Dear Virginia Acupuncture Board, I have been a decade in the field of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. I also run a board review company training acupuncturists to sit for their licensing exam. I've worked with over 5,000 students in that time. I work with California, National and International students sitting their NCCAOM, Pan Canadian and California licensing exams. In those years, I have worked with many MD's, DC's and PT's who trained in weekend acupuncture seminars who later for one reason or another decide to go back and attend acupuncture school (all 4 years).  Never had I once heard of any of these MD's, DC's and PT's say they regretted it.

Acupuncture is a very old system of treatment. Pulling out one nuance of the medicine, changing it's name and repackaging it as a new technique doesn't make it a new technique.  That is what is happening with Dry Needling. That is not to say that it doesn't work.  Putting a acupuncture needle anywhere in the body is going to work simply because acupuncture/dry needling works with the nervous system and the cascade of chemical reactions that are set of with the insertion of a needle.  This doesn't mean it's safe to practice with just a weekend course. My students who came from other professions will vouche for that.  I am not against PT's practicing acupuncture. It is a very effective medicine and can help hundreds of patients stay off pain medication.  However, they need to be properly trained in its use. And, they should be required to work under Acupuncturists where they can be monitored and have a mentor that they can consult as it's proper use. 

In the literature where there have been acupuncture accidents, they were not caused by acupuncturists but by PT's, massage therapists and DC who were not trained professional.  I would urge you to exercise caution and work for the public by denying Pt's the use of acupuncture in your state.