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HB 841

Practice of athletic training; adds dry needling to definition.

2026 Regular Session

Virginia bill permits licensed athletic trainers to perform dry needling, expanding their scope of practice to improve injury treatment access without requiring separate licensure.

Reported from Health and Human Services with amendment(s) (12-Y 9-N)
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Bill Summary · HB 841

Legislative bill overview

HB 841 expands the legal definition of athletic training in Virginia to include dry needling as a permitted practice. This allows licensed athletic trainers to perform dry needling—a technique involving needle insertion into trigger points—without requiring additional licensure or physician supervision. The bill passed its subcommittee with strong support (9-1) and was reported from the full Health and Human Services Committee with amendments (12-9).

Why is this important

Athletic trainers are frontline healthcare providers in schools, sports facilities, and clinics who treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries. Expanding their scope of practice could improve patient access to treatment, reduce wait times, and potentially lower healthcare costs by allowing non-physician providers to offer this service. Conversely, it affects scope-of-practice boundaries between athletic trainers, physical therapists, acupuncturists, and physicians.

Potential points of contention

  • Safety and training standards: Questions about what level of dry needling training athletic trainers must complete and whether current education requirements adequately prepare them for this technique, which carries infection and nerve injury risks
  • Regulatory oversight: Ambiguity over whether dry needling by athletic trainers would require physician referral, supervision, or collaboration agreements, affecting practice autonomy and liability
  • Professional turf wars: Physical therapists and acupuncturists may oppose scope expansion; the 12-9 committee vote suggests meaningful opposition to the amendments

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

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