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Bill

SB 728

Practice of athletic training; adds dry needling to definition.

2026 Regular Session

Virginia bill authorizes licensed athletic trainers to perform dry needling, expanding their scope of practice without requiring separate acupuncture licensure.

Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
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Bill Summary · SB 728

Legislative bill overview

SB 728 expands the legal scope of practice for athletic trainers in Virginia by adding dry needling to their permitted procedures. Dry needling is a technique where thin needles are inserted into muscles to treat pain and dysfunction, distinct from traditional acupuncture. This change would allow licensed athletic trainers to perform this treatment without requiring additional acupuncture licensure.

Why is this important

Athletic trainers work in schools, sports medicine clinics, and fitness facilities where they treat injuries and rehabilitation. Expanding their scope of practice could improve patient access to dry needling services and reduce healthcare costs by allowing existing professionals to offer additional treatments. However, it raises questions about professional boundaries, training requirements, and regulatory oversight of a procedure currently associated with acupuncture licensure.

Potential points of contention

  • Professional scope creep: Acupuncturists and other licensed practitioners may oppose expanding athletic trainers' scope, arguing it encroaches on their specialized field without equivalent training requirements
  • Training and safety standards: Unclear whether the bill specifies the level of training athletic trainers must complete before performing dry needling, raising patient safety concerns
  • Regulatory oversight: Questions about who monitors quality and handles complaints if dry needling is performed improperly by athletic trainers versus acupuncturists with different licensing standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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