Acupuncture Association of Colorado (AAC)

Overview:

Profession(s): Licensed Acupuncture
Scope: Regional - Colorado
Formed: 1983
Members: 300
Address: 4380 Harlan Street #202, Wheat Ridge, CO, 800033, USA
Phone: 303-572-8744
Email: aac@ntw.net
Website: www.acucol.com

Description:

We are a state association which represents Licensed Acupuncturists in Colorado.

Mission/Aims:

The AAC has two main focuses. The first is to protect our right to practice Chinese Medicine in the state of Colorado. Over the years there has been legislation presented that has been deemed threatening to our profession’s existence. Because we have a professional lobbyist on staff, we have been able to stay informed when such legislation arises and then take appropriate action. As a member of the AAC, you can be kept up to date regarding the political changes relating to acupuncture and have a voice in the legislative process. Half of your membership dues are dedicated to our legislative fund.

Our second focus is to educate the public. With “alternative” medicines becoming more popular, our goal is to insure that the public obtains accurate information about Chinese Medicine. Our staff includes a public relations person to facilitate the publication of factual information to our communities via newspaper, television radio and magazines. This is a service that benefits all of us by educating our patients about the array of health issues Chinese Medicine can address. With your membership, we can continue this service.

Member Benefits:

Benefits to all Colorado Licensed Acupuncturists:

We got you from “Registered" to “Licensed” Status.
We got you insurance parity in cases of auto accidents.
We get the title and definition of “Licensed Acupuncturist” out to the public through license plate ad, tv ads, through our website and voicemail announcement, at fairs we booth and through the legislation.
We get the phrase “Acupuncture Works, Let it work for you” out to the public through the same venues.
We help educate the public, the legislation and insurance companies on benefits of acupuncture and oriental medicine.
We have a lobbyist who keeps an eye on laws, which may benefit and/or be potentially dangerous to our profession.
We host conference with fabulous speakers, offering CEU’s annually.

Benefits to our members:

Free Subscription to our Newsletter – Recently called the best in the USA.
Discounted fees to AAC sponsored meetings (and CEU’s).
Discounts off all orders made to OMS Supply, Redwing Books, Blue Poppy and Lifegate Pharmacy.
A Listing in our annual directory, which is distributed to anyone requesting names of NCCAOM certified/Licensed Acupuncturists in their area.
This list is also distributed to the fairs we booth.
A listing on our website.
Membership to our discussion groups and announce-lists on Yahoo.
Voting privileges within the organization (for professional members)
Being a part of a larger voice – better chance of being heard (Currently we have 1/3 of Colorado ‘s L.Ac’s as members). We are one of the largest State Associations in the USA. The more members we get the stronger we will become.
Ability to join U of C Federal Credit Union (Under our association status).
Discounted Vision/Dental care (through Beta).
Health Insurance benefits from Kaiser and Humana.
Credit card processing and other merchant services through Incom International.
20% Discounted Membership to the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (National Association).

Training/Licensing/Certification:

We offer CEU courses twice a year. We host booths at various functions to promote AOM and to give sample treatments to the public. We are in the process of creating a Peer Review Journal and we offer a resource library for members of our association to find research materials.

Affiliations:

Associations to which we are a member:
American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM)
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (AOMA)

Verification Criteria:

We represent Licensed Acupuncturists in Colorado. All of our Professional members are NCCAOM certified and Licensed Acupuncturists in Colorado. To become Licensed, a practitioner must graduate from a school of Chinese Medicine with a minimum of 1800 hours (schools now require over 2400 hours), then the practitioner must pass the NCCAOM exam - the ONLY national examination board which certifies acupuncturists. There are other medical professionals who "do acupuncture" in Colorado. MD's and DO's do not require ANY additional training, and DC's are only required 100 hours of Chinese Medical training and 25 case studies (so if your practitioner is an MD, DO or DC, check to see that they are trained in Chinese Medicine properly (ask for education hours and school graduation requirements, etc) and make sure they are NCCAOM certified (should have current certification) or see if they are also Licensed Acupuncturists (L.Ac)