4 Registration
renewal
5 Renewal date
6 Register
7 Permitted modes
of practice
8 Care and
treatment
9 Advice to
patient
10 Condition fails
to improve
11 Instruments
12 Patient records
13 Practice review
14 Non‑delegated
procedures
15 Fees
16 Standards of
conduct
17 Advertising
limitations
18 Advertisement
contents
19 Public liaison
20 Coming into
force
Definitions
1 In this Regulation,
(a) “Act”
means the Health Disciplines Act;
(b) “acupressure”
means the stimulation of an acupuncture point by nominal pressure;
(c) “acupuncture”
means the stimulation of an acupuncture point on or near the surface of the
body by the insertion of needles to normalize physiological functions or the
flow of Chi for the treatment of discomfort of the body and means the
techniques of needle acupuncture, electro‑acupuncture, acupressure and
moxibustion;
(d) “acupuncturist”
means a person who is registered as a member of the designated health
discipline of acupuncturist;
(e) “Committee”
means the Acupuncture Committee established by the Minister under section 9(1)
of the Act;
(f) “cupping”
means the stimulation of acupuncture points by the application of a small jar
or cup within which a vaccum has been created;
(g) “dentist”
means a licensed member, professional corporation or registered practitioner as
defined in the Dental Profession Act;
(h) “electro‑acupuncture”
means the electrical stimulation of acupuncture points;
(i) “moxibustion”
means the application of the heat generated by burning moxa wool to produce
warming of the tissues in the vicinity of an acupuncture point;
(j) “needle acupuncture” means the stimulation
of acupuncture points by the insertion of needles.
AR 42/88 s1;251/2001
Initial registration
2(1) A
person is eligible to be registered as a member of the designated health
discipline of acupuncturist if the person
(a) has
satisfactorily completed
(i) a program of studies that has been approved by the Board, or
(ii) a program of studies that is substantially equivalent to a
program referred to in subclause (i),
(b) has
satisfactorily completed an examination approved by the Board,
(c) has
(i) within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of application
carried out the practice of acupuncture for at least 500 hours,
(ii) within the 1 year immediately preceding the date of application
met the requirements of clause (a), or
(iii) within the 1 year immediately preceding the date of application
satisfactorily completed additional training as required by the Committee,
(d) has
completed and submitted to the Registrar the applicable forms prescribed by the
Minister and has paid the applicable fees prescribed in section 15,
(e) has
completed a personal interview with the Registrar or his designate, and
(f) provides
evidence satisfactory to the Registrar of sufficient competence in and
comprehension of the English language to be able to practice as an
acupuncturist in Alberta.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(f), a person may
be eligible to be registered as a member of the designated health discipline of
acupuncturist if the person meets the requirements of subsection (1)(a) to (e)
and the Committee approves that the person may practice acupuncture under the
supervision of an acupuncturist who meets the requirements of subsection
(1)(f).
AR 42/88 s2
Temporary
registration
3(1) A person is eligible to be temporarily
registered as a member of the designated health discipline of acupuncturist for
a period of 2 years if the person
(a) completes
the requirements of section 2(1)(a), (e) and (f),
(b) has
within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of application practised as
an acupuncturist for at least 500 hours but at least 250 of those hours must
have been practised in Alberta within 1 year immediately preceding the date of
the application, and
(c) has
completed and submitted to the Registrar the applicable forms prescribed by the
Minister, and has paid the applicable fees prescribed in section 15 prior to
October 1, 1991.
(2) A temporary registration cannot be
renewed.
AR 42/88 s3;276/88
Registration renewal
4(1) For the purposes of section 34 of the Act, the
Registrar shall issue an annual certificate to an acupuncturist registered
pursuant to section 2 who has submitted a completed renewal of registration
form prescribed by the Minister, paid the applicable fees prescribed in section
15, and
(a) within
the 2 years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application for
renewal of registration, completed 50 hours of educational programs approved by
the Committee and has, within the 2 years immediately preceding the date of
application for renewal of registration, worked as an acupuncturist for at
least 1360 hours, or
(b) if
section 34(4) of the Act applies, satisfactorily completed, within the period
of time specified by the Committee, the training program or examination, or
both, prescribed by the Committee.
(2) The
training programs and examinations that the Committee may order an applicant
for renewal to take or pass pursuant to section 34(4) of the Act are
(a) a
period of practice under the supervision of an acupuncturist for a duration
determined by the Committee;
(b) the
examination referred to in section 2(1)(b);
(c) a period of additional training including
all or a part of the program of studies referred to in section 2(1)(a) as
determined by the Committee.
AR 42/88 s4;251/2001
Renewal date
5 The date for submission of an
application for renewal of registration for the purposes of section 34 of the
Act is January 1st of the year for which the renewed registration will be
valid.
