Are acupuncture and Chinese medicine regulated?
The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (CTCMA) is an official professional licensing authority established in 1996 by the Government of British Columbia, Canada. CTCMA’s purpose is to regulate the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture in the Province. The College is a self regulatory body that operates under the auspices of the provincial government and through the Health Professions Act, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists Regulation and Bylaws. CTCMA is an expansion of the original College of Acupuncturists of British Columbia, which was created in 1996 by the government. The College began designating professional acupuncturists as “Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac.)” in 1999 . Effective April 12, 2003, a valid registration (professional license) issued by CTCMA is required in order to practice TCM and acupuncture in British Columbia.
