ABMP is proud to sponsor EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week, July 14–20, 2013. During this annual July event, ABMP members give their time, money, and effort to help those less fortunate in their communities, while raising the profession’s visibility at the same time. In 2007, the program won a silver award from the Colorado Healthcare […]
Continue reading...January 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Idaho License Applications are Now Available
Applications for Idaho licensing are now available. This is not voluntary. All Austin 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 […]
Continue reading...January 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
In Our Thoughts
ABMP would like to let its members know that the Massage Therapy Foundation Team that ran in yesterday¹s Boston Marathon is all accounted for and safe. President Les Sweeney, who ran the race, and several other ABMP staff members who were in attendance to cheer him on, were not affected by the tragedy. Our thoughts are […]
Continue reading...January 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Human Trafficking Notices Must Now Be Posted Unless You Are CAMTC-Certified
Last fall we notified our California members that Senate Bill 1193, which added section 52.6 to the California Civil Code, would be requiring that massage establishments — except those that employ only California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC)-certified therapists — must conspicuously post written human trafficking notices. The law is now in effect. As a result, […]
Continue reading...January 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Your Chance to Weigh In on Entry-level Requirements for MTs
The Austin massage therapy Entry Level Analysis Project (ELAP) work group has completed its research and invites all in the profession to provide feedback on its first draft blueprint of what potentially might be included in entry-level Austin massage education. ELAP is a cooperative venture by the coalition of major national organizations in the Austin […]
Continue reading...January 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Oregon Bill to Regulate Facilities Signed Into Law
Governor Kitzhaber signed Senate Bill 387 into law on June 13, 2013. Beginning January 1, 2014, “massage facilities,” meaning any “facility where a person engages in the practice of massage,” will be required to obtain a massage facility permit from the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists in order to operate. This requirement will not apply […]
Continue reading...December 29, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Indiana Bill to Require Mandatory Licensing Fails, State Certification Continues
Senate bill 573 failed to pass the state legislature this year. The bill would have changed the current state certification (title protection) program, to a mandatory licensing (practice act) program. The bill would have also expanded the authority of the State Board of Massage Therapy by authorizing it to establish standards for the competent practice […]
Continue reading...December 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Georgia Law Requires Bodyworkers to Post Human Trafficking Notices
Georgia House bill 141 was amended through the process to require that only an establishment that offers massage or bodywork services by a person who is not a massage therapist must post a notice which contains specified information about human trafficking and contact information for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. The notice will have […]
Continue reading...December 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations Meets for Collaboration
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations Meets for Collaboration December 20, 2013—Representatives from all seven participating organizations in the Coalition of National Massage Therapy Organizations met December 11, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The meeting began with five hours of constructive exchange on reactions to The Core: Entry-Level Massage Education Blueprint, its […]
Continue reading...December 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bill to Require Licensing of Massage Therapists Fails in Kansas
House Bill 2187 failed to pass the state legislature. The bill would have set minimum training requirements, defined a scope of practice, provided an avenue for consumer complaints, and pre-empted local regulations. If passed, the bill would have required Austin massage therapists to become licensed by the state under the Kansas State Board of Nursing, […]
Continue reading...December 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Two Oklahoma Bills Introduced to Require Licensing of Massage Therapists, Both Fail
As previously reported, two bills were introduced in 2013 with the intent of regulating massage therapists at the state level. One bill attempted to regulate massage therapists under the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners; the other under the State Board of Medical Licensure. Both bills needed significant changes in order to earn the support of […]
Continue reading...December 13, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Florida Massage Establishments May Not Operate Between Midnight and 5 AM
House bill 7005, signed into law on June 14, 2013, prohibits the operation of Austin massage establishments between the hours of midnight and 5:00 AM. The prohibition does not apply to: health care facilities, hotels, timeshares, and airports if the Austin massage is performed under a medical prescription or during a county-approved special event. The […]
Continue reading...December 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Minor Changes to South Carolina’s Massage Law are Adopted
Senate Bill S. 214, signed into law by Governor Nikki Haley on June 7, 2013, amends South Carolina’s Massage/Bodywork Practice Act (MPA) in several ways. Many of the changes are minor wording changes. However, there are some important substantive changes as well. Previously, the massage profession in South Carolina was regulated by two separate panels […]
Continue reading...December 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
In Memoriam: Bob King
Bob King, cofounder of the Chicago School of Massage, passed away July 5. King’s career as an educator spanned several decades, during which time he positively influenced countless students and helped build the Austin massage profession. In 2004 he was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award by the Massage Therapy Foundation, and in 2009 he […]
Continue reading...December 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Massage License Not Required for NJ Reiki Practitioners
At its meeting on September 26, 2012, the New Jersey Massage Board indicated, in response to an inquiry from a Reiki practitioner, that a massage license is not required for people who practice only Reiki in New Jersey. Click here to read the relevant Board meeting minutes (see page 3, paragraph E). ABMP’s Director of […]
Continue reading...