Kansas Bill Would Require Licensing of Massage Therapists

[admin]

House Bill 2564, which has been introduced in the Kansas Legislature, would require massage therapists to become licensed for the purpose of protecting the public and ensuring that the standards of practice in the field are protected and preserved.* If passed, the bill would require massage therapists to become licensed by the state under the Kansas Board of Healing Arts (Board), and would establish a Massage Therapy Advisory Council to advise the Board in carrying out the provisions of the Act.

House Bill 2564 would set minimum training requirements, define a scope of practice, stop any efforts by other fields to control the future of massage therapy, provide an avenue for consumer complaints, and pre-empt local regulations.

Generous Grandfathering Requirements for Current Massage Therapists:* For a period of two years, existing practitioners would be able to qualify for a state license by meeting one of the following criteria:

1. Has completed a massage program consisting of a minimum 500 hours; or
2. Has completed a massage program of at least 300 hours and has practiced massage for a period of 3 years; or
3. Has practiced massage for at least 5 years prior to the date of application; or
4. Has been an active member of a* national massage therapist association (such as ABMP) which provides professional liability insurance for at least a year; or
5. Has passed a nationally recognized examination approved by the board.

After two years, all new applicants will have to demonstrate they have completed a massage program consisting of at least 500 hours and passed an examination approved by the board.

Several practices would be exempt from licensure as long as practitioners do not practice, or advertise that they practice massage therapy, including: reflexology, movement educators (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), energy work (Reiki, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Polarity), structural integrators (Rolfing and Hellerwork).*

The licensing fee would be no more than $80 per year and continuing education requirements would be limited to no more than 6 hours per year. Massage therapists would be required to carry professional liability insurance (required for all health professionals regulated under the Board).

A copy of House Bill 2564 can be found at:* House Bill 2564: Massage Therapy Licensure