Practice hour requirements
Practice hour requirements are set by the Government of Alberta in the Acupuncturists Profession Regulation.
During practice permit renewal, a regulated member must provide evidence of 1,200 practice hours in the past 5 years or was enrolled in a program of studies recognized by the Council.
What time period should I input for my practice hours? The last year, or the last three years?
Input your practice hours for the last renewal cycle (April 1-March 31). The system will keep a running total of the last 5 renewal cycles.
Included in practice hours
Practice includes time spent to:
- diagnose, treat and prevent diseases, disorders and dysfunctions using methods based on the holistic principles of traditional Chinese medicine and on using methods of stimulating acupuncture points and meridians,
- provide restricted activities authorized by the regulations, and
- teach, manage and conduct research in the science, techniques and practice of acupuncture.
What are practice hours?
Practice hours include hours spent researching, charting, making patient plans, etc.
Why practice hours are important
It's important for acupuncturists to maintain currency hours for public safety reasons. Acupuncturists perform a restricted activity, which poses a higher risk to public safety. Meeting the required number of practice hours maintains an acupuncturist's skills and helps a practitioner remain current with best practices.