BAAB and BAcC Unite
After more than 30 years of close collaboration, the British Acupuncture Accreditation Board (BAAB) is now an integrated function of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC). This important milestone, completed in November 2025, marks a new chapter in supporting high standards in acupuncture education and practice. BAAB’s rigorous and transparent approach to accreditation is widely recognised as the gold standard across Europe. Whilst it is now fully integrated within the BAcC, BAAB retains independence in its accreditation and decision-making, helping to ensure robust standards and public accountability.
BAAB fosters and monitors high quality educational and professional standards, so that the general public can be assured that graduates from BAAB accredited programmes are knowledgeable, reflective, competent and safe acupuncture practitioners. The focus of our work is the accreditation of higher education level programmes leading to a professional qualification in acupuncture.
The transparent, rigorous and comprehensive accreditation processes of the BAAB are gained through seeking feedback from partner organisations, maintaining parity with higher education and through ongoing self-critical review. The accreditation of course providers is an important way in which our profession can demonstrate its maturity, its capacity for effective self-regulation and its public accountability. Accreditation is achieved by meeting the BAcC Standards of Education for Acupuncture and the BAAB Standards of Education and Training for Acupuncture Programmes (SETAP). Graduates from accredited programmes are eligible to apply for membership of the BAcC.
A brief guide describing the work of the BAAB and a summary of its values, standards and processes for the professional education of acupuncturists can be downloaded here.
Thinking of studying acupuncture?
Find out about accredited courses here.
Join the BAcC
The BAAB accredits teaching institutions, not practitioners - if you are a fully qualified acupuncturist wishing to join the British Acupuncture Council, information can be found on their website.