Wisconsin

As previously reported, the passage of AB 588, signed into law on May 13, 2010 will make it mandatory for massage and bodywork therapists to be licensed by the state in order to practice, essentially changing the law from title protection to a mandatory practice act.

Under the current law, a person who is not certified as a massage therapist or bodyworker by the Department of Regulation and Licensing may not designate himself/herself as a massage therapist or bodyworker. The passage of AB 588 will make it mandatory for massage and bodywork therapists to be licensed by the state in order to practice, essentially changing the law from title protection to a mandatory practice act.

AB 588 was passed favorably out of the Assembly Committee on Health and Healthcare Reform with two small changes.

• The Examining Board was changed to an Affiliated Credentialing Board. A credentialing board has similar responsibilities to an examining board. Members are appointed by the governor and subject to senate confirmation, they would have authority to issue administrative rules interpreting the licensing law, and they would have authority to investigate complaints and discipline licensees.

Assembly bill 588, sponsored by Representative Berceau, would make a number of changes to the regulation of massage and bodywork therapists. Under current law, a person who is not certified as a massage therapist or bodyworker by the Department of Regulations and Licensing may not designate himself/herself as a massage therapist or bodyworker. AB 588 would make it mandatory for massage and bodywork therapists to be licensed by the state in order to practice.

Please Note Changes to Wisconsin State Certification Program for Massage and Bodywork Therapists The Department of Regulation and Licensing has amended administrative rules for state certification as a massage therapist or bodyworker and has changed the requirements for renewal of certification. The next renewal deadline is March 1, 2009. As of September 1, 2008:

Wisconsin 2007 Legislative Survey Results and Next Steps for ABMP Members In July 2007, at the request of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA)—Wisconsin Chapter, ABMP mailed a short legislative survey to Wisconsin members. The intent of the survey was to gauge the massage therapy community’s interest in pursuing state licensure. The current law offers state certification with title protection only.