An acupuncturist is a health professional who applies theories of traditional Chinese medicine in the form of acupuncture. Acupuncture is a procedure in which thin needles are inserted into specific parts of the body.

Licensing and certification for acupuncturists varies from province to province. For more information about acupuncturists, go to www.cmaac.ca to visit the Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Association of Canada website. When choosing an acupuncturist, it is important to check credentials, especially in provinces with less rigorous requirements.

A physician acupuncturist is a doctor of medicine or podiatry or an osteopathic doctor who has fulfilled the physician requirements for licensure to practice acupuncture that have been set by the province's medical board. These doctors study acupuncture and incorporate it into their medical practice.