AR 42/88 s5;251/2001
Register
6 The Registrar shall enter in
the register the names, places of employment and registration numbers of
persons to be registered as acupuncturists and shall issue each registered
member a certificate of registration.
AR 42/88 s6
Permitted modes of
practice
7 An acupuncturist may provide
the services of acupuncture but in providing that service the only technical
modes of practice that an acupuncturist may use are needle acupuncture, electro‑acupuncture,
moxibustion, cupping and acupressure.
AR 42/88 s7
Care and treatment
8(1) An acupuncturist shall not undertake the care
and treatment of a person unless
(a) that
person has already consulted with a physician or, in the case of dental
pathology, a dentist about the condition for which he is seeking care and
treatment,
(b) that
person has informed the acupuncturist that he has consulted a physician or
dentist about the condition, and
(c) the
acupuncturist has completed the patient consultation form prescribed by the
Minister.
(2) An acupuncturist shall retain the form completed
under subsection (1)(c) with the record referred to in section 12.
AR 42/88 s8
Advice to patient
9(1) An acupuncturist shall not inform a patient by
any form of communication that acupuncture cures diseases.
(2) An acupuncturist shall not advise a patient to
discontinue any treatment that has been prescribed by a physician or dentist.
AR 42/88 s9
Condition fails to
improve
10 If after 6 months of providing
the services of acupuncture to a patient the patient’s condition for which the
services are being provided does not improve, the acupuncturist shall refer the
person to a physician or in the case of dental pathology, to a dentist.
AR 42/88 s10
Instruments
11(1) The instruments that an acupuncturist may use
in the examination of a patient are restricted to non‑invasive measuring
equipment including thermometers, stethoscopes, electrical devices used for
locating acupuncture points and measuring skin resistance, blood pressure and
pulse rate monitors and flashlights.
(2) When providing a needle‑acupuncture
treatment, an acupuncturist may only use pre‑sterilized disposable
needles that shall be disposed of by the acupuncturist as soon as they have
been used.
AR 42/88 s11
Patient records
12(1) An acupuncturist shall, in the English
language, complete a record of management for each patient.
(2) An
acupuncturist shall, in records of patient management, use the acupuncture
point numbering system that is set out in the Essentials of Chinese
Acupuncture, first edition, 1980, compiled by the Beijing College of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Shanghai College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, the Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the
Acupuncture Institute of the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine published
by the Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, China and is available from the
Alberta Acupuncture Society and from the Registrar.
(3) The record of patient management referred to in
subsection (1) shall be retained in the acupuncturist’s clinic for a period of
at least 5 years after the patient receives treatment from or consults with the
acupuncturist.
AR 42/88 s12
Practice review
13(1) As a condition to providing services, the place
where an acupuncturist conducts his practice of acupuncture may be inspected in
accordance with subsections (2) and (3) by the Registrar or a person authorized
in writing by the Registrar.
(2) An
inspection may be made during regular business hours to ascertain whether
(a) the
requirements of this Regulation are met, and
(b) the
acupuncturist has maintained adequate skill and knowledge as required by this
Regulation.
(3) A person authorized pursuant to subsection (1)
shall, when carrying out an inspection, on demand show identification and proof
of authorization in the form prescribed by the Minister.
AR 42/88 s13
Non‑delegated
procedures
14 Unless authorized in writing by the
Committee, an acupuncturist shall not delegate to any person, other than
another acupuncturist, any of the following procedures:
(a) the
taking of medical history from patients;
(b) the
use of diagnostic instruments on patients;
(c) the
insertion of acupuncture needles;
(d) the
use of therapeutic devices on patients;
(e) the
supervision of patients while they are receiving therapy;
(f) the removal of therapeutic instruments from
patients.
AR 42/88 s14
Fees
15 The fee for
(a) an
application for registration is $120;
(b) an
initial registration is $180;
(c) an
annual registration is
(i) $400 in the case of a complete application received by the
Registrar prior to the date set out in section 5, and
(ii) $425 in the case of a complete application
received by the Registrar on or after the date set out in section 5;
(d) a registration examination is $1000.
