In Delaware, licensed acupuncturists are required to renew their licenses biennially, with the renewal period ending on March 31 of odd-numbered years. As part of the renewal process, practitioners must complete 30 hours of Professional Development Activity (PDA) points within each two-year cycle. These PDAs are designed to ensure that acupuncturists maintain and enhance their professional knowledge and skills. 


Continuing Education Requirements:

  • Total Hours: 30 PDA points every two years.

  • Core Knowledge and Skills: At least 15 of the required 30 PDA points must enhance core knowledge, skills, and abilities. These should focus on biomedicine and/or one of the five branches of Oriental medicine, which include:

    • Acupuncture
    • Chinese herbs
    • Chinese dietary therapy
    • Qigong
    • Asian bodywork therapy

  • Safety and Ethics: Within the 15 core PDA points, a minimum of 4 points must be dedicated to safety and/or ethics topics. Examples include:

    • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
    • Herbal safety
    • Universal precautions
    • Clean needle techniques
    • Ethics and liability
    • Public health reporting requirements

  • Electives: The remaining 15 PDA points can be obtained through elective courses that directly contribute to the licensee's knowledge or practice of acupuncture. These may include topics such as:

    • Western medical sciences
    • Medical ethics
    • Medical research
    • Practice management
    • Adjunctive therapies
    • Patient education
    • Disaster relief training

It's important to note that Delaware accepts NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) certification for license renewal. Therefore, courses approved by the NCCAOM are valid for meeting Delaware's PDA requirements. 


Record-Keeping and Audits:

Licensees are required to retain all certificates and documented evidence of completed PDAs for at least three years. While submission of these documents is not necessary during the renewal process, the Delaware Acupuncture Advisory Council may conduct random audits to verify compliance. Upon request, practitioners must provide documentation to substantiate their completed continuing education activities. 


Proration for New Licensees:

For practitioners licensed during a renewal cycle, PDA requirements are prorated based on the time remaining in the cycle:

  • Two years remaining: 30 PDA points required.
  • One year remaining: 15 PDA points required.
  • Less than one year remaining: Exempt from PDA requirements for that cycle.