Performance of dry needling by chiropractic physicians.

(1) The board shall establish minimum standards of practice for the performance of dry needling by chiropractic physicians, including, at a minimum, all of the following:

(a) Completion of 40 hours of in-person continuing education on the topic of dry needling for chiropractic physicians not certified in chiropractic acupuncture and 24 hours of such in-person continuing education for chiropractic physicians certified in chiropractic acupuncture, and passage of a written and practical examination. Online or distance-based courses do not qualify as approved hours to meet the dry needling certification requirements.

1. Course content must be approved by one or more of the following entities before a chiropractic physician may take such course for purposes of meeting the continuing education requirements of this paragraph:

a. An entity accredited in accordance with s. 460.408.

b. The board.

c. The American Chiropractic Association.

d. The International Chiropractic Association.

e. Providers of Approved Continuing Education.

f. The American Medical Association.

g. The American Osteopathic Association.

2. The course instructor must be a licensed chiropractic physician, allopathic or osteopathic physician, or physical therapist holding a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree who has practiced dry needling for at least 5 years, either by instructing dry needling coursework at an accredited institution of higher education or treating patients using dry needling treatment in a professional office setting.

3. The continuing education must include instruction in all of the following areas:

a. Theory of dry needling.

b. Selection and safe handling of needles and other apparatus or equipment used in dry needling, including instruction on the proper handling of biohazardous waste.

c. Indications and contraindications for dry needling.

d. Psychomotor skills needed to perform dry needling.

e. Postintervention care, including adverse responses, adverse event recordkeeping, and any reporting obligations.

(b) Completion of at least 10 patient sessions of dry needling performed under the supervision of a licensed chiropractic physician, allopathic or osteopathic physician, or physical therapist holding a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree who has actively performed dry needling for at least 1 year. A chiropractic physician must provide satisfactory documentation to the board demonstrating that he or she has met the supervision and competency requirements of this paragraph and does not need additional supervised sessions to perform dry needling.

(c) A requirement that dry needling may not be performed without patient consent and education on the risks and adverse events that could occur. Such patient consent and education must be included as part of the patient’s documented plan of care.

(d) A requirement that dry needling may not be delegated to any person other than a chiropractic physician who is authorized to engage in dry needling under this chapter.

(2) At the request of a licensee, the board may do any of the following:

(a) Review coursework completed before July 1, 2024, to be approved to satisfy the coursework requirements of this section.

(b) Waive some or all of the hours or requirements of subsection (1) if the licensee presents satisfactory proof of completing coursework that constitutes adequate training of dry needling or of the components of education and training required for dry needling.

(c) Determine whether the licensee has received adequate training to be eligible to perform dry needling.

(3) When a chiropractic physician submits documentation to the board verifying completion of the required hours of education and training under this section, the board must issue the chiropractic physician a letter certifying that the he or she is authorized to practice dry needling under this chapter.