Above anything else, dry needling is a public safety concern. Traditional acupuncturists train and study for over 3,000 hours, whereas physical therapists practicing dry needling are only required 50 or so hours. This is an issue because since acupuncture points are being targeted, dry needling IS acupuncture. Consquently, the proper training and licensing should be required to prevent injuries from happening—there have already been cases reported where patients are injured due to dry needling. To perform dry needling is an attempt to bypass acupuncture laws and regulations, and allowing physical therapists to perform dry needling would be allowing them to engage in acts outside the scope of their training. 

The theory of dry needling is an adaptation of Ashi point of acupuncture, and the balance point theory of dry needling is based on the acupunture distal points. Additionally, both the needles PTs are using and the diseases they are trying to treat are the same as the ones acupuncturists use. 

Indeed, dry needling is acupunture, and only licensed acupuncturists should engage acts relating to acupuncture (ranging from performing dry needling and using the acupunture needles).