---
title: HB 457. Occupational therapists; perform dry needling as a physical agent modality if certain training and education requirements are met; authorize
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb457
cite_as: HB 457, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb457
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb457.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb457/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70329
date: 2025-02-19
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb457.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 457
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-02-13
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
  - Mitchell Horner
  - Alan Powell
  - Kasey Carpenter
  - Jordan Ridley
  - Rick Jasperse
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB457/2025
upstream_id: 1970336
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - dry needling
  - occupational therapy
  - medical licensing
  - physical therapy regulation
  - patient consent
---

# HB 457. Occupational therapists; perform dry needling as a physical agent modality if certain training and education requirements are met; authorize

## Text

House Bill 457
By: Representatives Horner of the 3rd, Powell of the 33rd, Carpenter of the 4th, Ridley of the
22nd, and Jasperse of the 11th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Chapter 28 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
occupational therapists, so as to authorize occupational therapists to perform dry needling
as a physical agent modality if certain training and education requirements are met; to
provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 28 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to occupational
therapists, is amended in Code Section 43-28-3, relating to definitions, by revising
paragraph (12) and by adding a new paragraph to read as follows:
<ins>"(1.1) 'Dry needling' means a skilled technique that uses a thin filiform needle to
penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying neural, muscular, and connective tissues for
the management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, and movement impairments.
Such term shall not include the teaching or application of acupuncture."
</ins> "(12) 'Physical agent modalities' means occupational therapy treatment techniques, both
superficial and deep tissue, which may, but are not required to utilize the following
agents: thermal, mechanical, electromagnetic, water, <del>and</del> light, <ins>and dry needling</ins> for a
specific therapeutic effect to promote functional outcomes."
SECTION 2.
Said chapter is further amended by revising Code Section 43-28-8, relating to license
requirements for therapy techniques involving physical agent modalities, as follows:
"43-28-8.
(a) No person shall utilize occupational therapy techniques involving physical agent
modalities unless such person:
(1) Is licensed according to this article; and
(2) Has successfully completed a minimum of 90 hours of instruction or training
approved by the board which covers the following subjects:
(A) Principles of physics related to specific properties of light, water, temperature,
sound, or electricity, as indicated by selected modality;
(B) Physiological, neurophysiological, and electrophysiological, as indicated, changes
which occur as a result of the application of the selected modality;
(C) The response of normal and abnormal tissue to the application of the modality;
(D) Indications and contraindications related to the selection and application of the
modality;
(E) Guidelines for treatment or administration of the modality within the philosophical
framework of occupational therapy;
(F) Appropriate selection and practical application of physical agent modalities,
including determining treatment parameters based on existing pathology, impairments,
functional limitations, and expected outcomes;
(G) Guidelines for educating the patient, including instructing the patient as to the
process and possible outcomes of treatment, including risks and benefits;
(H) Safety rules and precautions related to the selected modality;
(I) Methods for documenting the effectiveness of immediate and long-term effects of
treatment; and
(J) Characteristics of the equipment, including safe operation, adjustment, and care of
the equipment.
<ins>(b)(1) No occupational therapist shall perform dry needling unless he or she:
(A) Is certified to use physical agent modalities;
(B) Has a minimum of three years of clinical experience as a licensed occupational
therapist; provided, however, that the board may, in its discretion, accept a lesser
amount of clinical experience if the board receives documentation of completion of
courses specifically in dry needling taken while in attendance at an occupational
therapy program recognized by the board; and
(C) Has documented successful completion of coursework in dry needling acceptable
to the board that includes study of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems; the
anatomical basis of pain mechanisms, chronic pain, and referred pain; myofascial
trigger point theory; and universal precautions. Such coursework shall also include
postgraduate instruction in:
(i) Anatomical review for safety and effectiveness;
(ii) Indications and contraindications for dry needling;
(iii) Management of adverse effects; and
(iv) Evidence based instruction in the theory of dry needling.
(2) Except for remote study or self-study required as a part of postgraduate coursework
in dry needling, online instruction shall not be considered appropriate training.
(3)(A) In order to perform dry needling on a patient's upper extremities, an
occupational therapist shall have successfully completed a minimum of 28 hours of
postgraduate instruction, of which a minimum of 22 hours shall have been in-person
postgraduate instruction in dry needling on upper extremities in a course acceptable to
the board.
</ins>
<ins>(B) In order to perform dry needling on a patient's lower extremities, an occupational
therapist shall meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and shall
have successfully completed a minimum of an additional 40 hours of in-person
postgraduate instruction in dry needling on lower extremities in a course acceptable to
the board.
(4) An occupational therapist shall not perform dry needling unless the patient has signed
an informed consent, which shall be maintained in the patient's medical record. The
written informed consent shall clearly state the risks and benefits of dry needling, the
occupational therapist's level of education and training in dry needling, and any other
information required by the board.
</ins> <del>(b)(c)</del> The board shall promulgate rules and regulations specifically pertaining to the use
of physical agent modalities by a person licensed under this article."
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.

