Dept of Health: Massage Therapist
PO Box 47877
Olympia, WA 98504-7877
Phone: 360-236-4700
Fax: 360-236-4818
Email: hpqa.csc@doh.wa.gov
> Website
Title: Licensed Massage Therapists
Requirement: 500 hours and MBLEx or NCETMB. After Sept 1, 2021: 625 hours and MBLEx or NCETMB.
Renewal: 24 hours/2 years
Max 12 hours online
Min 8 hours hands-on
4 hours of ethics or WA law
Note: to view this feed by state, visit our State Licensing Requirements page and click on your state, then "View legislative updates" inside the informational pop-up.
07/12/2021
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued new guidance addressing how to verify employee vaccination status, how to protect unvaccinated staff, and when employees need to wear masks. Per the new guidance, individuals who work in the health-care industry, such as massage therapists, must continue to wear a mask while at work.
06/07/2021
To address the ongoing difficulty in obtaining hands-on continuing education during COVID-19, the Washington Board of Massage issued Policy Number BOM 20-01.2 that pushes the date back for massage therapists to meet CE requirements through December 31, 2021. The Board also adopted new massage therapy rules effective September 1, 2021.
06/07/2021
The Washington Board of Massage revised the Washington Administrative Code in August 2020. The rules are now final and are effective September 1, 2021. The rules amend definitions, the out-of-state application process, transfer programs, school approval, training hours, faculty, continuing education, standards of practice, and recordkeeping. They also create a new section on gluteal cleft and perineum massage.
05/21/2021
Senate Bill 5229 requires licensees to complete health equity continuing education training at least once every four years to address how bias, racism, and poverty are health inequities and how to develop skills to care effectively for patients.
04/23/2021
The Washington State Board of Massage's Multicultural Health and Equity Committee is having their first meeting April 27, 2021, at 3:30 p.m. PST in a virtual format open to the public to join.
01/22/2021
The Washington Board of Massage revised the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) in August 2020. The new rules increase the minimum number of education and training hours from 500 to 625 hours. The new rules are effective September 1, 2021.
07/14/2020
The Washington Board of Massage is accepting applications for a professional member. Applications are due by August 14, 2020.
06/03/2020
Many counties entered Phase 2 in Governor Jay Inslee's Safe Start Washington plan—a county-by-county approach to reopening the state.
01/31/2019
HB 1082 would require all licensed massage therapists and certified reflexologists to carry a government-issued photo identification with them at all times when practicing.
10/12/2018
The Washington Board of Massage continues to work on new massage therapy rule language. The rules writing process is open to the public, and the public is welcome to take part in helping the Board write rules. Draft rules language is available on the Board's Rules in Progress webpage.
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