Each state has different laws regarding the
licensing of massage therapy requirements. To become a
massage therapist you need to check with your state board to
find out what you will need to do as far as training and testing
to get a professional massage license. There are still a
few states that don't have any licensing.
States that require that you go to massage
school will vary in the number of hours and type of classes that
are needed. Some states require that you attend a
certified or approved massage school. You will have to
check with the state that you want to work in to see what is
required. There is usually some sort of testing process
required. There are currently 2 testing systems set up so
you need to be sure of which test is required. Your state
board and massage school will be able to help you.
If you want to begin to understand the licensing and legislation
issues that the massage profession is faced with it is imperative that you begin
with reading these pages.
Keith Grant's
Massage Politics Blog
"Issues
In Massage Governance"
Massage
Therapist Activist Pages
Rick Rosen -
On becoming a
profession"
Finally! The
Federation
of State Massage Therapy Boards will hopefully be saving us from the
clutches
of NCBTMB and it's NCE exam.
There are many issues regarding the licensing of
massage therapy. Each state that has required
licensing has it's own
definitions of what is considered to be massage/bodywork. There isn't
any
one universal definition. Because of the many different types of
massage/bodywork, it is important to
become involved in creating and ensuring your
future. Even though you may think that something doesn't
directly affect
you, it may in the future. Become informed of what is going on in your area, nation
and globally.
There are some alternative organizations
and information that needs to be considered with
regards to licensing.
The
Massage Law Newsletter and Healing and the law by Albert Schatz
and
Mary Brewster, provides information on how legislating massage (massage
boards) may be illegal.
The
Minnesota Natural Health Coalition - law that says alternative practitioners
don't have to be regulated,
but patients must sign a clients bill of rights.
NY
Natural Health Project - protecting alternative medicine in NY
Los
Angeles Massage Therapists Alliance
Short
history of National Certification. - My personal view of what
really happened.
The
National Board of Certification can be found at
http://www.ncbtmb.com/
State
Massage Boards Chart
The Emperor Has No Clothes: A Critical Look at National Certification
By Keith Eric Grant, Ph.D., NCTMB
Examining the Current State of Massage Education
By Shirley Vanderbilt
Originally published in
Massage & Bodywork
magazine, October/November 2002.
Copyright 2003. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals
A Necessary Part of Evolving the Profession
By Whitney Lowe, NCTMB Chairman, National Certification Board for
Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork
See also:
Massage
Magazines list of states and licensing info
List of Definitions of Massage therapy
by state.
