Dry needling laws by state
Whether physical therapists may dry needle, and how much training they need first, is set state by state, by law, board rule or board statement. Here's every state and DC, with links to the official source.
38allow PT dry needling
3don't allow it
9have no law or rule on it
1allow it soon
| State | PT dry needling | Training before you start |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Allowed | No set hours in the rules |
| Alaska | Allowed | No set hours |
| Arizona | Allowed | At least 24 contact hours, with written and in-person practical exams |
| Arkansas | Not addressed in law | None set |
| California | Not allowed | Not applicable |
| Colorado | Allowed | At least 46 hours (40 in person), plus at least 1 year of PT practice |
| Connecticut | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Delaware | Allowed | A board-approved program of at least 54 hours, finished within 2 years, plus 2 years of clinical practice |
| District of Columbia | Allowed | No set hours; the board strongly recommends an in-person, board- or CAPTE-approved program |
| Florida | Allowed | 50 hours of face-to-face CE, 25 supervised patient sessions, and 2 years of licensed practice |
| Georgia | Allowed | At least 50 hours with a competency assessment, plus OSHA bloodborne pathogens training, recorded with the board |
| Hawaii | Not allowed | Not applicable |
| Idaho | Allowed | No set hours in the current rules |
| Illinois | Allowed | 50 hours of foundation instruction, 30 didactic hours, 54 practicum hours within 12 months, 200 supervised treatment sessions and a competency exam |
| Indiana | Allowed | At least 50 hours of dry needling education, 40 of them in person (required since June 30, 2024) |
| Iowa | Allowed | No set hours |
| Kansas | Allowed | A board-approved course with written and practical exams (no set hours); 200 treatment sessions before each further course |
| Kentucky | Allowed | No set hours |
| Louisiana | Allowed | A board-approved course of at least 25 hours of in-person, hands-on instruction |
| Maine | Allowed | No set hours; the board recommends you assess whether you need post-graduate training |
| Maryland | Allowed | At least 80 hours: 40 of dry needling coursework and 40 of supervised hands-on practice |
| Massachusetts | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Michigan | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Minnesota | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Mississippi | Allowed | At least 50 hours of face-to-face coursework within 12 months, with board-approved credentials on file |
| Missouri | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Montana | Allowed | No set hours; initial training must include hands-on practice and written and practical exams |
| Nebraska | Allowed | Pre-service or in-service training covering set topics (no set hours), or authorization from another state with equivalent requirements |
| Nevada | Allowed | At least 150 hours of didactic education and training, including at least 25 hours of in-person postgraduate coursework with written and practical exams |
| New Hampshire | Allowed | No set hours |
| New Jersey | Allowed | A board-approved program with at least 40 hours of in-person academic instruction and 40 hours of supervised hands-on practice, finished within 2 years, plus 2 years of clinical practice in New Jersey |
| New Mexico | Allowed | A board-approved course of at least 24 hours with written and in-person practical training, plus 6 months of licensed practice |
| New York | Not allowed | Not applicable |
| North Carolina | Allowed | A board-approved course with at least 54 hours of in-person classroom education |
| North Dakota | Allowed | No set hours in the rules |
| Ohio | Allowed | No set hours |
| Oklahoma | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Oregon | Allowed from July 1, 2027 | To be set by the Oregon Board of Physical Therapy |
| Pennsylvania | Not addressed in law | None set |
| Rhode Island | Not addressed in law | None set |
| South Carolina | Allowed | No set hours |
| South Dakota | Allowed | A board-approved course, mostly in person, with hands-on and written exams (no set hours) |
| Tennessee | Allowed | 50 hours of foundation instruction (usually covered in PT school) plus 24 hours of in-person dry needling instruction from a board-approved course |
| Texas | Allowed | No set hours in the PT rules |
| Utah | Allowed | A division-approved course of at least 304 hours: 54 hours in person and 250 supervised patient treatment hours. Then file your certificate and register |
| Vermont | Allowed | No set hours |
| Virginia | Allowed | Post-graduate dry needling training with face-to-face lab and theory and practical exams, from a board-approved sponsor (no set hours) |
| Washington | Allowed | 325 hours: 100 didactic, 75 in-person needling instruction, and a clinical review of 150 treatment sessions, plus 1 year of full-time practice. Then apply for an endorsement |
| West Virginia | Allowed | No set hours |
| Wisconsin | Allowed | No set hours |
| Wyoming | Allowed | A course with at least 27 hours of live face-to-face instruction, approved by a state PT board, APTA or an APTA chapter, or FSBPT |
Summaries of each state's statute, rules or board statements, last checked October 24, 2026. "Not addressed" means we found no law, rule or board statement either way, so ask your board before you start. These rules are for physical therapists; a few states also let OTs dry needle (Colorado from 2027, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee and Utah), each with its own training rules.