For your clinical internship, you need to have liability insurance. You're also expected to pay for your own transportation, lab coat, blood pressure cuff, and stethoscope, when necessary.

Many acupuncture graduates either own their own businesses or go into business with other people. Because of this, you may want to take courses in business management.

Graduating from an accredited acupuncture program qualifies you to sit for the national certification exam. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) administers this test.

In many states, you need to be licensed to practice acupuncture. In some of those states, national certification is sufficient. In other states, certification is a necessary step to taking a state licensing exam.

You may also see the term "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)." Although the theories of oriental medicine started in China several thousand years ago, developments also occurred in Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Thus, the term "oriental medicine" sometimes replaces "Chinese medicine."