Acupuncturist License Application

Individuals considering applying for initial licensure or relicensure as an acupuncturist or reactivation of their current Inactive Texas acupuncture license should review the documents below for more information about eligibility, the application, and the required documentation and fees before submitting their applications. An application fee may be refunded under certain circumstances. However, other surcharges and fees assessed at the time of application are non-refundable.  

Individuals considering applying for reissuance of their Texas acupuncture license after revocation are required to meet the same statutory eligibility requirements as initial licensure applicants. In addition, statements explaining how reissuance of the acupuncture license is in your best interest and in the best interest of the public will be required. 

Helpful Documents

• Eligibility Checklist
• Sample Application

Texas has a two-stage application process – Pre-Licensure/Screening and Licensing. 

Stage 1 - Pre-Licensure/Screening

• You will be emailed within three business days after you apply with a list of documents required for your application. These items are generated based on your application. 

• Submit the documents listed in the email. Supporting documents can be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the Board from the applicant and third-parties. We recommend using one of the private overnight delivery services that allow tracking to submit all required items. These services require delivery to a physical address and a phone number. Delivery by a private overnight service to our physical address usually allows you to obtain immediate online confirmation of delivery from the carrier.

• Items mailed through the US Postal Service (regular, certified, express, or overnight), must be addressed to our mailing address, or they will be returned to the sender. A vendor signs for and delivers these items to our agency. Even if a tracking mechanism is used, the signature confirming receipt of items delivered to the mailing address will be that of a vendor employee, making confirmation of delivery more difficult.

• Check your email frequently to track receipt of the items and submit questions. Applicants who both call and email questions when they don’t get an immediate response, delay staff response time and increase application processing time. Email correspondence received by the Board will be answered by staff in the order received. Please allow 3-5 business days for a response. 

During Pre-licensure/Screening, the documentation requested is based on the standard requirements for licensure and information provided with the application. Documents are not reviewed for content during the pre-licensure stage and additional information may be required once an application has been moved to Licensing. Completing Stage 1 (Pre-Licensure/Screening) does not mean you are eligible for licensure.  Only after you complete Stage 2 (Licensing) are you determined to be ready for licensure.

Stage 2 - Licensing

• You’ve submitted all of the documents required for your application in Pre-Licensure/Screening.

• Your application has been assigned to a licensing analyst.

• Keep checking your email. Your licensing analyst will email you requests for additional items.

• Individual application processing time will vary based on the complexity of the application. Factors that increase the processing time may include, but are not limited to, answering “yes” to any of the Professionalism questions on the application or failing to follow instructions when submitting documentation. However, failing to answer application questions truthfully may be considered falsification of your application, will increase the processing time of your application, and could result in punitive action by the Board.

Application Complete

• Congratulations! You are ready to be licensed.

• A temporary license can be issued if you submitted a Temporary License Affidavit and paid the $107 fee. The Temporary License allows you to practice between the time Board staff approves your application and the licensing date you will be scheduled to receive your permanent license. Temporary licenses are valid for 100 days and may be extended for 30 days, if necessary.

• Licenses are issued four times per year.

• Register your license.  You will receive a letter and an email within 2 weeks of being licensed, with registration instructions.

Helpful Document

• Temporary License Affidavit

Application Fee: The fee for acupuncture licensure in Texas is $320.00. Additional non-refundable surcharges related to the National Practitioner Data Bank/Health Integrity Data Bank and the Texas Physician Health Program may be assessed with the application fee. The entire fee must be submitted before your application can be assigned and processed.

Temporary License Fee: The fee to issue a temporary license is $107.00.  If requested, a temporary license can be issued once you have met all the requirements for permanent licensure to enable you to practice until the issuance of your permanent license on the next scheduled licensing date. Permanent licenses are issued four times a year. 

Application-Related Fees:   Fees are typically required from other entities that provide documents or services.  IdentoGo by IDEMIA does charge a fee for processing the criminal history check.