Michigan

Reform Committee on Tuesday, June 24, 2008. The bill would establish state licensing standards for massage therapists and create a board of massage therapy to implement the process. If passed, a state license would pre-empt local regulations; only one license would be needed. It is early in the legislative process and there is no action to take at this time. The bill establishes entry-level criteria for the profession:

• High school graduate or equivalent
• Good moral character
• 18 years old
• Passage of an exam approved by the board
• Complete a minimum 500 hour supervised massage therapy program

Grandfathering--for 2 years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following:

• For at least one year before the effective date of the law, the practitioner has been a member, as a massage therapist, of a national professional association (such as ABMP); or
• Signs an affidavit that he/she practiced massage therapy for at least 10 hours a week for 10 or more years; or
• Signs an affidavit that he/she has practiced massage therapy for at least 10 hours a week for 3 years and has obtained 300 hours of formal training from an approved school; or
• Has fulfilled the education requirement (a 500 hour massage therapy program); or
• Has fulfilled the examination requirement.

Once a massage therapist becomes licensed, 6 continuing education hours per year would be required for renewal of their license. The bill exempts practitioners who practice Feldenkrais, Trager, polarity, reflexology, reiki, shiatsu, structural integration; energy workers and movement educators; as long as they don’t also practice massage therapy.