Physical Therapists have 3 years of post graduate education, typically culminating in a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.  They must have 54 additional hours of training in dry needling in order to perform this treatment.  Dry needling is not accupuncture.  The treatment and the goals are different.  PTs have successfully been performing dry needling for over 10 years in VA as part of an MD approved treatment protocol for patients where this aspect of care is deemed necessary.  The gloom and doom predictions made by accupuncturists are unfounded and uneducated.