Idaho License Applications are Now Available

Applications for Idaho licensing are now available. This is not voluntary. All massage therapists are required to obtain a license by July 1, 2013 in order to practice. We recommend that you begin the license application process as soon you can. To be clear – the term “grandfathering” relates to the qualifications required for existing practitioners to obtain a license for a certain period of time without meeting the normal licensing requirements. Grandfathering doesn’t mean you don’t have to apply. Everyone must submit an application if they plan to practice massage therapy in the state of Idaho. You will only be able to apply by grandfathering until July 1, 2014. If your practice is limited to one or more of the following modalities and you do not advertise or use the term “massage” in your practice - you are not required to obtain an Idaho massage therapy license: The Feldenkrais method, the Trager approach, body-mind centering, Ortho-Bionomy, craniosacral therapy, polarity therapy, polarity bodywork therapy, Asian bodywork therapy, acupressure, jin shin doo, qi gong, reiki, shiatsu, Rolfing, structural integration, Hellerwork, or a practice which is limited to manipulation of the soft tissues of the hands, feet, or ears as long as practitioner does not hold him/herself out to be a massage therapist or someone performing massage or massage therapy. Fees The application and licensing fee is $125.00, which must be paid by check or money order made payable to the Idaho State Bureau of Occupational Licenses (IBOL). You can pay by cash (exact change required) or credit card if you choose to submit your application in person at the IBOL offices in Boise. For future reference, you will have to renew your license yearly for a fee of $75. Choose the correct application It will be easiest for most applicants to choose one of the five methods below and apply by grandfathering. If you do not satisfy any of the five grandfathering categories, then refer to the instructions for “Examination Applicants” or “Endorsement Applicants” in the “Application Instructions” on the Idaho State Board of Massage Therapy’s Website. All applicants must:

• Pay the $125 fee.
• Complete the application. Most applicants will use the Grandfather Application.
• All applications must be signed in the presence of a notary public, who also must sign and stamp the document. Many banks have notary publics on staff.
• In addition, all applicants will have to provide other documentation depending on which one of the five different requirements you are meeting in order to qualify for a license by grandfathering.

You only need to fulfill one grandfathering category. They are: (1) Professional membership. If you were a member of ABMP (or certain other professional associations) for any full one-year period prior to the date of your license application, then you can apply for a license by grandfathering on that basis. This is the easiest and most efficient way to qualify for licensure. Checklist:

• Contact Nancy Potter at nancy@abmp.com to request that ABMP send a membership verification letter directly to the Board.
• At number 7 and number 8 on the Grandfather Application Link, check yes or no after each question, but disregard the instructions stating that you must have a transcript and exam test scores sent in.
• At the bottom of page 1 of the Grandfather Application, place a check mark on the line before the sentence which begins, “Provide proof of active membership in good standing as a massage therapist…” Do not place a check on any of the other lines at the bottom of page 1.
• You do not have to fill out the “Work Experience” section on page 2.
• If you hold a license in another state, contact the Board in that state to have them mail verification of your license directly to the Idaho Board.
• Keep a copy of this and all other completed documents for your records.

(2) Exam. If you have taken and passed either the MBLEx exam or one of the NCBTB exams (the NCETM or the NCETMB), then you can apply for a license by grandfathering on that basis. Checklist:

• You must contact the testing agency to have it send a copy of your exam scores directly to the Idaho Board. If you passed the MBLEx, go to www.fsmtb.org, click on “MBLEx Mobility Form along the top of the page, fill out the form, and mail it in to the address on the form. If you passed one of the NCBTMB exams, contact the NCBTMB at 1-800-296-0664 or info@ncbtmb.org and request that your exam scores be sent to the Idaho Board. Current certification by the NCBTMB is not required – passing the exam at some point in the past is sufficient.
• At number 7 on the Grandfather Application link, check yes or no, but disregard the instruction stating that you must have a transcript sent in.
• At the bottom of page 1 of the Grandfather Application, place a check mark on the line before the sentence which begins, “Provide proof of having passed an examination…” Do not place a check on any of the other lines at the bottom of page 1.
• You do not have to fill out the “Work Experience” section on page 2.
• If you hold a license in another state, contact the Board in that state to have them send verification of your license directly to the Idaho Board.
• Keep a copy of this and all other completed documents for your records.

