Athletic Trainer is trained and licensed in the United States. ATs are qualified to learn and perform this skill. 

Maryland approved dry needling by athletic trainers as of October 2023, authorizing the State Board of Physicians to register licensed athletic trainers to perform dry needling upon completing the appropriate training and education. North Carolina released a statement on dry needling that allows athletic trainers to perform dry needling with 54 hours of BOC-approved dry-needling training, similar to Nevada regulations, which became effective in late 2020.  With this Supreme Court decision in NC, it was proven that dry needling did not fall under the protection of the NCALB as “acupuncture” and that physical therapists could continue to practice it.   

"Hortz et al. published an expert-opinion comparison of the competencies outlined in the “Analysis of Competencies for Dry Needling by Physical Therapists” and the” 2020 Standards for Accreditation of Professional Athletic Training Programs,” and the “Athletic Training Education Competencies – 5th Edition.” They concluded that “89% of the dry needling tasks were “provided through entry-level education” and 11% were not “provided through entry-level education” and were therefore deemed dry needling specific. Very similar to the education of physical therapists. Given this fact, dry needling courses and certifications are required to fill the 11% not already taught by entry-level education before an Athletic Trainer practices dry needling."