Here's the recent ruling:

"Accordingly you are advised that under the current statute, physical therapists are not authorized to engage in dry needling or intramuscular stimulation." - NJ Attorney General
 
A few key points include:
·         For the reasons expressed below, under the current statutory construct, physical therapists are not authorized to engage in the practice of dry needling.
·         Traditionally, the modalities used in physical therapy have not involved the piercing of the skin, witness the treatments delineated in the definition above which do not involve invasive procedures.
·         Nor is it reasonable to conclude that the Board possesses the authority to so significantly expand the scope of practice to include dry needling through the regulatory process.
·         However, the Assembly Bill was referred to the Regulated Professions Committee which in a statement dated February 22, 2016, reported on an amendment removing all references to "intramuscular manual therapy." Additionally, the fact that such an amendment is viewed as necessary to expand the scope of practice speaks in some measure to the absence of a present authority.
·         Significantly (NJ Acupuncture Regulations) does not include physical therapists among the practitioners authorized to engage in acupuncture -- a practice that explicitly involves the insertion of needles.