Acupuncture Titles and Abbreviations

Unfortunately, figuring out whether an acupuncturist is licensed is not as easy as it looks. Although the most common degree designation for an acupuncturist is LAc, some states use different titles or abbreviations to signify that their practitioners are licensed.

Listed below are some of the most commonly used abbreviations (and their titles) in the acupuncture and Oriental medicine profession. If you know of another title or organization that should be on this list, please contact us at and we will add it to the list.

Professional Titles

Abbreviation	Title
ABT	Asian Bodywork Therapist
AcD	Acupuncture Doctor (used in Canada)
AP	Acupuncture Physician (used in Florida)
ASA	American Society of Acupuncturists
CA, CAc	Certified Acupuncturist
CH	Chinese Herbalist
CT	Clinical Technician
DAc	Doctor of Acupuncture (used in Hawaii)
D. Acu	Doctor of Acupuncture (used in Rhode Island)
DACM	Doctorate of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
Dipl. ABT	Diplomate in Asian Bodywork Therapy
Dipl. Ac.	Diplomate in Acupuncture
Dipl. CH	Diplomate in Chinese Herbalism
Dipl. OM	Diplomate in Oriental Medicine
DNBAO	Diplomate, National Board of Acupuncture Orthopedics
DAOM	Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
DOM	Doctor of Oriental Medicine
DTCM, Dr. TCM	Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine (used in Canada)
FIAMA	Fellow, International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
LAc, Lic. Ac.	Licensed Acupuncturist
MAOM	Master, Art of Oriental Medicine
MSOM	Master, Science of Oriental Medicine
MTCM	Master, Traditional Chinese Medicine
MTOM	Master, Traditional Oriental Medicine
OMD	Oriental Medicine Doctor
PhD	Doctor of Philosophy
RAc, Reg. Ac.	Registered Acupuncturist (used in Colorado and Canada)
R. TCM. H.	Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbalist (used in Canada)
R. TCM. P.	Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (used in Canada)
TCMD	Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor (used in Canada)

Organizational Titles

Abbreviation	Organization
AAMA	American Academy of Medical Acupuncture
AAOM	American Association of Oriental Medicine
ACAOM	Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
AOBTA	American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia
CCAOM	Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
FAOMRA	Federation of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Regulatory Agencies
IAMA	International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
IVAS	International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
NADA	National Acupuncture Detoxification Association
NAOMA	National Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance
NCCAOM	National Commission for the Certification of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
NSAA	National Sports Acupuncture Association
SAR	Society for Acupuncture Research