The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care is a government body set up to oversee statutory bodies that hold voluntary registers of health and social care professionals, such as the British Acupuncture Council.
Acupuncture in the UK is not covered by statutory regulation, and as such it was felt that distinguishing between acupuncturists who had undertaken short courses, and those that had undertaken more extensive study, was of interest to members of the general public looking for high standards of care. The BAcC was an early member of the Professional Standards Authority’s ‘Accredited Voluntary Register’ (AVR), which recognises the fact that they maintain high standards of training, safe practice and professional conduct among members.
You can read the BAcC’s entry on their register here if you would like to know more.
