The Certificate
Upon approval of the application and the candidate’s successful completion of the examination and completion of the Clinical Experience Requirements, the Board will grant a certificate to the effect that the candidate has met the requirements of the Board. The recipient of a certificate will be known as a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture (DABMA) and may use such title or initials in his/her professional name.
All certificates issued are time-limited, expiring on June 30th of the tenth year following the date issued. Re-certification procedures are described briefly in the following section.
A certificate granted by the ABMA does not of itself confer or purport to confer any degree or legal qualifications, privileges or license to practice medical acupuncture. The ABMA does not limit or interfere with the professional activity of any duly licensed physician who is not certified by this Board. Privileges granted physicians in the practice of medical acupuncture in any hospital or clinic are the prerogatives of that hospital or clinic, not of this Board.
The names of Diplomates of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture appear in the Official Roster of Diplomates of the ABMA available from the Board office and on the Academy website.
Revocation of Certification
A Certificate issued by the Board is issued with the understanding that it remains the property of the Board, and, upon request, must be returned to the Board. Any certificate issued by the Board shall be subject to revocation at any time if the Board determines, in its sole judgment, that the Diplomate holding the certificate was in some respect not properly qualified to receive or retain it.
Reasons for Revocation
The ABMA may at is sole discretion revoke a certificate for due cause, including, but not limited to, the following:
- The Diplomate made any material misstatement or omission to the Board.
- The Diplomate did not possess the necessary qualifications and requirements to receive the certificate at the time it was issued, whether or not the Board knew of such deficiency.
- The Diplomate engaged in irregular behavior in connection with an examination of the ABMA, whether or not such practice had an effect on the performance of the candidate on that examination.
- The Diplomate engaged in conduct that violated the moral or ethical standards of medical practice accepted by organized medicine in the locality where the Diplomate is practicing, resulting in revocation, suspension, qualification or other limitation of his or her license to practice medicine, or the expulsion, suspension, disqualification or other limitation from membership in a local, regional, national or other organization of his or her professional peers.
- The Diplomate’s license to practice medicine has been revoked, suspended, qualified or limited in any jurisdiction.
Re-Certification Procedures
Certificates issued by the ABMA expire on June 30th of the tenth year following the date of issuance. To maintain certification beyond the 10-year period, Diplomates must participate in the re-certification program.
To participate in the re-certification program, a Diplomate must:
- Document possession of a current, valid, unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy in a
United States licensing jurisdiction or licensure in Canada. - Submit payment of $250 application fee.
- Provide an Affidavit attesting to having accumulated a total of 150 hours of continuing acupuncture education over the preceding ten year period.
- Submit two written case reports from the Diplomate’s own clinical acupuncture case experience which will assist the Board in evaluating the candidate’s continued proficiency in acupuncture medicine.
Application for re-certification along with required documentation and fees must be submitted to assure continued uninterrupted certification. The Board will review and evaluate the documents submitted and in the sole judgment of the Board of Trustees, shall determine whether the applicant has met the criteria for re-certification
for an additional ten year period.
Diplomates who have not completed the recertification process by the June 30 deadline may receive an automatic 3-year extension of their certification, upon request, however, a completed application for re-certification must be submitted to request an extension. During any such time extension, the individual will continue to be recognized as Board Certified by the ABMA. However, any educational credits earned during the extension may not be credited to any future re-certification cycle.
Failure to achieve re-certification by the expiration date of the original certificate or any extension will result in removal of the individual’s name from all public listings of those who have current ABMA Certification. Those who no longer have a current ABMA Board Certification may no longer refer to themselves as a Diplomate of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture or to use the designation, DABMA, following their name in public documents. Fellows of the AAMA lose their Fellow status when they fail to maintain their DABMA status.
Delayed participation in the re-certification process beyond the certificate expiration date or any extension, may require completion of the requirements for initial certification in order to re-establish certification. Diplomates are advised to complete the re-certification process in a timely manner.
Additional Information
For additional information about the American Board of Medical Acupuncture, board certification requirements and procedures, or a Board Certification Application, please contact the ABMA Executive Office at the following location:
American Board of Medical Acupuncture
2512 Artesia Blvd, Ste 230
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 379-8261 voice
(310) 379-8283 fax
