| --Type Summary Here-- |
| August 29, 2002 |
| Honorable Gray Davis |
| Governor, State of California |
| State Capitol |
| Sacramento, CA 95814 |
| Re: AB 1943 (Chu) - Acupuncturist Education - Support |
| The Council or Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Associations (CAOMA), representing seven professional California acupuncture associations (by language or ethnic groups), is the sponsor of AB-1943, now before you for signature. It is our hope that you will agree with your “Acupuncture Board” appointed representatives, as well as the represented acupuncture profession, and now the Legislature, that the minimum entry educational hours he increased from 2,348 to 3,000 hours, as set forth by the Board. |
| While our profession has long held that a 4,O00-hour training program should become the minimal standard for the profession, AB 1943, takes a step in the right direction. Educational standards for our profession were last raised in 1985, and schools have since continued to swell their programs up to over 3100 hours, including 750 hours of unstandardized curriculum! This has raised very serious concerns from students and members of our profession, especially those who most recently graduated. In fact, 35% of licensees recently surveyed reported that their acupuncture training program did not adequately prepare them for their first year in practice. Their expressed concern were deficiencies or weaknesses in clinical training, traditional Chinese medicine, western medicine, and herbal medicine. |
| The Acupuncture Board recognized this situation by 1999, convened a “Curriculum Task Force,” and adopted 3,200 hours as the new standard. Their (then) proposed administrative regulation package was held-up by the Department of Consumer Affairs and the required time-lines had past. This process was again taken by the Board in 2001, with a new “Competencies and Educational Outcomes Task Force” who, after a comprehensive and objective review, recommended a 3,000 hour curriculum be adopted. The Board did adopt the Task Force recommendation earlier this year. AB 1943, reflects this objective. |
| Furthermore, related issues such as “Scope or Practice,” “Insurance coverage,” and “Workers' Compensation,” and “educational competencies” in preview to a (3000 to) 4,000 hour curriculum will he the subject matter for the “Little Hoover Commission,” should you sign or allow SB 1951 (Figueroa) to become law. |
| We urge your further support of our profession by signing AB 1943 into law. |
| Should you have any question(s) in this regard, please do not hesitate in contacting us. |
| Sincerely, |
| Ta Fang Chen, OMD, LAc |
| President |