Massage therapists generally have two tiers of approval they must seek before they can begin working legally. The first is national certification, a credential acquired by passing one of two exams administered by the National Certification Board of Massage Therapists and Bodyworkers (NCBTMB). The second is a license to practice, which can only be obtained through the State regulatory board in the area the therapist wants to work in. State laws regarding licensing massage therapists vary and the requirements for approval can be different. Always investigate the licensing procedure in the locale where you want to open your business. Some schools design their training programs to meet certain State requirements, which can streamline the process considerably.
National Certification
National certification is not compulsory, but recommended for massage therapists. Certification indicates a standard of education consistent with the values of the NCBTMB. In addition to simply enhancing your resume and legitimizing your training, national certification may be required by certain State regulatory boards in order to apply for a massage therapist license.
NCBTMB offers two exams for national certification. You may choose to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM). Check with your local regulatory board to find out which exam results in the preferred credential for licensing. Both tests are multiple choice and cover material learned in massage therapy programs such as knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. The exams also include questions about professional ethics, legal practices, massage application, and assessment. To sit for either exam, the candidate must have completed a minimum of 500 hours of training as a massage therapist at an accredited school.
To remain certified, massage therapists must renew their certification every 4 years. They may keep their certification by retaking the exam or by furnishing proof of 50 hours of continuing education, including a minimum of 2 hours of professional ethics, and 200 hours of massage therapy sessions.
Licensing
Licensing is where the legality of being a practitioner of massage therapy becomes somewhat tricky. Not only do 37 States currently have their own regulations, certain counties and municipalities may also have their own specific laws for massage therapists, such as requiring physical assessment tests and prohibiting house calls. Licenses from one State do not automatically qualify the holder to perform massage in another State, which will have its own individual licensing requirements that must be met. If you choose to start practicing in a place that has both State and local laws, you must fulfill the stipulations of both to be legally allowed to work as a massage therapist. The only way to truly pin down what the requirements are is to locate the State board in charge of licensing massage therapists and get a breakdown of what you will need to begin working.
The following States all recognize the National Certification Exam as the standard credential for a massage therapy license: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
It is possible for a massage therapist to work in all of these States without having to retake the exam or return to school. Certain municipalities may require more education or training for licensing.
Becoming Licensed without Certification
Some massage therapists choose to forgo national certification and obtain a license right away. This is possible in States where therapists are not required to have certification to apply for a license. However, just because national certification is not required, doesn’t mean that the State does not ask for some form of credentials in order to receive a license.
Many states that do not ask for national certification do require that applicants for a license complete a set number of training hours, which can range for 500 to 1,000 in some cases. Regulatory boards might also want applicants to have graduated from a State or COTMA (Commission Massage Therapy Accreditation) approved institution. This is a good option for therapists who have completed a program geared specifically towards a certain State’s licensing requirements.
Becoming Licensed in A New State
Unfortunately, obtaining a license from one State does not entitle the holder to practice massage therapy professionally in another. Though some States have a standardized credential that does transfer, all massage therapists must apply for a new license any time they set up shop in a different State. Any license obtained previously will not be valid in another State.
Massage therapists who move to a new State might be required to return to school for more specific training to receive a license. The law often requires a certain number of hours and courses for licensing, from a Sate-approved school. Most massage therapy schools only offer an entire training program rather than individual courses, making it difficult to cherry-pick prerequisites from the comprehensive classwork. Massage therapists who move to new States often must start their education over again, if they want to apply for a license. Therefore it is advisable to practice massage exclusively in one area, or choose between the States that have transferable credentials.