KS Massage Therapy Licensure Bill Introduced

Massage Therapist Call to Action: The new massage therapy licensure bill has been introduced, it has not been given a hearing date yet. Now is the time to contact your legislators in support of House Bill 2187. House Bill 2187, the Massage Therapy Licensure Act, would set minimum training requirements, define a scope of practice, provide an avenue for consumer complaint, and pre-empt local regulations. If passed, the bill would require massage therapists to become licensed by the state under the Kansas State Board of Nursing, and would establish a Massage Therapy Advisory Committee to advise the Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act. The bill includes generous grandfathering opportunities for current massage therapists. For a period of two years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. Has completed a massage program consisting of a minimum 500 hours; or
2. Has completed at least 300 hours during the 3 years prior to the date of application; or
3. Has practiced massage for at least 5 years prior to the date of application; or
4. Has been an active member of a national massage therapist association (such as ABMP) which provides professional liability insurance for at least a year; or
5. Has passed a nationally recognized examination approved by the board.

After two years, all NEW applicants only will have to demonstrate they have completed a massage program consisting of at least 500 hours and passed an examination approved by the board. Several practices would be exempt from licensure as long as practitioners do not practice, or advertise that they practice massage therapy, including: reflexology, movement educators (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), energy work (Reiki, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Polarity), structural integrators (Rolfing and Hellerwork). The licensing fee would be no more than $75 every two years and continuing education requirements would be limited to no more than 12 hours biennially. Massage therapists would be required to carry professional liability insurance.