“The 5 Most Important Things You Need To Know.”
Looking for an acupuncturist may be a daunting experience for some people, but it doesn’t have to be if you know what to look for. The best way to find a good acupuncturist is to ask your friends and family for the name of a practitioner they’ve had a good experience with. But if that’s not possible here are 5 important points to remember when interviewing an acupuncturist for the first time.
1. Where did they receive their training?
Make sure your acupuncturist attended a nationally accredited school. In states with strict licensing laws (Florida is one of them), acupuncturists must have completed four years of training and passed rigorous national and state board exams. But, in other states, less qualified people may legally practice.
Florida requires passage of the national certification exam administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) to be eligible for state licensure. NCCAOM specifically requires graduation from an ACAOM accredited or candidate program to be eligible to sit for NCCAOM’s certification exam(s).
2. Do they offer a FREE initial consultation?
Before scheduling the appointment, make sure they offer a FREE Consultation. This is important so you have an opportunity to determine if acupuncture is right for you. Remember to make a list of questions the day before your FREE Consultation so you get all your questions answered during that initial visit.
3. Do they work full-time?
Look for an acupuncturist who practices full-time with flexible hours. This helps getting in to see them sooner than later.
4. Do they have more than one treatment room?
An acupuncturist operating 2 or 3 treatment rooms instead of one, has increased capacity and the flexibility to get you in on short notice. When you are in pain or have to get that much needed treatment, this alone can make the difference between getting in today or getting in next week.
5. Do they offer an option if you don’t have insurance?
Ask the Acupuncturist if they offer treatment packages. Purchasing treatment packages will provide you substantial savings. Treatment packages will vary between each clinic.