You’ve decided to get acupuncture, and now you need to find the best Acupuncturist for you. Here are my top tips to help you find the right practitioner.
What is the difference between a Registered Acupuncturist and an Acupuncture Provider?
Acupuncturist is a designation, but acupuncture is also a modality that is offered by a number of practitioner types in Ontario. Registered Acupuncturists and Registered TCM Practitioners are Registered Health Practitioners who have extensive training in acupuncture and offer it as their primary modality. It can also be available from some health care providers such as chiropractors, physiotherapists and others.
The designation of Registered Acupuncturist is also often shortened to R.Ac. This is a practitioner that has extensive training in and is licensed to provide acupuncture treatments as well as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis.
A Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCMP) is also usually a Registered Acupuncturist but with additional training and a license to offer TCM herbal medicine.
Ask family and friends if they know of a good Acupuncturist
Personal recommendations can yield great results, but not everyone has the same criteria in choosing a practitioner. And not all Acupuncturists provide the same kind of treatments.
If your brother had a great experience with a sports injury treatment, but you’re currently looking for fertility care – his Acupuncturist may not be the best fit for you. Or maybe they would be, but you should definitely check them out further. Recommendations can be a good start but you probably need to ask a few questions and narrow it down from there.
What kind of training do Acupuncturists receive?
Both R.Acs and R.TCMPs undergo extensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology as well as TCM theory and applied practice of acupuncture. Most Registered Acupuncturist programs are three years of full time study, while Registered TCM Practitioners are typically four years of study.
The R.Ac education includes theory, supervised clinical practice and may include co-op placement prior to graduation. They learn safe needling techniques and clean needle theory. Applicants must then pass a challenging board examination before being insured and granted a license to practice in Ontario.
Note that acupuncture training can vary widely for healthcare practitioners that are called ‘acupuncture providers’ (such as some physiotherapists, chiropractors and registered massage therapists). Unless they hold dual certification and are also licensed as Registered Acupuncturists, it is likely that their acupuncture training is significantly less and they are not trained in TCM diagnostics. The minimum program length is approximately 6 weekends of study, with minimal or no hands-on practice time (some programs are now entirely online).
Are you in any special interest groups that can recommend an Acupuncturist?
If you are in support groups for a specific health issue these folks can be a great source of information, especially if it is a local organization. Groups can provide valuable feedback on practitioners that are experienced with exactly the kind of condition you need help with.
For sports enthusiasts, your local hiking or biking club may yield some suggestions for suitable treatment providers that focus on injury recovery, etc. Similarly social groups for moms may be a source of knowledge on practitioners that work with women’s health issues, fertility, pregnancy and postpartum, kids acupuncture and general family health.
Check the local licensing board for a list of Acupuncturists
In Ontario, both R.Acs and R.TCMPs are regulated by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario (CTCMPAO).
They are listed in the provincial licensing board’s online directory at https://www.ctcmpao.on.ca/publicregistersrc/. In other provinces and jurisdictions there may be similar directories of qualified licensed practitioners.
Ask your other health providers to recommend an Acupuncturist
Most professional health care providers maintain a vast network of colleagues that they trust and refer to on a regular basis. In fact, there’s a good chance your massage therapist or osteopath may know of a great Acupuncturist – it may often be a colleague they have worked with and had treatments from in the past.
Ask your Acupuncturist a few questions to see if they are a good fit for your needs
Unless you are in a remote area with only one Acupuncturist, there is almost always a choice of people you can see for treatment. Based on their professional appearance (ie. license, website, reviews, location, training) do they seem compatible to what you are looking for in a healthcare provider? Do they seem open to answering your questions?
Do you feel confident with their answers? Lastly, will you feel comfortable discussing personal medical matters with them, and will you want to complete a course of treatment there?
Are they open to working with other healthcare providers?
Nothing is as important as teamwork. Even if your new Acupuncturist is a sole practitioner at their office, it’s important to be able to share information with your other healthcare professionals if necessary.
Regulated Health Practitioners are required to protect your privacy, but it is also in your best interest that they be open to communicating with other providers if you ask them to. Especially important from a safety standpoint, since certain conditions and medications can require special handling when you are getting acupuncture (ie. blood thinner medications, acute thrombosis, etc).
Ask if they have a special area of focus in their practice
Although TCM Acupuncturist training is very extensive and covers a great range of health issues, many successful practitioners will go on to study and excel in a particular area of their medicine as well. They may be focused more on a specific niche and have the most training and experience treating those types of conditions.
Common interest areas are sports medicine, geriatrics, mental health, women’s health issues, fertility, skincare/cosmetic acupuncture and more. Some may just enjoy working more with kids – or only with geriatric patients, so it is worth asking in advance.
Even if an Acupuncturist does not specialize in any particular area, they may still be seeing a ton of patients with similar issues, and be very confident in their treatment approach with this type of problem.
Are you looking for a particular type of acupuncture style?
Although most acupuncture follows guiding principles based on Traditional East Asian Medicine, there are many treatment styles that have evolved over thousands of years.
There are differences in a Japanese-style acupuncture treatment vs having Classical Chinese or even Korean-style acupuncture. Some may use moxibustion, or use electronic stimulation along with the acupuncture needles, while others may not.
