ARTICLE 4. Enforcement [4955. - 4964.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 4.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4955. Section 4955.

The board may deny, suspend, or revoke, or impose probationary conditions upon, the license of any acupuncturist who is guilty of unprofessional conduct. Unprofessional conduct shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (a) Using or possessing any controlled substance, as defined in Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety Code, dangerous drug, or alcoholic beverage to an extent or in a manner dangerous to the acupuncturist, or to any other person, or to the public, and to an extent that the use impairs the acupuncturist’s ability to engage in the practice of acupuncture with safety to the public. (b) Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist, the record of conviction being conclusive evidence thereof. (c) False or misleading advertising. (d) Aiding or abetting in, or violating or conspiring in, directly or indirectly, the violation of the terms of this chapter or any regulation adopted by the board pursuant to this chapter. (e) Except for good cause, the knowing failure to protect patients by failing to follow infection control guidelines of the board, thereby risking transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases from licensee to patient, from patient to patient, and from patient to licensee. In administering this subdivision, the board shall consider referencing the standards, regulations, and guidelines of the State Department of Public Health developed pursuant to Section 1250.11 of the Health and Safety Code and the standards, regulations, and guidelines pursuant to the California Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1973 (Part 1 (commencing with Section 6300) of Division 5 of the Labor Code) for preventing the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and other blood-borne pathogens in health care settings. As necessary, the board shall consult with healing arts boards within this division, including, but not limited to, the Medical Board of California, the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, the Dental Board of California, the Board of Registered Nursing, and the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, to encourage appropriate consistency in the implementation of this subdivision. The board shall seek to ensure that licensees are informed of the responsibility of licensees and others to follow infection control guidelines, and of the most recent scientifically recognized safeguards for minimizing the risk of transmission of blood-borne infectious diseases. (f) The use of threats or harassment against any patient or licensee for providing evidence in a disciplinary action, other legal action, or in an investigation contemplating a disciplinary action or other legal action. (g) Discharging an employee primarily for attempting to comply with the terms of this chapter. (h) Disciplinary action taken by any public agency for any act substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist or any professional health care licensee. (i) Any action or conduct that would have warranted the denial of the acupuncture license. (j) The violation of any law or local ordinance on an acupuncturist’s business premises by an acupuncturist’s employee or a person who is working under the acupuncturist’s professional license or business permit, that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist. These violations shall subject the acupuncturist who employed the individuals, or under whose acupuncturist license the employee is working, to disciplinary action. (k) The abandonment of a patient by the licensee without written notice to the patient that treatment is to be discontinued and before the patient has had a reasonable opportunity to secure the services of another practitioner. ( l ) The failure to notify the board of the use of any false, assumed, or fictitious name other than the name under which the licensee is licensed as an individual to practice acupuncture.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4955.1. Section 4955.1.

The board may deny, suspend, revoke, or impose probationary conditions upon the license of any acupuncturist if he or she is guilty of committing a fraudulent act including, but not be limited to, any of the following: (a) Securing a license by fraud or deceit. (b) Committing a fraudulent or dishonest act as an acupuncturist. (c) Committing any act involving dishonesty or corruption with respect to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist. (d) Altering or modifying the medical record of any person, with fraudulent intent, or creating any false medical record. (e) Failing to maintain adequate and accurate records relating to the provision of services to their patients.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4955.2. Section 4955.2.

The board may deny, suspend, revoke, or impose probationary conditions upon the license of any acupuncturist if he or she is guilty of committing any one of the following: (a) Gross negligence. (b) Repeated negligent acts. (c) Incompetence.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4956. Section 4956.

A plea or verdict of guilty or a conviction following a plea of nolo contendere made to a charge which is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of an acupuncturist is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this chapter. The board may order a license suspended or revoked, or may deny a license, or may impose probationary conditions upon a license, when the time for appeal has elapsed, or the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or when an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence irrespective of a subsequent order under the provisions of Section 1203.4 of the Penal Code allowing the person to withdraw his or her pleas of guilty and to enter a plea of not guilty, or setting aside the verdict of guilty, or dismissing the accusation, complaint, information, or indictment.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4959. Section 4959.

