Florida Legislature to Consider Exempting Certain Students from Licensing Exam

House Bill 139, sponsored by Representative Erik Fresen, has been referred to the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee. If passed, the bill would exempt graduates from certain accredited massage schools from taking an entry-level competency exam. Currently all applicants must pass either the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (www.fsmtb.org) or one of the National Certification Exams offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (www.ncbtmb.org). ABMP opposes HB 139 and believes entry-level requirements should be standard for all applicants. The purpose of licensing a profession is so the state can offer some assurance to consumers that every licensee has met minimum entry-level requirements. Exempting certain applicants is counterproductive to that mission. Read the entire bill at http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h0139__.xml&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=0139&Session=2010 Contact Representative Fesen and tell him you oppose the idea of inconsistent licensing requirements. Rep. Erik Fesen 6255 Bird Road Miami, FL 33155-4883 Phone: 305-663-2011 Other members of the Health Care Regulation Policy Committee can be found at http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Committees/committeesdetail.aspx?SessionId=64&CommitteeId=2467 ABMP will keep members informed as discussions progress.