferred providers are trusted to offer appropriate courses within the guidelines and the board’s rules (Board Rule 183.20).

CAE courses are approved for credit by staff if:

• The provider is a not a preferred provider;
• Instructor qualifications in rule are met (Board Rule 183.20(s));
• Procedural, documentation and all other requirements are met; and
• The course content meets requirements for staff approval.

CAE courses are referred to the TSBAE’s Education Committee for determination if a non-preferred provider requests approval of a course and the course content does not meet requirements for staff approval or there is some other issue related to compliance with board rules.

Preferred Providers

Providers are approved by the Continuing Education Committee of the TSBAE upon submission of appropriate documentation and demonstration of compliance with the board’s rules (Board Rules 183.20(r), 183.20(s)).

Qualifications include three years previous experience providing CAE courses in Texas that were approved by the board and no history of complaints or reprimands with the board.  Approval expires three years after it is issued by the board and may be renewed upon the filing of the required application and fee.

Preferred providers must comply with board rule regarding course content: that it must be related to the practice of acupuncture or oriental medicine, and be related to the knowledge and/or technical skills required to practice acupuncture or related to direct and/or indirect patient care (Board Rule 183.20(n)(1)). In addition, preferred providers must ensure that CAE programs that presented are instructed by persons who meet the minimum criteria in board rule.   Preferred providers must agree to maintain records and comply with other requirements as specified in board rule (Board Rules 183.20(r), 183.20(s)).

Preferred providers will be required to report to the board, on a periodic basis, information about courses they offered as preferred providers.  This information will be reviewed by the Education Committee of the TSBAE and is subject to audit by board staff.

Course Content Requirements for Staff Approval

Non-preferred providers may be eligible for staff approval of CAE courses if the following course content requirements are met:

1. Course content must be related to the practice of acupuncture or oriental medicine, and be related to the knowledge and/or technical skills required to practice acupuncture or related to direct and/or indirect patient care (Board Rule 183.20(n)(1)).

2. Content requested is equivalent to content of courses currently approved by the TSBAE.   All courses with current approval by the TSBAE have been assigned keyword indices, which are available for search by staff.  Staff may also search currently approved courses for key words in course titles.

Hours granted by staff will be consistent with, and not exceed, hours currently approved by the board for courses with equivalent content.

All procedural and documentation requirements must also be met.

Procedural Requirements

1. Application to Become a Preferred Provider
• Provider submits application and fee
• Staff reviews application for completeness
• Application is presented to the Education Committee of the TSBAE for approval.

1. Application for CAE Course Approval by a Non-Preferred Provider
• Provider submits application and fee

o   Staff reviews the applications to determine if:

• Course clearly meets content requirements for staff approval;
• Method of instruction is adequate;
• Instructor qualifications in ruleare met, and,
• The provider complies with all other procedural and documentation requirements.

o   If all requirements for staff approval are met, staff approves the CAE course(s).

o   If course content has not previously been approved by the TSBAE or there is some other issue related to compliance with board rules, staff refers application to Education Committee of TSBAE for review.

Keyword List for CAE Courses Currently Approved by the TSBAE

(to be used to research courses for similar content)