07/17/2006
On June 27, 2006, Senate Bill 2256 jumped the last hurdle and became law. Both the Senate and House of Representatives voted to override the governor’s veto to pass a law to regulate massage and form a board of massage therapy to administer and enforce regulation.
Until approximately April 30th, 2008, current practitioners will be able to qualify for a license under the Grandfathering provision by satisfying one of the following:
- Provides documentation acceptable to the board demonstrating the applicant has provided at least 500 hours of massage to members of the public for compensation; or
- Has been authorized to practice massage therapy by the municipal board of health within the commonwealth, such authorization being valid within 2 years of the date of application; or
- Has passed a board approved exam administered by a national organization or board You will also need to complete an application, pay the necessary licensing fee, and provide proof of liability insurance. Licenses will not be issued until a board is appointed and rules are drafted.
- 18 years old and a high school diploma or equivalent;
- Two professional letters of reference, with at least 1 being from an employer or professional in the massage therapy or medical field;
- Good moral character as determined by the board;
- Completed a course of study consisting of 500 hours at a licensed massage school;
- Has not been convicted of a sexually-related crime or a crime involving moral turpitude in any jurisdiction for the last 10 years; and
- Proof of liability insurance.
- A person who uses touch, words or directed movement to deepen awareness of patterns of movement in the body, or the affectation of the human energy system or acupoints or Qi meridians of the human body while engaged within the scope of practice of a profession with established standards and ethics, but such services shall not be designated or implied to be massage or massage therapy.
- Such practices shall include, but not be limited to, the Feldenkrais Method; Reflexology; The Trager Approach; Ayurvedic Therapies, Rolf Structural Integration, Polarity or Polarity Therapy; Polarity Therapy Bodywork; Asian Bodywork Therapy that does not constitute massage as defined in this chapter; Acupressure; Jin Shin Do; Qi Gong; Tui Na; Shiatsu; Body-Mind Centering and Reiki.
- These exempt practitioners may use the terms "bodywork", "bodyworker" and "bodywork therapist" in their promotional literature.
- 3 of whom will qualify for state licensure and have been actively practicing massage therapy for at least 5 years immediately preceding their appointment
- 1 of whom will be actively engaged in the operation of a school
- 1 of whom will be a health agent, board member or other health professional employed by or elected to a municipal board of health within the commonwealth
- 2 of whom will be consumers familiar with the massage therapy field
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