Recent News and Legislative Updates

New Hampshire Voluntary Licensing Bill Defeated

01/06/2012

On January 5, 2012, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted to defeat HB 446. The bill would have changed the mandatory licensing of several professions, including massage therapists and bodyworkers, to voluntary “licensing.” ABMP was opposed to the bill. ABMP thanks members who contacted, or met with, state representatives and asked them to vote “no” on HB 446. We believe this successful outcome is a testament to the importance of legislators hearing from their constituents.

New Hampshire Bill Would Change Mandatory Licensing to Voluntary – Action Needed Now!

12/30/2011

On October 27, 2011, the House Committee of Executive Departments and Administration voted (by a very narrow margin) to pass an amended version of HB 446. If passed by the full legislature, the bill would amend the current mandatory licensing programs for several professions (including massage therapy) and make “licensing” voluntary.  The next step in the process occurs on January 4th, 2012, when HB 446 will be voted on by the House of Representatives. Please contact your representative and ask them to vote “no” on HB 446.

Mandatory Continuing Education Now Required for Your Renewal

12/30/2011

Effective January 1, 2012, massage therapists practicing under his/her New York license must take continuing education. You are now required to complete 36 hours of acceptable formal continuing education during each three-year registration period. Practitioners renewing their licenses in the next three years (2012-2015) will have to complete continuing education hours at the rate of one hour of acceptable formal continuing education per month. For example, if you are due to renew in June 2012, you’ll have to take 6 hours of continuing education in order to renew.  

Please Read: NJ Regulations Will Impact Your Practice

12/05/2011

The New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy has been drafting rules and regulations to implement the law passed by the legislature in January 2008. When fully implemented, this law will change the regulation of massage therapists in New Jersey from voluntary certification (title protection) to mandatory licensing. All massage therapists (and certain bodyworkers) will be required to obtain a state license to practice.

Ohio Bill Could Have Negative Impact on Massage Therapists

10/28/2011

House Bill 259, introduced on June 14, 2011, proposes to exempt individuals who practice energy work or movement education from Ohio’s health care professional licensing laws under which massage therapists are licensed as “limited practitioners of medicine.” The bill contains a lengthy list of “complementary or alternative health care services” that would be exempt from licensing if the bill were to pass. Many of the health care services listed in the bill as exempt are currently regulated under massage therapy and are commonly accepted synonyms for massage and/or bodywork therapies.

If you currently have less than 250 hours of massage education and you intend to become certified by the California Massage Therapy Council, you need to act now.

10/12/2011

After January 1, 2012 you will need proof of at least 250 hours of massage education in order to apply for statewide certification. Between now and the end of the year you can still apply with only 100 hours or by taking an exam*. More and more cities, counties, employers and clients are requiring CAMTC's certification, so you do not want to miss the deadline for this opportunity to get certified.
  • You will have the freedom to practice anywhere in California without the need to obtain local massage permits from cities or counties where you provide massage.

Technical Changes Made to Statewide Voluntary Certification Law

08/19/2011

On August 1, 2011, Governor Brown signed into law the ABMP-supported Assembly Bill 619 that makes some changes to the existing voluntary certification statute. These changes, mostly technical in nature, do not change the rules on how you can obtain your statewide certification, which allows you to practice massage therapy anywhere in California without worrying about compliance with local massage therapy laws. The changes made by AB 619 include:

    NY Proposes Rules for CE Requirements – Comment Now

    07/18/2011

    NY Update on Continuing Education Requirements

    Senate Bill 5431 was signed into law on August 30, 2010. Beginning January 1, 2012, the law requires massage therapists to complete 36 hours of continuing education (CE) during each triennial registration period. The State Department of Education (Department), Office of the Professions, with input from the State Board of Massage Therapy, has proposed rules regarding the implementation of the new continuing education requirements. The proposal was published on June 29, 2011.

    Pages