Iowa
08/04/2008
The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org).
Recent News and Legislative Updates
Indiana
08/04/2008
The Indiana Massage Therapy Board is in the process of writing rules and regulations, including an application process, to implement the state certification law. ABMP will let members know when applications become available.
Illinois
08/04/2008
Beginning with the December 31, 2008 renewal and every renewal thereafter, in order to renew a license, a licensee shall be required to complete 24 hours of continuing education, including at least 2 hours on ethics.
View a list of approved CE providers.
Florida
08/04/2008
The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has filed a legal challenge to the Florida Board of Massage Therapy's decision to use the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards' (FSMTB) Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) exclusively beginning in May 2009.
The NCBTMB charges that the FSMTB has not yet proved their ability to administer the exam efficiently, there is a conflict of interest because the chair of the Florida board is also the vice president of the FSMTB, and that the NCBTMB will lose revenue because of its exclusion.
Delaware
08/04/2008
The Delaware Board of Massage and Bodywork recently met and adopted changes to the rules governing massage and bodywork licensing. The new rules provide for online licensure renewal, allow half of continuing education requirements to be fulfilled online, and clarify the categorical restrictions on continuing education. ABMP provided comments but unfortunately, the board adopted the rules as written because renewal notices had to be sent.
Kentucky
07/03/2008
Kentucky Massage Therapy Board Seeks Members
One important way to become more engaged in your profession is to apply for an appointment to the massage therapy board. Five massage therapists and two public members are appointed to the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy for three-year terms; there are currently two open positions for professional massage therapists. ABMP encourages all independent massage therapists to apply for these open appointments. It is advantageous for a board to represent the diversity in the profession and hear different viewpoints.
Colorado
07/03/2008
In addition to SB 219, which requires the state registration of massage therapists, two other bills affecting massage therapists also passed the legislature and were signed into law by Governor Ritter.
SB 011
Pennsylvania
06/26/2008
House Bill 2499, sponsored by Representative McCall, passed through the House of Representatives on June 24, 2008. The bill will now be heard in the Senate. HB 2499 would require a state license to practice massage therapy and establish a State Board of Massage Therapy to implement the law.
Michigan
06/24/2008
Reform Committee on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The bill would establish state licensing standards for massage therapists and create a board of massage therapy to implement the process. If passed, a state license would pre-empt local regulations; only one license would be needed. It is early in the legislative process and there is no action to take at this time.
The bill establishes entry-level criteria for the profession:
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Good moral character
- 18 years old
- Passage of an exam approved by the board
Pennyslvania
06/20/2008
House bill 2499, sponsored by Representative McCall, was introduced, amended, and subsequently passed the Committee on Professional Licensure amended on June 11, 2008 and the Appropriations Committee on June 17, 2008. The bill would require a state license to practice massage therapy and establish a State Board of Massage Therapy to implement the law.