House Bill 457 would let licensed occupational therapists in Georgia perform dry needling on patients, but only after they complete specific hours of training, hold clinical experience, and get the patient's signed informed consent.

### Plain-language summary

Under current Georgia law, occupational therapists can use physical agent modalities like heat, water, and light for treatment, but dry needling (inserting thin needles to stimulate muscles and connective tissue) is not listed among them. House Bill 457 changes that by adding dry needling to the definition of physical agent modalities and creating a legal definition distinguishing it from acupuncture.
The bill sets strict conditions before a therapist can perform dry needling: they must already be certified in physical agent modalities, have at least three years of clinical experience (unless the licensing board accepts less based on specific coursework), and complete detailed postgraduate coursework covering anatomy, pain mechanisms, and safety. Therapists need at least 28 hours of postgraduate instruction, mostly in person, to needle upper extremities, and an additional 40 hours to needle lower extremities. Online instruction generally does not count. Patients must sign informed consent forms describing the risks, benefits, and the therapist's training before treatment can occur.

### What it does

- Adds a legal definition of 'dry needling' to Georgia's occupational therapy law, distinguishing it from acupuncture.
- Adds dry needling to the list of physical agent modalities occupational therapists are authorized to use.
- Requires therapists to hold at least three years of clinical experience, or documented dry needling coursework, before performing the technique.
- Sets minimum training hours: 28 hours (22 in person) for upper extremity dry needling, plus 40 more in-person hours for lower extremities.
- Bars online instruction from counting toward training, except for remote or self-study components of postgraduate coursework.
- Requires therapists to obtain a patient's signed informed consent, documenting risks, benefits, and the therapist's training, before performing dry needling.

### Who it affects

Licensed occupational therapists in Georgia who want to add dry needling to their practice, the state occupational therapy licensing board that must approve training courses and write new rules, and patients who would need to sign informed consent before receiving dry needling treatment.

### Why it matters

Patients seeking occupational therapy for muscle or movement problems could gain access to dry needling as a treatment option, while therapists face new training and documentation hurdles before they can offer it. The bill also sets a clear legal line separating dry needling from acupuncture practice.

### Key provisions

- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-28-3 to define 'dry needling' as using a thin filiform needle to stimulate neural, muscular, and connective tissue, explicitly excluding acupuncture.
- Section 1 also adds dry needling to the list of physical agent modalities occupational therapists may use under O.C.G.A. § 43-28-3(12).
- Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-28-8 to require certification in physical agent modalities and at least three years of clinical experience (with board discretion to reduce this) before performing dry needling.
- Section 2 requires documented coursework on musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems, pain mechanisms, trigger point theory, and universal precautions, plus postgraduate instruction on safety, contraindications, and evidence-based dry needling theory.
- Section 2 sets minimum training hours: 28 hours (22 in-person) for upper extremities, and an additional 40 in-person hours for lower extremities.
- Section 2 requires signed patient informed consent describing risks, benefits, and the therapist's training before dry needling can be performed.
- Section 2 directs the licensing board to write rules and regulations governing use of physical agent modalities, including dry needling.
- Section 3 repeals any conflicting Georgia laws.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2025-02-13)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-19)
- Sponsors: Mitchell Horner, Alan Powell, Kasey Carpenter, Jordan Ridley, Rick Jasperse
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70329

> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb457.md?full=1