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1996 SESSION

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HB 1279 Licensure and regulation of massage therapists.

Introduced by: Richard L. Fisher | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Licensure and regulation of massage therapists. . Establishes mandatory certification of massage therapists under the aegis of the Board of Nursing. "Massage therapy" is defined as treatment of soft tissues for therapeutic purposes by application of massage and bodywork techniques based on the manipulation or application of pressure to the muscular structure or soft tissues of the human body. Massage therapy will not include any of the services or procedures within the scope of practice of medicine, nursing, chiropractic therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, acupuncture, or podiatry or the diagnosis or treatment of illness or disease. The Board of Nursing is authorized to certify massage therapists and to maintain a registry of all certified massage therapists and to promulgate regulations governing the criteria for certification as a massage therapist and the standards of professional conduct. Some criteria are, however, set out in the new section, e.g., to be licensed, the applicant must be 18 years old, must have completed 500 hours of training, must have passed the National Certification Exam for Massage and Bodywork, and must not be the subject of a disciplinary action. In addition, persons who have practiced for ten years or more prior to July 1, 1997, and have completed at least 200 hours of training will be eligible for certification. Reciprocity is also provided for other states' licensees.


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