Delaware HB 463 Vetoed by Governor Markell

The Board of Massage and Bodywork currently issues licenses to massage and bodywork therapists and certificates to massage technicians. Delaware is the only state to have this two-tier system. Licensed therapists are required to complete at least 500 hours of education and pass a certification examination. Massage technicians are required to complete 300 hours of education and are not required to take an examination. The intent of HB 463 was to ultimately eliminate the 300-hour massage technician category and require all practitioners to become licensed therapists. To achieve licensure, massage technicians would have been required to pass an examination in the next three years. No additional education would have been required. ABMP was very disappointed in the lack of outreach and transparency by the Board of Massage and Bodywork during this process. We believe that the lack of transparency led to the governor’s veto. Massage practitioners in Delaware will continue to be regulated by the two-tier system. Read the governor’s veto message.