ASVA's stance on Dry Needling:  Dry Needling is a type of Acupuncture that focuses on providing local pain relief.  Many Licensed Acupuncturists learned Dry Needling in their Sports Medicine or Orthopedic Acupuncture classes.  It is one of many orthopedic needling techniques to reduce pain and restore physiological function.  Acupuncture needles are used to perform dry needling. 

Dry Needling is a type of Acupuncture.  Not all Acupuncture is Dry Needling.

By Virginia Board of Medicine, a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.) is required to have a minimum of 1,725 training hours. Learn more here: Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Acupuncturists

Medical Doctors, Doctors of Chiropractic, Podiatrist, and Osteopaths may practice Acupuncture with an additional 200hours of training. Learn more: 18VAC85-20-131. Requirements to practice acupuncture 

Physical Therapists are allowed to provide Dry Needling but are not allowed to call themselves Licensed Acupuncturists. Learn more: 18VAC112-20-121. Practice of dry needling.

The current average Dry Needling course is 30-75 hours (one long weekend).

As of January 2025, Dry Needling is not legally defined in the Commonwealth of Virginia Laws, Chapter 29, Article 1,§ 54.1-2900. Definitions

ASVA continued to educate legislators and the public about the similarities and differences. 

• Dry Needling - A Timeline: This document outlines the history of dry needling in Virginia and the proposed dry needling regulation introduced by the Board of Physical Therapy.
• NCBAHM (formerly NCCAOM) NCCAOM Dry Needling Position Statement.pdf
• American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (AAMA) Policy on Dry Needling
• The Federation of State Board Physical Therapy (FSBPT), the national organization for Physical Therapists, defines Dry Needling as, "Dry needling is a skilled intervention performed by a physical therapist using needles to penetrate the skin and/or underlying tissues to affect functional change in anatomical structures and systems for the evaluation, management, and prevention of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, movement impairments, and disability" pg. 4 https://www.fsbpt.org/Portals/0/documents/free-resources/DN%20Competency%20Update%202024%20-%20Memo.pdf found at https://www.fsbpt.org/Free-Resources/Regulatory-Resources/Dry-Needling-Competencies.