Do not get overwhelmed by all of these options. This may be important if you are familiar with the differences, and have specific expectations in the style of treatment. It’s common for many practitioners to have trained in various styles, and some may offer a choice.
More experienced practitioners may even practice their own hybrid style of acupuncture that gets great results. For all patients (and for all good practitioners), the most important thing is that the practitioner is capable and that their treatment is effective.
Are you looking for needle-free treatment?
Even though acupuncture is most often associated with needles, it is now quite common to experience “needle-free” acupuncture treatment. Instead, the acupuncture points may be gently stimulated by moxibustion, acupressure, laser, magnets or even a tuning fork.
These are all great options for those who are anxious about needles, but would still like to benefit from acupuncture treatment. Most of these alternative options are also suitable for children, especially using acupoint stimulators such as a teishin tool. The teishin is a gentle tool for effectively treating patients without inserting acupuncture needles. It is widely used in Japanese style acupuncture, and popular with sensitive patients.
Are you looking for a range of Chinese Medicine modalities, in addition to acupuncture?
Apart from acupuncture, additional modalities within Traditional Chinese Medicine include: tuina massage, cupping, gua sha (sometimes referred to as skin scraping), moxibustion and nutritional therapies. Sometimes these are combined with a regular acupuncture treatment or offered as an add-on option in a longer treatment.
If you are looking for a specific modality it is worth asking about in advance, as not all practitioners may include these options. Likewise, not all modalities are suitable for all patients and conditions.
Are you looking for community acupuncture or private treatments?
In North America, we are most familiar with the idea of an acupuncture treatment happening in a private treatment room. This is how the majority of Acupuncture offices are set up in North America.
In Asia however, a more common scenario is a group acupuncture environment, with multiple patients receiving treatment in a semi-private group setting. Instead of lying down on a treatment table, group acupuncture takes place with participants seated in recliners. Patients may have acupuncture needles placed in easy to reach areas of the body such as hands, feet, ears and scalp.
There are benefits to both types of treatment settings, and some may prefer one over the other. Group or Community Acupuncture is usually less expensive, and may even be available on a sliding scale payment basis. If you need more frequent treatments this could be a good option.
Patients who are looking for more privacy, those who would benefit from additional modalities such as cupping, those who would need a back treatment or those with a more complex condition should seek out private 1:1 treatment.
Do they offer a free initial discovery call?
Most Acupuncturists are busy, and may not have time for unscheduled phone calls. Likewise they usually do not provide detailed information in an email, especially if you are not yet a patient (due to privacy concerns). Larger clinics may have a dedicated front desk person that will answer general treatment questions, but most of the time you really would like to speak directly to the health practitioner before booking.
A “meet and greet” appointment is the ideal way to ask questions and get a good feel for the type of experience you can expect at a clinic. Usually this brief in-person (or virtual) appointment is free and carries no obligation to book.
It is a meeting to get more information about treatment but not meant to provide a diagnosis or medical advice. You will still be required to have an initial appointment to go over health goals and history prior to receiving your first treatment.
Check your insurance for details of Acupuncture coverage
In Ontario, acupuncture is currently not covered by provincial health insurance (OHIP). Many third party benefit plans include treatments by Registered Acupuncturists. Some plans may only cover it if provided by a medical doctor, so it is worth checking in advance.
Read your insurance policy’s fine print to see which type of acupuncture coverage you have, and if it has to be performed by a Registered Acupuncturist or another provider type in order to qualify for reimbursement.
Do they offer direct billing to your insurance company?
Direct billing to your third party insurance can be convenient and save you time. Check with your plan if direct billing is permitted and ask your Acupuncturist if they offer this service. Your insurance company may have a list of providers in your area that offer direct billing.
How often will you be going to the clinic?
Everyone wants a quick and easy recovery, but the reality is that most of the time you will be seeing your Acupuncturist over a series of visits. Depending on the condition, plan for a series of treatments that could span from just a few appointments to months of care.
Certain conditions may require a longer, dedicated treatment plan in order to see sustainable results. A good Acupuncturist will outline a realistic treatment plan (usually at the first or second appointment), so that you can know what to expect.
How convenient is the acupuncture clinic location?
Consider the following questions when choosing your Acupuncturist:
- What are their days and hours of operation?
- Are they open evenings or weekends?
- How easy is it to get to your Acupuncture appointments at this location?
- What is the driving distance and is parking readily available?
- How accessible is the office?
- Do you prefer a ground level entrance or will you climb stairs? Does the building offer a ramp or an elevator?
Will you need to pay a deposit or buy a series of packages?
Regional licensing rules often determine how a health practitioner can structure their payment options, and whether they can ask for payment in advance of treatment. Some Acupuncturists will require you to advise a credit card number in order to secure an initial appointment, but this is not used in advance.
This card number is kept on file and only charged if you are a “no-show”, or canceling within the late cancellation window (terms will vary by practitioner). In Ontario, Registered Acupuncturists are not permitted to ask you for an actual deposit or offer a discounted rate on a package of treatments.
These are some of the questions you may consider when choosing any new healthcare provider.
