(a) For purposes of this chapter, “approved educational and training program” means a school or college offering education and training in the practice of an acupuncturist that meets all of the following requirements:

1. (1) Offers curriculum that includes at least 3,000 hours of which at least 2,050 hours are didactic and laboratory training, and at least 950 hours are supervised clinical instruction. Has submitted that curriculum to the board, and has received board approval of the curriculum. Any school or college offering education and training in the practice of acupuncture that was approved by the board prior to January 1, 2017, has not had its approval revoked, and has not changed its curriculum since receiving board approval, is deemed to have had its curriculum approved by the board for the purposes of this section.
2. (2) Has received full institutional approval under Article 6 (commencing with Section 94885) of Chapter 8 of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code in the field of traditional Asian medicine, or in the case of institutions located outside of this state, approval by the appropriate governmental educational authority using standards equivalent to those of Article 6 (commencing with Section 94885) of Chapter 8 of Part 59 of Division 10 of Title 3 of the Education Code.

3. (3) Meets any of the following:

   1. (A) Is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, or its successor entity.
   2. (B) Has been granted preaccreditation status by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, or its successor entity.
   3. (C) Has submitted a letter of intent to pursue accreditation to the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, or its successor entity within 30 days of receiving full institutional approval pursuant to paragraph (2), and is granted preaccreditation status within three years of the date that letter was submitted.