How to Apply for 5NP Technician Registration
The Oregon Medical Board will begin accepting applications for five-needle protocol (5NP) technician registration on March 2, 2026.Note: Oregon licensed acupuncturists and MD/DO physicians may provide 5NP treatment without a separate 5NP registration. However, acupuncturists and MD/DO physicians must seek approval from the OMB before training 5NP technicians in Oregon.
Eligibility To be eligible for registration as a 5NP technician, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Complete a Board-approved 5NP training program that includes at least 30 hours of didactic training and 40 ears needled during supervised clinical training.
-
Please do not submit a 5NP technician application until you have completed the training.
- If your training was completed more than 10 years before the date of application, you must demonstrate current competency through relevant courses or 5NP treatments.
- Demonstrate the character and fitness to provide 5NP treatments safely and professionally.
- Substance use disorder in remission, mental health conditions, or other lived experiences are not, on their own, a barrier to registration.
- Criminal history is not an automatic disqualification. The Board evaluates each applicant's background and experience individually and will consider additional information you provide.
5NP Technician Fees | Application & Registration | $100 |
Criminal Records Check
| $48
|
| Total | $148 |
Fees are
non-refundable and may not be credited toward other Board fees.
Application Instructions Complete the
online application using your full, legal name as it appears on your birth certificate, state-issued identification, or other legal documentation. Please do not apply until you have completed the appropriate training described above.
Important: An application submitted with fees that is not complete within 90 days from application submission will expire. An applicant whose application has expired must submit a new application, documentation, and fees.
After You Apply The Board will email you information on how to provide
fingerprints for a criminal history record check. The Board may also query the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) during the application process.
If your application does not meet registration requirements or demonstrates an area of concern, the application may require additional Board review.
If your application is approved, the Board will issue a registration and post your name, registration, and other applicable information on the
Board's website. Also, you will receive an email from the Board with this information.
You must hold an active registration to provide 5NP treatments. You may not provide 5NP treatments in Oregon while your application is under review.
Important Reminders
- A 5NP technician may not use the title "acupuncturist" or advertise or hold themselves out as being an acupuncturist or authorized to practice acupuncture.
- A 5NP technician must obtain written consent from the individual or the individual's representative prior to providing treatment, and retain consent forms for at least three years from the date of treatment.
- A 5NP technician must use only sterile, single-use disposable needles, ear seeds, or ear beads.
- 5NP treatments may only be provided for the purpose of achieving temporary relief from the symptoms of substance use disorder, mental health conditions, or trauma.
- See OMB rules for all 5NP requirements and 5NP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
5NP Trainer Requirements
Before training 5NP technicians in Oregon, a 5NP trainer must request board approval. Acupuncturists and MD/DO physicians may request approval through their
OMB licensee services account. Once signed in, look for the link.
To be a 5NP trainer, one must:
- Be an actively licensed Oregon acupuncturist or a MD/DO physician who is in good standing with the Board and has been practicing auricular acupuncture for a period of at least two years; or
- Hold active 5NP technician registration issued by the Board for a minimum of two years and co-teach a minimum of two 5NP training programs described in section (2) of the rule. The 5NP trainer that co-taught must provide the Board a letter of recommendation and evaluation of the individual seeking approval as a 5NP trainer; or
- Be an active National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) Registered Trainer or People's Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA) Auricular Acu-Technician (AAT) Trainer. If you are not a licensed Oregon acupuncturist or a MD/DO physician you must obtain a 5NP registration first.
5NP Registration Renewal
5NP Registration expires
December 31 of odd-numbered years and may be renewed biennially. To renew, you must:
- Submit a Board-required renewal application.
- Pay the renewal registration fee ($100).
- Complete at least one hour of courses per registration period related to 5NP treatment or pain management.
- Complete at least one hour per year of cultural competency courses or experiences.
If you do not renew, your registration will lapse. A lapsed registration must be renewed within 90 days, or the registration will expire.
You may not provide treatments under a lapsed or expired registration. A 5NP technician with an expired registration must reapply by submitting a new application, documentation, and fees.
Resources
Contact Information
To assist you with your 5NP application, please contact the Licensing Call Center at
licensing@omb.oregon.gov or (971) 673-2700 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m.–3 p.m. (Pacific Time), Monday through Friday.
Please email
elizabeth.ross@omb.oregon.gov with questions regarding 5NP rules or policies.
To receive email updates about the 5NP program, sign up for the OMB's acupuncture email list through
Subscriber Lists and select "Acupuncture Interested Parties."
Background & Rulemaking Process
The Oregon Legislature passed
House Bill 2143 (2025) and Governor Kotek signed the bill into law. The new law authorized the Oregon Medical Board to establish rules regarding 5NP qualifications and registration requirements along with sanitation and best practice standards.
The OMB convened a 5NP Workgroup of acupuncturists, physicians, and community members to assist with implementing HB 2143 and developing rules. Workgroup meetings were held in August and September 2025:
After the 5NP Workgroup, the Board's Acupuncture Advisory Committee (
Agenda & Materials) on September 12, 2025, and the Oregon Medical Board (
Agenda & Materials) on October 2, 2025, reviewed the 5NP draft rules and supplemental materials.
Next, the Oregon Medical Board filed a notice of proposed rulemaking with the Oregon Secretary of State, and a public hearing was held and written comments accepted:
Lastly, all oral and written comments were reviewed by the Board's Acupuncture Advisory Committee on December 5, 2025, and the Oregon Medical Board on January 8, 2026.
The 5NP rules were adopted during the Board meeting on January 8, 2026, and effective on March 1, 2026.