Louisiana

Effective October 1, 2024, Louisiana massage students will no longer be eligible for federal financial aid because massage programs are limited by Louisiana law. But there is a solution: Senate Bill 353 will increase the required education hours for massage licensure from 500 to 625. ABMP fully supports this bill, and we explain why you should too.

House Bill No. 240 creates a provisional license for any graduate of a massage therapy school, allowing them to work while they wait for their licensure application to be approved. Senate Bill No. 286 allows educational hours above 500 to be taught either in person or via distance learning.

House Bill No. 531 passed this legislative session and amends multiple sections of the Louisiana Massage Practice Act, including scope of practice, continuing education, and renewal requirements. It also modifies the look of LA massage therapy license.

Governor John Bel Edwards announced Louisiana's Roadmap to Resilience will move to Phase 2, allowing barber and beauty shops, nail salons, massage therapy establishments, spas, and esthetician services to resume business operations June 5, 2020, except for Orleans Parish, which remains in Phase 1. 

The bill discussed in our most recent legislative alert, HB 792, was signed into law by Governor Edwards on June 17, 2016.  The bill was amended significantly during the legislative process, removing all of the provisions that ABMP opposed.  We thank all of you who contacted your legislators to voice your concerns during the process. 

The new law amends Louisiana’s massage therapy statute, but only in the following three ways: 

The fllowing legilstaive alert was emailed to our Louisiana members on May 23, 2016: