Stop AB 2497: Protect California Patients
AB 2497 would allow physical therapists to perform dry needling with as little as 25 hours of training — compared to the 3,000+ hours required of licensed acupuncturists. Tell Assembly Appropriations Chair Buffy Wicks to hold this bill.
The Training Gap
AB 2497 would let physical therapists perform needle procedures with up to 80× less training than licensed acupuncturists currently required under California law.
| Category | Licensed Acupuncturist | PT Dry Needling (AB 2497) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Training Hours | 3,000–4,000+ | 25–150 |
| Program Length | 3–4 years (Master's/Doctoral) | 1–2 weekend workshops |
| Supervised Clinical Hours | 660–870 hours | Minimal / none |
| Board Exams Required | 4 (NCCAOM) | 0 |
| Needle Safety Training | Comprehensive | Basic |
| Anatomy & Pathology | Full biomedical curriculum | Limited to musculoskeletal |
| Licensing Body | State board + NCCAOM | No dedicated oversight |
Real Patients. Real Injuries.
These are not theoretical risks. Peer-reviewed research found 20 major adverse events in just 20,494 treatments, and 36.7% had minor adverse events including bleeding and bruising.
T.J. Watt
NFL Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers · 2024
Watt suffered a partially collapsed lung (pneumothorax) following a dry needling treatment session. The injury required surgery and sidelined the All-Pro linebacker.
Source: ESPN ↗Torin Yater-Wallace
U.S. Olympic Freeskier · 2014
The professional athlete suffered a collapsed lung after a physical therapist performed dry needling. The injury ended his competitive season and had lasting career impact.
Source: Change.org / documented case ↗Emily Kuykendall
Maryland Teacher · 2022
A Maryland teacher suffered nerve damage following dry needling performed by a physical therapist. The injury required ongoing treatment and affected her daily life.
Source: Change.org / documented case ↗Four Belgian Women
Ages 28–35, Shoulder/Neck Treatment · 2024
A Belgian case series documented four young women who developed pneumothorax after dry needling of the left shoulder, trapezius, and neck. One patient required a chest drain for six days.
Source: ERJ Open Research, 2024 ↗Source: Brady et al., 2021 (PMC7015026)
Why This Bill Must Be Stopped
Three independent reasons to oppose AB 2497
Fiscal Concerns
- ▸Unknown and potentially significant fiscal impact on state licensing boards
- ▸Increased workload for regulatory development and enforcement agencies
- ▸Higher healthcare costs from over-ordering of tests and duplicative services
- ▸Potential rise in emergency room visits and litigation related to adverse events
- ▸Fragmented, non-physician-led care leading to delayed diagnoses
Patient Safety
- ▸Dry needling requires inserting acupuncture needles into the body — a procedure demanding precision anatomy knowledge
- ▸Licensed acupuncturists complete 660–870 hours of supervised clinical training; PT dry needling programs offer minimal to none
- ▸No national standardized exam or oversight board — no accountability when patients are injured
- ▸Inadequate pre-treatment screening by undertrained practitioners can mask serious underlying conditions
- ▸Documented risks: pneumothorax (collapsed lung), nerve damage, infection, excessive bleeding
Legal Issues
- CA Law Already Prohibits ThisCalifornia Business and Professions Code §4927 defines acupuncture as including needle insertion. The California Medical Board has concluded that dry needling IS acupuncture under state law. AB 2497 would overturn this patient protection.
- FDA Class II Medical DeviceThe FDA classifies the needles used in both acupuncture and dry needling as Class II medical devices under 21 CFR 880.5860 — labeled 'Acupuncture needles.' There is no separate 'dry needling needle' classification.
- No Oversight BodyThere is no national standardized certification, exam, or oversight board for dry needling. If a patient is injured by an undertrained practitioner, there is no dedicated credentialing body to investigate or provide accountability.
Sign the Petition
Add your name to the growing list of Californians opposing AB 2497. Every signature sends a message to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
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