NCBAHM and Australia board form acupuncture mobility group

NCBAHM and the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia have launched a new advisory forum to share information on registration, accreditation and professional standards for acupuncture and herbal medicine. The group is aimed at improving practitioner mobility between the United States and Australia without changing current licensing or certification rules.

Why it matters: - The new forum is designed to support greater mobility for qualified acupuncturists between the United States and Australia. - The group could improve cross-border understanding of registration pathways, education standards and professional competencies. - NCBAHM says the collaboration is meant to strengthen public confidence and the integrity of the profession internationally.

What happened: - The National Certification Board for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine and the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia announced the creation of the Recognition and Mobility Collaboration Group on August 26, 2026. - The advisory forum will connect leaders from both countries to compare how each system handles registration and certification for acupuncture practice and herbal medicine. - The group will be jointly chaired by representatives from NCBAHM and the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia.

The details: - Members will exchange views on registration pathways, accreditation standards, education frameworks and professional competencies. - The forum will examine similarities and differences between the two systems. - The group will also discuss practitioner recognition and workforce mobility for acupuncturists. - The collaboration will operate within the distinct legislative and regulatory frameworks in each jurisdiction. - The RMCG is advisory only. - The forum will not change current certification or registration requirements. - The group will not influence individual certification decisions. - P. Divya Parikh, chair of the NCBAHM Board of Commissioners, said the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to rigorous and defensible credentialing standards. - Mina Larson, CEO of NCBAHM, said the partnership will enhance mobility, raise awareness of standards and foster more collaboration between the two countries.

Between the lines: - The effort signals a push for international professional recognition without trying to override national regulators. - By focusing on standards alignment and information sharing, the two boards are building a framework that could make future mobility discussions easier. - The advisory-only design helps both organizations avoid conflicts with existing laws while still widening cooperation.

What's next: - The RMCG will begin ongoing discussions on recognition and mobility for acupuncturists. - The group is expected to continue comparing standards and identifying areas of overlap and difference. - Future progress will depend on continued cooperation between the two boards and their separate regulatory systems.

The bottom line: - The NCBAHM-Australia collaboration is a non-regulatory step toward easier cross-border professional mobility in acupuncture and herbal medicine.