(3) Education. You can apply for a grandfathering license based on education if you completed 500 hours in a massage therapy program at a school which is registered with the Idaho State Board of Education or a comparable agency in another state, which consisted of at least: 200 hours in massage and bodywork assessment, theory, and application; 125 hours in body systems including anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology; 40 hours in pathology; 25 hours in business and ethics; and 110 hours of supervised clinical work. Checklist:

• Contact your school to (1) confirm that it is still open and (2) that is registered with the Idaho State Board of Education or a comparable agency in another state. If your school is now closed, try to locate any contact information for your school that you can. If you cannot locate contact information, you may need to apply for a license in one of the other ways.
• Ask your school to send a copy of your official transcript directly to the Board.
• At number 8 on the Grandfather Application link, check yes or no, but disregard the instruction stating that you must have exam scores sent in.
• At the bottom of page 1 of the Grandfather Application, place a check mark on the line before the sentence which begins, “Completed a minimum of five hundred (500) hours of supervised classroom and hands-on instruction…” Do not place a check on any of the other lines at the bottom of page 1.
• You do not have to fill out the “Work Experience” section on page 2.
• If you hold a license in another state, contact the Board in that state to have them send verification of your license directly to the Idaho Board.
• Keep a copy of this and all other completed documents for your records.

(4) If you have practiced massage therapy for an average of at least 5 hours per week for the past 3 years AND you have 300 hours of formal training in massage, you can apply by grandfathering on that basis. Checklist:

• Contact your school to (1) confirm that it is still open and (2) that is registered with the Idaho State Board of Education or a comparable agency in another state. If your school is now closed, try to locate any contact information for your school that you can. If you cannot locate contact information, you may need to apply for a license in one of the other ways.
• Ask your school to send a copy of your official transcript directly to the Board.
• At number 8 on the Grandfather Application, check yes or no after the question, but disregard the instructions stating that you must have exam test scores sent in.
• At the bottom of page 1 of the Grandfather Application, place a check mark on the line before the sentence which begins, “Completed at least three hundred (300) hours of formal massage training in massage therapy…” Do not place a check on any of the other lines at the bottom of page 1.
• Fill out the “Work Experience” section on page 2.
• If you hold a license in another state, contact the Board in that state to have them send verification of your license directly to the Idaho Board.
• Keep a copy of this and all other completed documents for your records.

(5) If you have practiced massage therapy for an average of at least 5 hours per week for the past 5 years AND you have 200 hours of formal training in massage, you can apply by grandfathering on that basis. Checklist:

• Contact your school to (1) confirm that it is still open and (2) that is registered with the Idaho State Board of Education or a comparable agency in another state. If your school is now closed, try to locate any contact information for your school that you can. If you cannot locate contact information, you may need to apply for a license in one of the other ways.
• Ask your school to send a copy of your official transcript directly to the Board.
• At number 8 on the Grandfather Application, check yes or no after the question, but disregard the instructions stating that you must have exam test scores sent in.
• At the bottom of page 1 of the Grandfather Application, place a check mark on the line before the sentence which begins, “Completed at least two hundred (200) hours of formal massage training in massage therapy…” Do not place a check on any of the other lines at the bottom of page 1.
• Fill out the “Work Experience” section on page 2.
• If you hold a license in another state, contact the Board in that state to have verification of your license mailed directly to the Idaho Board.
• Keep a copy of this and all other completed documents for your records.

Avoid Common Mistakes Keep a copy for your records of all documents that you submit. Don’t lie on the application. The information you submit is easily verifiable, and you are likely to get caught. A past arrest, criminal conviction, or disciplinary action will not automatically disqualify you. Lying will. You must have a license issued by the state of Idaho by July 1, 2013 in order to practice massage legally. Don’t let anyone convince you that it is “okay” to practice with only NCBTMB certification. It is not okay. Don’t Panic It will be a criminal violation of the law to practice massage therapy without a Board-issued license. You must be licensed by July 1, 2013 to work as a massage therapist. This gives you sufficient time to complete the process, but do not procrastinate. Get the process started now. License Renewals and CE Massage licenses expire every year on the licensee’s birthday. You must renew every year before your birthday by completing and submitting a renewal form, which will be made available on the Board’s website, along with a $75 renewal fee. Each year starting after your first renewal, you will need to complete 6 hours of massage therapy continuing education (CE), which must include one hour of ethics. All of the CE can be done online if you so choose. If You Have Questions We’ve tried to summarize the application process and address anticipated questions as best we can. If you’ve reviewed all the information here and on the application but still have questions, please contact Nancy Potter at nancy@abmp.com. However, it’s possible that only the Board can answer your question. To contact the Board: Idaho State Board of Massage Therapy Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses 700 West State Street, PO Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0063 Phone: (208) 334-3233 Fax: (208) 334-3945 Email: mas@ibol.idaho.gov Website: click here