Georgia House Bill 457 authorizes licensed occupational therapists to perform dry needling under specific training requirements

Original title: Occupational therapists; perform dry needling as a physical agent modality if certain training and education requirements are met; authorize

Last action · February 19, 2025: House Second ReadersSponsors: Mitchell Horner and 4 others

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What This Bill Proposed

Licensed occupational therapists in Georgia are authorized to perform as a physical agent modality, provided they meet specific clinical experience, certification, and postgraduate coursework requirements. The measure explicitly excludes the teaching or application of acupuncture from the definition of dry needling and mandates written patient informed consent.

Why it matters

Expands the scope of practice for licensed occupational therapists in Georgia, establishing mandatory training hours, clinical experience prerequisites, and patient consent rules for procedures.

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Licensed occupational therapists

Licensed occupational therapists gain authorization to perform dry needling provided they meet new training, experience, and informed consent requirements.

Directly affected

Patients receiving occupational therapy

Patients must sign a written informed consent detailing risks, benefits, and therapist qualifications before undergoing dry needling treatment.

Key Facts

Defines 'dry needling' as a technique using a thin filiform needle to penetrate skin and stimulate underlying tissues for neuromusculoskeletal conditions, pain, and movement impairments, excluding acupuncture.
Adds dry needling to the definition of 'physical agent modalities' used in occupational therapy.
Requires occupational therapists performing dry needling to be certified in physical agent modalities, have a minimum of three years of clinical experience (or board-approved equivalent from an occupational therapy program), and complete approved coursework on musculoskeletal systems, pain mechanisms, and safety.
Prohibits online instruction for dry needling training, except for remote study or self-study required as part of postgraduate coursework.

Show all 7 facts

Requires a minimum of 28 hours of postgraduate instruction (including at least 22 hours of in-person instruction) to perform dry needling on upper extremities.
Requires an additional 40 hours of in-person postgraduate instruction to perform dry needling on lower extremities.
Mandates that occupational therapists obtain a signed written informed consent from the patient detailing risks, benefits, and the therapist's training level before performing dry needling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can any occupational therapist in Georgia perform dry needling under this bill?

No. Occupational therapists must be licensed, certified to use , possess a minimum of three years of clinical experience (or board-approved equivalent), and complete specialized postgraduate coursework.

Is online training accepted for learning dry needling?

Online instruction is not considered appropriate training, except for remote study or self-study required as part of postgraduate coursework.

What are the specific hourly training requirements for different body parts?

Therapists must complete at least 28 hours of postgraduate instruction (with at least 22 hours in-person) for upper extremities, and an additional 40 hours of in-person instruction for lower extremities.

Is patient consent required before performing dry needling?

Yes. The occupational therapist must secure a signed written informed consent that states the risks and benefits of and the therapist's level of education and training.

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · introduced in the House.

Procedural history

3 actions

Feb 19, 2025House
House Second Readers
Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroduced
House First Readers
Feb 13, 2025HouseIntroduced
House Hopper

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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