Identifying a competent acupuncturist requires asking about training and experience:
Are they NCCAOM certified?
How long have they been in practice?
Do they accept insurance?
Cost of treatment?
Remember that physicians need at least 200 hours of training, while non-physician acupuncturists attend school for three years.
If you do refer, you should ask for periodic updates from the practitioner on treatment progress, side effects, or complications.