As a second year grad student studying acupuncture and Chinese medicine, I find it alarming that unlicensed professionals are using dry needling. A Master’s degree that takes 3 years is required for us to practice acupuncture legally, and for good reason, as the human body is intricate and interconnected in ways that are not obvious to someone who has not studied the art and science of acupuncture. Allowing someone who is not a licensed  acupuncturist to needle their clients is not only dangerous for the patient, but it is also disrespectful to those of us who are investing large sums of money, our time, and our energy to a degree that will enable us to safely and effectively help our patients. Dry needling is essentially the same idea as someone who is an unlicensed surgeon being permitted to cut into somebody with a scalpel. We are required to have vigorous training to ensure that we understand the risk and benefits of acupuncture, and I believe that those who wish to perform dry needling should be required to undergo the same training, if they are interested in needling, to provide safe and effective treatment for their patients.