(a) The board may request the administrative law judge, under his or her proposed decision in resolution of a disciplinary proceeding before the board, to direct any licensee found guilty of unprofessional conduct to pay to the board a sum not to exceed actual and reasonable costs of the investigation and prosecution of the case. (b) The costs to be assessed shall be fixed by the administrative law judge and shall not in any event be increased by the board. When the board does not adopt a proposed decision and remands the case to an administrative law judge, the administrative law judge shall not increase the amount of any costs assessed in the proposed decision. (c) When the payment directed in the board’s order for payment of costs is not made by the licensee, the board may enforce the order for payment in the superior court in the county where the administrative hearing was held. This right of enforcement shall be in addition to any other rights the board may have as to any licensee directed to pay costs. (d) In any judicial action for the recovery of costs, proof of the board’s decision shall be conclusive proof of the validity of the order of payment and the terms for payment. (e) All costs recovered under this section shall be considered a reimbursement for costs incurred and shall be deposited in the Acupuncture Fund.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4960. Section 4960.

Disciplinary proceedings under this article shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4960.2. Section 4960.2.

The board in all cases of revocation shall certify the fact of the revocation, under the seal of the board, to the business licensing entity of the cities or counties in which the license of the acupuncturist has been revoked. The record of the revocation made by the county or city clerk shall be sufficient evidence of the revocation, and of the regularity of all proceedings of the board in the matter of the revocation.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4960.5. Section 4960.5.

(a) A person whose license or registration has been revoked, suspended, or surrendered, or who has been placed on probation, may petition the board for reinstatement or modification of penalty, including modification or termination of probation, after a period of not less than the following minimum periods has elapsed from the effective date of the decision ordering that disciplinary action: (1) At least three years for reinstatement of a license revoked or surrendered. (2) At least two years for early termination of probation of three years or more. (3) At least two years for modification of a condition of probation. (4) At least one year for early termination of probation of less than three years. (b) The board may require an examination for that reinstatement. (c) Notwithstanding Section 489, a person whose application for a license or registration has been denied by the board, for violations of Division 1.5 (commencing with Section 475) of this chapter, may reapply to the board for a license or registration only after a period of three years has elapsed from the date of the denial.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4961. Section 4961.

(a) (1) Every person who is licensed to practice acupuncture in this state shall register, on forms prescribed by the board that may include an application for an initial license or for renewal of a license, each place of practice and apply to the board to obtain a wall license for each place of practice. (2) A wall license shall be renewed biennially, coinciding with the license renewal date. A licensee with a wall license issued before January 1, 2021, shall not be required to apply for a new wall license until the licensee’s next license renewal date. (3) If the licensee has no place of practice, the licensee shall notify the board of that fact on a form prescribed by the board. A wall license is not required to be posted when a licensee performs acupuncture treatments outside of the licensee’s place of practice. However, the licensee shall carry a pocket license during treatments outside of the licensee’s place of practice and make the pocket license available upon request. (4) A licensee shall register each place of practice within 30 days after the date of the licensee being licensed by the board or the establishment of a new place of practice, whichever occurs first. (b) (1) An acupuncturist licensee shall post a wall license issued by the board to the licensee in a conspicuous location in each place of practice at all times. (2) If an acupuncturist licensee has more than one place of practice, the licensee shall obtain from the board a separate wall license for each additional location and post the assigned wall license at each location. (c) A licensed acupuncturist shall not display any acupuncture wall license that is not currently active and valid. (d) (1) If a licensee changes the location of a place of practice, the licensee shall apply for the change of location within 30 days of changing the licensee’s place of practice on forms prescribed by the board. (2) If a licensee fails to apply for a new wall license with the board due to a change of location within the time prescribed by this subdivision, the board may deny renewal of the license. (e) (1) A wall license is nontransferable. (2) Any change to the registered location in connection with the wall license, such as moving, requires a new wall license, and the former wall license shall be returned to the board with a request for cancellation. (3) The licensee shall apply to the board to obtain a new wall license using the forms prescribed by the board for the new wall license or change of location. (f) (1) An acupuncturist shall be responsible for the acupuncture or any other practice specified under Section 4937 rendered pursuant to the license of the acupuncturist in each place of practice maintained by the acupuncturist. (2) An acupuncturist maintaining more than one place of practice shall ensure that each place of practice is in compliance with the standards of practice requirements of this chapter. (g) As used in this section: (1) “Place of practice” means an acupuncture office where any act of acupuncture is practiced and includes a place of practice in which the applicant holds a proprietary interest of any nature whatsoever or in which the licensee holds any right to participate in the management or control thereof. (2) “Wall license” means an official document that is issued by the board upon application for a place of practice and has a unique identification number that is specific to the location provided by the licensee in the application.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4961.1. Section 4961.1.

