Who Can Do Dry Needling in New York?

In New York, licensed acupuncturists are authorized to provide dry needling, according to the state's Office of the Professions. Licensed physicians and dentists can apply for state certification to use acupuncture. The state has also said that chiropractors may not perform dry needling. New York has no official definition of dry needling, so the license behind the needle matters.

What New York has said

The New York State Education Department's Office of the Professions oversees the licensed professions. In a practice alert on dry needling, it states:

• There is no official New York State definition of dry needling.
• Licensed acupuncturists are authorized to provide dry needling services under their scope of practice.
• Licensed physicians and dentists may apply for a certification to use acupuncture.
• Chiropractors have no authority to treat by the insertion of needles, so they are precluded from performing dry needling in New York State.

The office also notes that law, rules and regulations, not alerts, set the requirements for practice. An alert explains how the office reads the law.

Why acupuncture law covers it

New York's Education Law defines acupuncture as treating "by means of mechanical, thermal or electrical stimulation effected by the insertion of needles," among other methods. The same law says only a person licensed or certified under the acupuncture law may practice acupuncture.

That fits how I describe the method. Dry needling is a specialized branch of acupuncture, with roots in the Ling Shu, and it requires additional training. There are several ways to perform it, including trigger point needling, motor point needling, intramuscular stimulation and electroacupuncture added to the needles.

Physicians and dentists who hold the state's acupuncture certification use the title "certified acupuncturist." Only people licensed under the acupuncture law may use the title "licensed acupuncturist," which is what LAc stands for.

Why the rules can be confusing

Each state sets its own rules. At a September 2024 meeting of New York's State Board for Acupuncture, members noted that only five states still do not allow physical therapists to practice dry needling, and that other professions are seeking the ability to practice it too.

That is why national articles and videos often describe dry needling as a physical therapy technique. It may be true where the writer lives. New York's own definition of physical therapy lists methods such as heat, cold, light, air, water, sound, electricity, massage, mobilization and therapeutic exercise. It does not mention needles.

What to ask before you book

Because New York has no official definition, two people can use the words "dry needling" for quite different things. A few questions help:

• What New York license or certification allows you to insert needles? The Office of the Professions online verification search shows the license a person holds.
• Was your dry needling training part of a degree program or a short course, and how much supervised needling did it include?
• Which dry needling methods do you use, and which would you use for my problem?
• If my problem involves the pelvic floor, do you have pelvic floor specific dry needling training?

My own training

I am a Doctor of Acupuncture (DAc, LAc), licensed in New York State and board certified. I have done dry needling for more than 18 years, hold advanced certifications in dry needling, and have more than 40,000 documented dry needling visits. Every treatment in my North New Hyde Park clinic is done by me. Dry needling is often part of my care for problems such as back pain and deep hip pain. You can read more on my About page.

Dry needling works alongside medical care. If your pain is new or severe, your primary care doctor or orthopedist should evaluate it first.

If you are not sure what is causing your pain, try the My Symptoms tool.