I am currently a New York State Licensed Acupuncturist and NCCAOM Board Certified Diplomate of Acupuncture.  Changing my full time career from a 14-year professional engineer to a state licensed acupuncturist, I attended 3.5 years of proper, formal and rigourous training, education and clinical internships for my Master's degree in Acupuncture, and this included over 3000 hours of training and education.  I then passed three board exams by NCCAOM in order to obtain my license and practice acupuncture in the State of New York.  Therefore, I strongly agree with the following statements:

1. I oppose dry needling performed by physical therapists without proper training, education and internships as required for licensed acupuncturists in the United States.

2. Dry needling is a form of acupuncture modality and should not be allowed or practiced by physical therapists.

3. Dry needling is out of the scope of physical therapists.  It is against the public safety and health if performed by a physical therapist without the training and education as required for a licensed acupuncturist.