Archive:Association of Acupuncture Clinicians
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The Association of Acupuncture Clinicians (AAC) is a professional membership organisation in the United Kingdom representing practitioners of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).[1][2]
About
The AAC aim, is to support high standards of clinical practice, professional development, and patient care within the field of acupuncture. It provides guidance, resources, and advocacy for its members, while promoting safe, ethical, and evidence-informed practice. The association also engages with regulatory discussions, education, and public awareness relating to acupuncture and complementary healthcare in the UK and is Accepted by 17 private health insurers and Included in the Private Practice Register.[3][4][5][6]
History
The organisation was established in 2020, originally under the name British Acupuncture Association (BAA), before later changing its name to reflect a broader clinical and healthcare-focused identity. The now called AAC was formed following requests from degree-level and higher-trained acupuncture practitioners seeking a dedicated professional body representing their standards of education, training, and clinical practice. The organisation has historical links to the British Acupuncture Federation (BAF), a stakeholder group formed following discussions on acupuncture self-regulation in the United Kingdom after recommendations made by the House of Commons in 2001.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the newly formed AAC and the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority (ARA) became involved in professional discussions with UK government and NHS bodies regarding acupuncture practice, safe reopening protocols, and healthcare guidance. The organisations contributed to discussions and policy guidance relating to the safe clinical operation of acupuncture practitioners and the wider acupuncture profession during the pandemic.
In 2023, the British Acupuncture Federation was restructured and renamed the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority (ARA), reflecting its wider role in professional standards, practitioner safety, and regulation within the acupuncture profession. The ARA supports approximately 13 affiliated organisations, including the AAC, representing around 2,100 practitioners
Advocacy and healthcare policy
In August 2026, the Joint Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC), which sets donor eligibility criteria for UK blood transfusion services, officially revised its guidance regarding acupuncture. Following a multi year campaign by the Association of Acupuncture Clinicians (AAC) and the Acupuncture Regulatory Authority (ARA), JPAC removed the mandatory four-month blood donation deferral period for individuals treated by appropriately registered or licensed acupuncture practitioners within the UK. Under the updated framework, patients of AAC-registered clinicians operating in licensed premises became eligible to donate blood immediately without an automatic waiting period.[7][8]
Membership
Since its formation, the organisation has expanded its membership services and partnerships and now represents several hundred practitioners within the United Kingdom, alongside internationally trained practitioners and overseas affiliates connected to acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine communities.
The AAC is a community of dedicated acupuncturists, committed to advancing the profession of acupuncture and the accessibility for economical treatment, maintenance of pain and injury to the wider community. With a key differentiator being the association is run by acupuncturists, for acupuncturists therefore understanding the unique needs and challenges that are faced in private practice by practitioners, AAC represent Traditional acupuncture practitioners who have either a degree level qualification in Acupuncture and/or a Licentiate in Acupuncture (Lic.Ac).
These qualification standards and ongoing continued professional development (CPD) along with a Code of conduct and professional ethics transfer to safe Clinical procedural practices that ensures public safety and high quality innovative patient treatment and care system's.
Publications
The Clinician is the official publication for the AAC and the Japanese acupuncture and moxibustion association. [9] [10] [11]
See also
Healthcare in the United Kingdom
References
- ↑ "Health Shield: Accepted Accreditations & Qualifications" (in en-GB). Health Shield. https://www.healthshield.co.uk/members/accepted-accreditations-and-qualifications/.
- ↑ "Full Member Organisations – British Acupuncture Federation" (in en-US). https://www.britishacupuncturefederation.co.uk/full-member-organisations/.
- ↑ "AAC – Association of Acupuncture Clinicians" (in en-US). https://aac-org.uk/.
- ↑ "Private Practice Register (PPR)" (in en-GB). https://www.healthcode.co.uk/the-ppr/.
- ↑ "Representatives – Acupuncture Regulatory Authority" (in en-GB). https://acupunctureregulatoryauthority.org.uk/representatives/.
- ↑ "From 2019 to 2026: How the AAC Helped Change UK Blood Donation Policy – JAMA" (in en-US). https://japaneseacupunctureandmoxaassociation.org.uk/2026/08/13/from-2019-to-2026-how-the-aac-helped-change-uk-blood-donation-policy/.
- ↑ "Change Notification No. 27 / 28 - 2026: Acupuncture Donor Selection Guidelines". Joint Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) / UK Blood Transfusion Services. August 2026. https://jpacprod.blob.core.windows.net/media/documents/JPAC_PS_Eligibility_of_blood_donors_undergoing_acupuncture_v1.0.pdf.
- ↑ "Blood Donation News – Acupuncture Regulatory Authority" (in en-GB). https://acupunctureregulatoryauthority.org.uk/blood-donation-news/.
- ↑ "JAMA – The Japanese Acupuncture and Moxibustion Association" (in en-US). https://japaneseacupunctureandmoxaassociation.org.uk/.
- ↑ "The Clinician | PDF to Flipbook" (in en). https://heyzine.com/flip-book/51877674de.html.
- ↑ "The Clinician – AAC" (in en-US). https://aac-org.uk/the-clinician/.