Dry Needling doesn't stand alone.

Learn how it fits within acupuncture, where it overlaps, and how to talk about it without losing your professional identity.

Speak with authority.

Treat pain effectively. You’ll walk away knowing what to say, what to document, and how to practice with clinical precision.

No Jargon. No Fluff.

Just straight answers about dry needling—what it is, what it isn’t, and how to explain it to anyone.

Cut Through the Confusion—Own the Dry Needling Debate.

This course gives acupuncturists the language, context, and confidence to clearly define and defend their work. By comparing dry needling and acupuncture side‑by‑side, it cuts through confusion about techniques, terminology, and legal scope. Grounded in both classical Oriental medicine and current scientific research, you’ll learn how to explain the difference, stay compliant, and integrate dry needling into your practice with clarity and authority.

NCCAOM Approved for 1.5 PDAs

This course is approved for NCCAOM PDA credit, meeting the Commission’s standards for professional development in acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Participants will earn continuing education units applicable toward license renewal and national recertification.

Meet Your Instructor

Dr. Sarah Stevens, DaCHM, L.Ac., CMTPT/DN is a licensed acupuncturist, certified in dry needling through Myopain Seminars, and former adjunct faculty at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM). With a clinical focus on orthopedic acupuncture and integrative pain care, and a background in journalism, Dr. Stevens brings unmatched clarity, confidence, and critical thinking to the dry needling conversation. She’s taught hundreds of practitioners how to communicate their work effectively—and treat pain with precision.

Course Curriculum

11 Chapters · 18 Lessons

  1. 1

    WELCOME & OVERVIEW: Dry Needling Explained, An Acupuncturist’s Guide to Owning the Conversation

    1. A Brief Welcome by Dr. Sarah Stevens Free preview
    2. Course Description and Course Objectives Free preview
    3. Course Navigation Tips Free preview
    4. NCCAOM PDA Information Free preview
    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Presentation Slides

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      References and Reading List

  2. 2

    CHAPTER 1: Defining Acupuncture

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Context, Confidence, and Clarity in Modern Practice

  3. 3

    CHAPTER 2: Defining Acupuncture and Ashi Points

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Defining Acupuncture — Systems, Styles, and the Language We Use

  4. 4

    CHAPTER 3: Defining Dry Needling by Trigger Points

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Overlap and Divergence - Trigger Points, Dry Needling and the Muscle's Voice

  5. 5

    CHAPTER 4: Introduction to Trigger Point Referral Patterns

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Intro to Trigger Point Referral Patterns and Dry Needling

  6. 6

    CHAPTER 5: How to Incorporate Dry Needling into Your Practice, Part 1

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Explaining Two Modalities, One Goal - Restoring Movement and Reducing Pain

  7. 7

    CHAPTER 6: How to Incorporate Dry Needling into your Practice, Part 2

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Articulating Dry Needling and Acupuncture

  8. 8

    MARKETING DOWNLOADS

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Talking to Patients About Dry Needling

  9. 9

    WORKSHEET: Elevator Pitch Assignment

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      WORKSHEET: Dry needling "elevator pitch"

  10. 10

    QUIZ

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      QUIZ INFO: And Optional Study Guide

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      PDA Quiz

  11. 11

    COURSE EVALUATION & THANK YOU

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Thank You

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Online Distance Learning Program Evaluation for Dry Needling Explained, An Acupuncturist's Guide to Dry Needling

Ready to Elevate Your Practice?

Enroll today and unlock the powerful synergy between dry needling and acupuncture for unparalleled results in your treatments!

$156.00

Enroll Now Free preview