If you meet the qualifications above,

Utah has 2 pathways (NADA ADS or POCA AAT) to receive a certificate to practice the

5-Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox): [only one pathway is required]

• PATHWAY 1:  Complete NADA (National Acupuncture Detoxification Association) Acudetox training:

  1. Apply for a NADA-approved training.

  2. Provide your UT healthcare professional license number. Pay associated fees. 

  3. Complete a NADA-approved training, practice sessions and all other requirements. 

  4. Submit all materials to your NADA-Approved trainer.  

  5. Your NADA-Approved trainer will submit your materials to NADA. 

  6. NADA will send you a certificate of completion as an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS). 

• PATHWAY 2:  Complete POCA (People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture) training:

  1. Join POCA at the Punk Level and obtain a POCA username. 

  2. Apply for a POCA AAT Training.  Pay associated fees.  You will need to enter your healthcare license and Utah license number.  

  3. Complete a POCA-approved AAT Training, practice sessions and all other requirements.

  4. Submit all required materials to POCA and to your POCA-approved trainer.

  5. POCA will send you a certificate of completion as a POCA Auricular Acu-Technician (AAT).

  6. Questions?  See the POCA AAT FAQs.

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• After obtaining a NADA ADS or POCA AAT certificate, MD’s, DO’s, chiropractors and licensed acupuncturists can officially practice the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox) under their license in Utah. No documentation needs to be sent to DOPL by MD's, DO's, chiropractors or licensed acupuncturists.

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• However, all other licensed providers (RN, APRN, LPN, PA, Psychologist, LCSW, CSW, CMHC, SUDC, ASUDC) must also:

1. Submit their NADA ADS Certificate or POCA AAT Certificate to the applicable licensing board at Utah DOPL. ​​[Mail a hard copy to Larry Marx, Bureau Manager, Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, 160 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84114 or PO Box 146741, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6741. Write your Utah License Number on the copy.].

2. DOPL will add the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox) certificate to the DOPL file. 

3. Then and only then will those licensed providers be able to independently practice the 5 Needle Protocol (Auricular Acupuncture or Acudetox).

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