I am an international student at Shenandoah University and this is my thoughts are dry needling and arcupuncture. I grew up in South Korea and had a lot of positive experiences after receving arcupuncture treatments when I injuired myself. When I came to the U.S., I learned about dry needling and I was supporsed the fact that a lot of people thought that dry needling and arcupuncture are the same treatment. I can see why some people argue that dry needling and acupuncture are the same treatment, however, these are not the same. Using similar instrument does not mean that these treatments are the same because they have different method and principle of treatment. 

Some people argue that PTs do not have enough knowledge to perform dry needling after completing 50(+) hours of certification courses. However, a recent study by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy found that 86% of the knowledge and skills required to perform trigger point dry needling is obtained upon their graduation. Therefore, based on the knoweldge in anatomy and histology that was obtained during the schooling years, the certification course is just an introduction of how to handle the instrupment. 

I think the confusion comes from the use of similar instrupment and not knowing the fact that people do not know physical therapist's level of education (doctor of physical therapy).