South Dakota

Board of Massage Therapy
217 W Missouri Ave
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: 605-773-3440
Fax: 605-773-7175
E-mail: massagetherapy@state.sd.us

> Website

Title: Licensed Massage Therapist
Requirements: 500 hours and passing the MBLEx or NCBTMB; liability insurance required prior to licensure
Renewal: 8 hours/2 years

Regulation Type: 
State License

South Dakota House Bill 1016—Hearing January 20 at 10:00 a.m. (CDT)

Governor Noem introduced House Bill 1016, which would consolidate the boards of massage therapy, cosmetology, and barbering into a new nine-person board from under the Department of Health. There is a hearing in the Commerce and Energy Committee on January 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m (CDT). There will be a short opportunity for public comment.

SD HB 1027 Signed Into Law

South Dakota HB 1027, discussed in our previous legislative update, has been signed into law. Again, one of the primary changes made by this new law is a tightening of the rules for licensure by endorsement, in that out-of-state licensees applying for a SD license now must show specifically that they have 500 hours of massage education or have practiced massage for the past two years. This provision succeeded despite ABMP’s oppo

SD Bill Signed into Law, Changes Will Benefit LMT’s

As we discussed in our last legislative update, HB 1126 initially proposed to repeal South Dakota’s Massage Therapy Act. However, a compromise amendment was achieved which deleted the repeal language and instead made several improvements to the massage law, including:
  • Removing the requirement that schools must be accredited by a US Department of Education recognized accrediting agency by July 1, 2014 in order to be recognized by the Board.
  • Improving reciprocity/endorsement licensing requirements for those moving to South Dakota.

SD Amendment to HB 1126 Makes Little Difference in Current Law

HB 1126 was amended during the House floor vote. The amendment changed one word in the entire massage law. The board shall (instead of may) issue a license to engage is the practice of massage to a person who submits an application form and the nonrefundable application fee as approved in § 36-35-17 and who demonstrates the following qualifications…. The qualifications for licensure remained the same.

South Dakota Bill Would Repeal the Regulation of Massage Therapists

House bill 1126 was introduced and referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee where it was passed (11-2) on January 25, 2013. The bill will now be voted on by all members of the state House of Representatives (House) and if passed, will advance to the Senate for the same process. HB 1126 would repeal the Massage Therapy Practice Act (Act) and massage therapists would no longer be regulated in the state.

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