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Massage Therapy Laws and Regulations
from:There are several laws, rules and regulations involving the ethical use of massage therapy. These vary from state to state, province to province and country to country. If you decide to become a massage therapist, it is up to you to unearth the different laws governing its practice. These range from attending training programs at schools to taking a state examination for licensing to obtaining the right permits to set up a massage therapy business.
At the beginning, you will find most countries regulate the training of massage therapy. There are courses for interest. There are also courses you require to become a massage therapist. You must take these in an accredited school. In the United States, a State board approves massage therapy training programs. If you attend a school unapproved by the state or not approved within the state you wish to practice, you may not be able to obtain your license.
The same State regulations require you graduate from the courses. You cannot receive a license if you fail to finish. In some instances, however, there is room for students to submit a combination of course work and a portfolio of their training experience. This is usually the case when you are dealing with the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB).
The NCTMB is a national body responsible for setting a test for certification and license purposes. This is the National Certification Examination for Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). This organization will allow you to take the test if you have graduated from an accredited school in Massage Therapy. They will also let you take the exam if you have a reasonable body of work in your portfolio. In this case, they let your fingers do the talking via references, articles, research and the testaments of employers. In either case, you need to check with the requirements of your state. Some insist you pass the test before you get your license to practice.
In addition, some countries may require you to test regularly. They need you to update your knowledge and skills. As a result, they can ask you to renew your license after a specified period of time. If you have passed the NCETMB, you will need to return in 4 years to renew it. This will require extra work on your part. During those 4 years, you will need to perform a minimum of 200 hours of therapeutic massage. There is also the requirement of class work or theory. If you were still taking courses in massage therapy, you need to finish them within this time frame.
Some state regulations demand therapists continue to educate themselves, expanding their knowledge and increasing the range of their techniques. Again, it is up to you to contact the representative organizations before you attend school. This will clarify what specific regulations and laws apply to your state or the state of your future practice. You may need to apply for the test through the NCTMB or you could be working with the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Both receive recognition in the United States. One benefit of having either an NCETMB or FSMTB credential is its national recognition.
Governing the behavior of the massage therapist is a possible host of association. You should belong to at least one national organization. In the Unites States, the most common group is the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). In Canada, it is the Canadian Massage Therapists Alliance (CMTA). These groups set the standards and code of ethics for their members. You can also receive further guidance and instruction from other associations in your specific type of massage therapy. There are worldwide organizations and local groups who only have members in one type or one group of massage categories. You can join groups who focus on Sports Massage, shiatsu, Asian Massage, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and the Bowen Method. Such groups provide direction and work with lawyers, law bodies and other governmental organizations to create legislature for massage therapists. They hope to keep the "quacks" out and the legitimate masseuses in.
Besides the rules and regulations governing and guiding the profession on a state, national and international level, you have local laws and by-laws. Wherever you decide to set up your practice, you need to take into consideration the local legislation. This may affect such things as where you set up your practice, what you may advertise, what health and safety issues you need to address and other similar matters. Before you make the move, be sure you talk to the local government officials. This will save you trouble in the long-run.
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