Shaw Vivien, Paterson Nina, Moir Felicity
Anatomy Department, Hull York Medical School, Hull, UK.
Northern College of Acupuncture, York, UK.
Med Acupunct. 2025 Apr 17;37(2):100-105. doi: 10.1089/acu.2024.0133. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Acupuncture is not regulated in the United Kingdom, and in this review article, we look at how voluntary regulation, predicated on accredited degree-level acupuncture courses, is structured for professional nonphysician acupuncturists. These are practitioners for whom acupuncture is their primary mode of treatment, and who do not have an additional medical qualification.
We describe how acupuncture education is set up and accredited, at the common syllabus shared by accredited acupuncture colleges, and how best teaching practices are employed.
Patient safety is an essential component of any healthcare training program, and we explore how professional acupuncturists meet the same standards required of other healthcare professionals through registration with the UK government Professional Standards Authority. There are also a number of nonaccredited courses available within the United Kingdom that do not meet this standard, and we explain how a patient can ensure that they find an appropriately qualified practitioner.
The voluntary accreditation system that underpins the high-level college education available in the United Kingdom also makes it possible for there to be reciprocal agreements with organisations globally, such as the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in the United States. These reciprocal agreements allow students from around the world to come to the United Kingdom to train, knowing that their qualifications will be recognized in their home country.
针灸在英国不受监管。在这篇综述文章中，我们探讨了基于认可的学位水平针灸课程的自愿监管是如何为专业非医师针灸师构建的。这些从业者以针灸作为主要治疗方式，且没有额外的医学资质。
我们描述了针灸教育是如何在认可的针灸学院共享的通用教学大纲基础上设立和认证的，以及如何采用最佳教学实践。
患者安全是任何医疗培训项目的重要组成部分，我们探讨了专业针灸师如何通过向英国政府专业标准管理局注册来达到与其他医疗专业人员相同的要求标准。英国也有一些不符合该标准的非认可课程，我们解释了患者如何确保找到资质合格的从业者。
支撑英国高水平学院教育的自愿认证系统也使得与全球组织达成互惠协议成为可能，比如美国的针灸及东方医学国家认证委员会。这些互惠协议让世界各地的学生来英国培训时，知道他们的资质在本国将得到认可。
