Recent News and Legislative Updates


Reflexology Certification Bill Signed Into Law in Washington

On March 29, 2012, Governor Gregoire signed Senate Bill 6103, which amends and supplements the existing massage licensing statute by requiring the certification of reflexologists. Because massage practitioners must be licensed in Washington under existing law, and reflexology falls within their scope of practice, the new certification provisions will not have an impact on currently licensed massage practitioners.

Idaho Licensing Bill Signed by Governor – There is NO Action to Take at this Time

On April 3rd, 2012, Governor Otter signed Senate Bill 1295a into law. The law requires massage therapists to become licensed by the state and establishes a Board of Massage Therapy to implement the process. The law also establishes minimum training requirements, defines a scope of practice, provides an avenue for consumer complaints, and pre-empts local regulations. Qualifications for licensure the first 2 years (grandfathering)

Montana Licensing Reminder

If you have already received your license, you may disregard this message.

It is illegal to practice massage therapy in Montana without having a state license. Most massage therapists have already applied for and received their license. However, if you were delaying the process for some reason, perhaps you have not been practicing, or you’re taking a break for some other reason, please be advised that the “grandfathering provision” is expiring soon.  


Kansas Bill to License Massage Therapists Fails

House Bill 2564, which would have required massage therapists to become state licensed, failed to progress this year. Thank you to all members who made phone calls to legislators at our request. There will very likely be another attempt in the 2013 legislative session to re-introduce a bill. ABMP will continue to work with others to ensure the best possible outcome should a bill progress.

NJ update on February 29th meeting

To: NJ ABMP members From: Jean Robinson, government relations director RE: February 29, 2012 Board Meeting, Board review of public comments submitted Applications for licensing are NOT available yet, and probably won’t be available until the fall at the earliest. There is no action for you to take at this time; this is simply an update.

CAMTC Eliminates Exam Options

At its meeting on February 15, 2012, the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) voted to eliminate the National Exam for State Licensing (NESL), offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, and  the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) from the list of approved exams for the Portable G pathway to CAMTC certification. Applicants will only be able to apply for CAMTC certification by becoming certified by NCBTMB if applying by Portal G.


MI update on March 5th Public Hearing

To: Michigan ABMP members From: Jean Robinson, government relations director RE: March 5, 2012 public hearing regarding the proposed administrative rules to implement massage therapy licensing. Applications for licensing are NOT available yet. They probably won’t be available until the fall at the earliest. There is no action for you to take at this time. This is simply an update.

Tennessee Legislative Update

House bill 2387, the bill currently before the state legislature that previously sought to move the classification of massage therapy from the Department of Health Related Boards and place it under the Department of Commerce and Insurance, has now been amended to remove all references to the massage therapy profession.

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