The Clean Needle Technique (CNT) is a
course administered by the
Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/ shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or nati ...
(CCAOM). A certificate is provided for the successful completion of the CNT course. Completion of the course is one of the requirements for the
(NCCAOM) certification,
as well as an
acupuncture licensing requirement in most states.
Course content
The Clean Needle Technique course is a one-day program composed of a
lecture
A lecture (from Latin ''lēctūra'' “reading” ) is an oral presentation intended to present information or teach people about a particular subject, for example by a university or college teacher. Lectures are used to convey critical inform ...
portion, a
demonstration of practical application, a
written exam, and a
practical exam. The instruction portion of the course is on the same day as the exam portion.
Applicants have only one chance to pass the written exam and two chances to pass the practical exam.
The theoretical portion is based on the Clean Needle Technique Manual published by the CCAOM. The most current edition is the 7th edition published in 2015.
Content of the CNT Manual
The CNT Manual provides guidelines for
acupuncture
Acupuncture is a form of alternative medicine and a component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in which thin needles are inserted into the body. Acupuncture is a pseudoscience; the theories and practices of TCM are not based on scientifi ...
needle safety and related procedures, including
moxibustion
Moxibustion () is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy which consists of burning dried mugwort ('' wikt:moxa'') on particular points on the body. It plays an important role in the traditional medical systems of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, ...
,
cupping,
electroacupuncture
Electroacupuncture is a form of acupuncture where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles.
According to some acupuncturists, this practice augments the use of regular acupuncture, can restore health and well-bein ...
, therapeutic blood withdrawal,
gua sha
''Gua sha'' (), or ''kerokan'' (in Indonesia), is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practice in which a tool is used to scrape people's skin in order to produce light petechiae. Practitioners believe that ''gua sha'' releases unhealthy bodily ...
, plum blossom needling, press tacks, intradermal needles, ear seeds,
tui na
''Tui na'' (; ) is form of alternative medicine similar to shiatsu. As a branch of traditional Chinese medicine, it is often used in conjunction with acupuncture, moxibustion, fire cupping, Chinese herbalism, tai chi or other Chinese interna ...
, heat lamps, and other acupuncture-related tools. For example, it outlines guidelines for preventing infections, burns, bruising, injuries, and various other adverse events related to acupuncture and acupuncture-related procedures.
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Regulation
Passing the exam portion of the course is required for receiving the CNT certification.
See also
*
Regulation of acupuncture
Regulation of acupuncture is done by governmental bodies to ensure safe practice.
Australia
In 2000, the Chinese Medicine Registration Board of Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia (CMBV) was established as an independent government agency ...
References
{{Acupuncture
Acupuncture