SB 169: Professions and Businesses; certain education and training requirements for the performance of dry needling; provide

Dry needling is a treatment where thin needles are inserted into the body to relieve muscle pain, and it is currently performed by several types of licensed healthcare professionals in Georgia, including physical therapists, acupuncturists, and physicians. This bill would add a new section to Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 43-1-37) requiring that, after January 1, 2026, anyone performing dry needling must complete 1,365 hours of coursework and clinical training, a clean needle technique course approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, and at least 500 supervised dry needling treatments on 100 different patients within a year. Licensed acupuncturists and physicians who already meet Medical Board requirements, and physical therapists who completed dry needling training before January 1, 2026 under State Board of Physical Therapy rules, would be exempt. Students in acupuncture programs and people still completing the new training could still practice under supervision. The bill also updates the definitions of acupuncture and dry needling in Georgia's acupuncture licensing law (O.C.G.A. § 43-34-62) and revises disciplinary rules for physical therapists (O.C.G.A. § 43-33-18) to reference the new training requirement. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it.

• Creates a new Georgia Code section (43-1-37) requiring licensed healthcare professionals to complete 1,365 hours of training before performing dry needling after January 1, 2026.
• Requires a clean needle technique course approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board and 500 supervised treatments on 100 patients within 12 months.
• Exempts licensed acupuncturists, licensed physicians already approved by the Medical Board, and physical therapists who completed dry needling training before January 1, 2026.
• Allows acupuncture students and people still completing the new training requirements to perform dry needling under direct supervision.
• Updates physical therapy disciplinary law (O.C.G.A. § 43-33-18) so failing to follow the new dry needling training rules can trigger licensing discipline.
• Rewrites the legal definitions of 'acupuncture' and 'practice of acupuncture' in O.C.G.A. § 43-34-62, including describing dry needling as a technique within the practice of acupuncture.

Licensed physical therapists, acupuncturists, and physicians in Georgia who perform or want to perform dry needling; the Georgia Composite Medical Board and the State Board of Physical Therapy, which oversee training approval and licensing discipline; and patients who receive dry needling treatments.

Physical therapists and other providers who currently perform dry needling without this level of training would need to complete new coursework, supervised treatments, and a clean needle technique course to keep doing so after January 1, 2026, which could limit who can offer the treatment and how quickly new providers can start.

• Section 1 adds Code Section 43-1-37, setting the training requirements (1,365 hours, clean needle course, 500 supervised treatments) for dry needling after January 1, 2026.
• Section 1 exempts already-approved acupuncturists, physicians, and physical therapists trained before the deadline, and allows students and trainees to practice under supervision.
• Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-33-18 to make failure to comply with the new Code Section 43-1-37 training requirements grounds for licensing discipline of physical therapists.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 43-34-62 to redefine 'acupuncture' around neural, muscular, and connective tissue stimulation rather than 'Oriental medical techniques,' and to define 'practice of acupuncture' as inserting filiform needles at acupuncture or trigger points.
• Section 3 explicitly states that dry needling is a technique within the practice of acupuncture and adds moxibustion back into the list of adjunctive therapies.
• Section 4 states the Act takes effect immediately upon the Governor's signature or becoming law without signature.
• Section 5 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-18Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-13Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)Primary sponsor

• dry needling
• physical therapy licensing
• acupuncture regulation
• medical licensing
• healthcare training requirements