AR 42/88
s15;280/93;254/2006
Standards of conduct
16 An acupuncturist shall
(a) practise
acupuncture in a safe and competent manner and shall be guided at all times by
the patient’s welfare and best interests;
(b) attend
to the health needs of all those seeking acupuncture services without
discrimination based on race, religious belief, colour, sex, national or ethnic
origin, or age;
(c) at
all times practise acupuncture with all the knowledge and ability of which he
is capable;
(d) not
practise acupuncture under conditions that adversely affect the quality of his
treatment of the patient;
(e) improve
his knowledge and skill by constantly renewing his theoretical and clinical
education and by adjusting to modern concepts of the practice of acupuncture;
(f) not
mislead patients with respect to information, procedures, equipment or
materials;
(g) consult
with colleagues or with members of other professions when the consultation, in
the acupuncturist’s professional judgment, is in the best interests of his
patient and shall advise the patient when that consultation is necessary;
(h) keep
in strict confidence information about a patient of a professional or personal
nature that the acupuncturist acquires in the course of providing health
services under this Regulation;
(i) when
examining a patient, respect the honour, dignity and privacy of the patient;
(j) not
offer any benefit, either direct or indirect, to any person in return for the
referral of a patient by that person;
(k) not accept any benefit, either direct or
indirect, from any person in return for the referral of a patient.
AR 42/88 s16
Advertising
limitations
17(1) An acupuncturist may advertise only in
accordance with this Regulation.
(2) Advertising
by an acupuncturist shall be in good taste as determined by the Committee.
(3) Advertising
shall
(a) be
truthful, accurate and not misleading to the public,
(b) maintain
the dignity of the discipline of acupuncture, and
(c) not
claim that the services of one acupuncturist are superior to those of another.
(4) An
acupuncturist may permit a person, whether directly or indirectly, to advertise
on his behalf with respect to health services that the acupunturist provides
under this Regulation only in accordance with this Regulation.
(5) An acupuncturist may send a notice by letter or
card of the opening of an office, a change of address or telephone number or
the commencement of or change in a partnership or association to his current
patients, other acupuncturists or members of any other health profession.
AR 42/88 s17
Advertisement
contents
18(1) Only the following information may be included
by an acupuncturist in an announcement, business card, letterhead or an
advertisement in any regularly published publication or on a sign:
(a) the
name of the acupuncturist and the names of his partners and associates;
(b) the
acupuncturist’s title, degree or graduate status from a university and
membership in other professional societies approved by the Committee;
(c) the
acupuncturist’s address, neighbourhood, telephone number and any telex or
telecopier number;
(d) the
acupuncturist’s office hours;
(e) languages
the acupuncturist speaks;
(f) employment
opportunities in the practice of acupuncture;
(g) a
change in an address or telephone number;
(h) the
opening of the acupuncturist’s office;
(i) the
commencement or termination of a partnership or association;
(j) any
change in a partnership or association;
(k) any
other information specifically approved by the Committee.
(2) An
announcement referred to in subsection (1) shall not appear more than once a week
in any 1 publication.
(3) An
advertisement or announcement in a publication shall not be more than 2 columns
in width and 10 cm in depth.
(4) An
acupuncturist may place an advertisement in a telephone directory listing in
accordance with the following requirements:
(a) a
listing in the white pages of a telephone directory shall be in bold print with
all listings uniform as to type, colour, size and form and may include only the
name, address and telephone number of the acupuncturist;
(b) a
listing in the yellow pages of a telephone directory shall be in the smallest
print with all listings identical in type, colour, size and form and may
include an alphabetical listing of acupuncturists practising under the same
firm name stating only the name, address and telephone number of the
acupuncturist;
(c) a
listing in the yellow pages of a telephone directory shall state that the
acupuncturist is registered as an acupuncturist or temporarily registered as an
acupuncturist, as the case may be, with the Registrar of Health Disciplines and
may state that the acupuncturist is a member of a professional association of
acupuncturists;
(d) no
logo, display or photographic material of any nature shall be included in a
telephone directory.
(5) Notwithstanding
subsection (4)(b), a listing in the yellow pages of a telephone directory may
have either the name of the acupuncturist or the firm name in bold type.
(6) An
acupuncturist’s name may appear on the letterhead or in the publications of a
charitable organization along with any special designations.
(7) An acupuncturist shall not, unless with prior
consent of the Committee, use a sign in respect of his practice that has
letters of more than 20 cm in height, that uses pulsing artificial illumination
in any way or that is not affixed to a door, wall or window of the building in
which he practises.
AR 42/88 s18
Public liaison
19(1) An acupuncturist may participate in a program
of health education offered to the public.
(2) An
acupuncturist shall not promote his practice nor that of an associate when the
acupuncturist participates in a program described in subsection (1).
(3) Any
pamphlet, brochure, booklet, document or handout of any kind used to relay
information to the public about the practice of acupuncture shall be approved
by the Committee prior to its distribution by an acupuncturist.
(4) An acupuncturist shall display and distribute
to patients the information pamphlets received from the Committee for display
and distribution purposes.
AR 42/88 s19
Coming into force
20 This Regulation comes into
force on October 1, 1991.
AR 42/88 s20;276/88
