I am a member of the British Acupuncture Council, as well as the Professional Standards Authority.

Why does it matter?

Look for the letters MBAcC after the name of your acupuncturist to be sure of:

✓ extensive training – minimum three years degree level – including relevant western medicine
✓ adherence to stringent codes of safe practice and professional conduct
✓ compliance with current health and safety legislation
✓ full cover for medical malpractice and public/products liability
✓ mandatory continuing professional development to keep knowledge and skills up to date

All current members are listed in the BAcC’s online register.

The British Acupuncture Council

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the leading self-regulatory body for the practice of traditional acupuncture in the UK. It is a member-led organisation, governed by an elected Governing Board and driven by a specialist staff team.

They provide members with a wide range of services to facilitate practice and ensure the highest standards. Their responsibilities include:

• maintaining the highest professional standards of practice for acupuncture in the UK
• overseeing and accrediting acupuncture education to ensure excellence in training
• funding evidence-based clinical research on the benefits of traditional acupuncture

As a member I am bound by the Council’s stringent Standards of Practice and Codes of Ethics.

The Professional Standards Authority

The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care is a government body set up to oversee statutory bodies that hold voluntary registers of health and social care professionals, such as the British Acupuncture Council.

Acupuncture in the UK is not covered by statutory regulation, and as such it was felt that distinguishing between acupuncturists who had undertaken short courses, and those that had undertaken more extensive study, was of interest to members of the general public looking for high standards of care.  The BAcC was an early member of the Professional Standards Authority’s ‘Accredited Voluntary Register’ (AVR), which recognises the fact that they maintain high standards of training, safe practice and professional conduct among members. You can read the BAcC’s entry on their register here if you would like to know more.

Acupuncture Fertility Network

The Acupuncture Fertility Network is a professional special interest group of acupuncturists dedicated to helping individuals with fertility issues across the UK. Our aim is to nurture your sense of wellbeing throughout your fertility journey, support your choices and wishes, and enhance your capacity to conceive wherever possible. We use Chinese medicine approaches to help bring you into a better state of health for conception and gestation, optimising your body and mind for pregnancy and parenthood.

Members must have completed integrated postgraduate-level training in gynaecology, with a specific emphasis on training to support assisted protocols, commitment to ongoing postgraduate study in the areas of gynaecology and fertility and be a practitioner member of a recognised professional acupuncture body.