Each state has its own set of massage therapy regulations.
Massage therapy is quickly emerging as one of the more popular forms of treatment for people who are looking for alternatives to medicine. Yet, because massage therapy is still a relatively new practice, there is confusion as to where new therapists can seek employment and what therapists-in-training are required to do in order to become certified.
Where It's Regulated
At the moment, massage therapy is regulated in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Each state has its own regulatory board, schooling requirements and final exam (or "boards"), and laws, which is where much of the confusion comes in. Several states, including Georgia, Connecticut and Missouri, require that massage therapy students complete 500 hours of program-related education, then pass the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). Some states have steeper requirements: Mississippi students must put in 700 hours of practical instruction, while Nebraska asks therapists to complete a whopping 1,000 hours of education and a practical exam in addition to the NCETMB. Those wishing to become a massage therapist should look into the state requirements prior to applying.
Switching States
In most cases, a registered massage therapist can transfer from one state to another without having to rewrite an exam or retake a course. When a therapy student After completing the NCETMB, a therapy student is permitted to work in any state where that exam is administered. At present, 26 states (Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin) and the District of Columbia rely on the NCE examination for certification of massage therapists. In the case of a therapist moving to a state where the NCE exam is not used, that person will need to pass the state exam in order to practice massage therapy there.
Grandfathering
Occasionally, a state will alter its licensing requirements so that better credentials are required of new therapists. For those already employed in the profession, that could mean having to prove they are still qualified to perform massage therapy to the state's satisfaction. The other option is for the state to allow "grandfathering", which means that those already practicing massage therapy are allowed to do so without being subjected to the new requirements. Those who have been practicing for a while, or can prove that they've treated a certain number of clients, are often given "grandfather" status.
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