(a) The board, or its designee, may, upon complaint, inspect any of the following: (1) Any premise in which acupuncture services, as defined in Section 4937, are provided or reasonably suspected of being provided. (2) Any place of practice registered with the board for which a wall license has been issued pursuant to Section 4961. (3) Any clinic owned and operated by a school with an approved educational and training program, as defined in Section 4927.5. (4) Any premise in which acupuncture services, as defined in Section 4937, are provided under a tutorial program, as defined in Section 4940. (b) All records required by law to be kept by an acupuncturist subject to this chapter, including, but not limited to, records pertaining to the provision of services to patients, shall be open to inspection by the board, or its designee, during an investigation initiated in response to a complaint that a licensee has violated any law or regulation that constitutes grounds for disciplinary action or issuance of a citation and fine by the board. A copy of all those records shall be provided to the board immediately upon request. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant the board jurisdiction over the practice of medicine.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4962. Section 4962.

(a) On and after July 1, 2019, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (c), the board shall require a licensee to provide a separate disclosure that includes the licensee’s probation status, the length of the probation, the probation end date, all practice restrictions placed on the licensee by the board, the board’s telephone number, and an explanation of how the patient can find further information on the licensee’s probation on the licensee’s profile page on the board’s online license information Internet Web site, to a patient or the patient’s guardian or health care surrogate before the patient’s first visit following the probationary order while the licensee is on probation pursuant to a probationary order made on and after July 1, 2019. (b) A licensee required to provide a disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a) shall obtain from the patient, or the patient’s guardian or health care surrogate, a separate, signed copy of that disclosure. (c) A licensee shall not be required to provide a disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a) if any of the following applies: (1) The patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the copy of the disclosure pursuant to subdivision (b) and a guardian or health care surrogate is unavailable to comprehend the disclosure and sign the copy. (2) The visit occurs in an emergency room or an urgent care facility or the visit is unscheduled, including consultations in inpatient facilities. (3) The licensee who will be treating the patient during the visit is not known to the patient until immediately prior to the start of the visit. (4) The licensee does not have a direct treatment relationship with the patient. (d) On and after July 1, 2019, the board shall provide the following information, with respect to licensees on probation and licensees practicing under probationary licenses, in plain view on the licensee’s profile page on the board’s online license information Internet Web site. (1) For probation imposed pursuant to a stipulated settlement, the causes alleged in the operative accusation along with a designation identifying those causes by which the licensee has expressly admitted guilt and a statement that acceptance of the settlement is not an admission of guilt. (2) For probation imposed by an adjudicated decision of the board, the causes for probation stated in the final probationary order. (3) For a licensee granted a probationary license, the causes by which the probationary license was imposed. (4) The length of the probation and end date. (5) All practice restrictions placed on the license by the board. (e) A violation of this section shall not be punishable as a crime.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4963. Section 4963.

Whenever any person has engaged in an act or practice which constitutes an offense against this chapter, a superior court of a county on application of the board may issue an injunction or other appropriate order restraining that conduct. Proceedings under this section shall be governed by Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The board may commence action in such superior court under the provisions of this section on its own motion and no undertaking shall be required in any action commenced by the board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 4964. Section 4964.

The provisions of this article insofar as they are substantially the same as provisions relating to the same subject matter of any previous acupuncture licensure law shall be construed as a restatement and continuation thereof, and not as a new enactment.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026