I am a former D1 Athlete who has benefited greatly from dry needling. Having seen many doctors over the course of many years, you would be hard pressed to find another individual with more knowledge of the human body than my PT.  PT's posses the anatomical, physicological and clinical knowledge to perform trigger point dry needling safely adn effectively. PT's are highly educated and trained healthcare professionals who speacialize in treating the neurological, muscular and skeletal movemt systems via many modalities and dry needling is on such modality.

Trigger point dry needliing is distinctly different from acupuncture as the treamtent goal and method is different. While both practices may use a similar implement or device, the clinical reasoning, technique, and goal of the treament are different. 

I am not certain of the hours, but a PT has to have more eduactional hours to acheive their degree than an acupuntuist.  To me this debate seems to be trying to slow the popularity and effectiveness of dry needling which ultimately causes the patient to suffer. The regulations proposed by the Virginia Board of Physical Therapy are sufficient to ensure public safety and should be full enacted!