PTs claim the are doing needling using a western medical paradigm and thus are not doing acupuncture.    Medical Acupuncture as practiced by MDs also uses the same paradigm yet the training in Medical Acupuncture is 300 hours for an already  highly trained medical practitioner.   

How much of the 54 hours covers safe needling practices vs application of treatment methods and theory?

Add 4 semesters of needling TECHNIQUE classes and at least a year of supervised clinical needling to come close to what is taught in acupuncture schools (not including the supporting theory classes).   Then the public safety may be better protected from undertrained PTs doing "dry" needling.