Am I required to accept a medical certification of disability from an acupuncturist and other nontraditional healthcare providers?

Yes, a medical certification from an acupuncturist is acceptable under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which protects employees in California from discrimination related to their disabilities. The FEHA provides employees with a disability with protections similar to those provided by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The regulations implementing the FEHA allow an employer to require an employee with a disability that is not readily identifiable to provide medical certification of the disability from a “health care provider” before beginning the interactive process of determining the reasonable accommodation of that disability.