Indiana Passes Statewide Massage Therapy Certification Law

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels signed Senate Bill 320, the massage therapy state certification bill, into law on May 9, 2007.  The law takes effect on July 1, 2007.  Indiana becomes the 38th state plus the District of Columbia to regulate the massage therapy profession. 

Passage of SB 320 is an important step toward AMTA’s ongoing effort to achieve fair and consistent licensure laws for the profession.  The new massage therapy certification law includes several provisions which AMTA believes are necessary to achieve portability for the profession.  They include:

  • A minimum scope of practice for massage based on a definition of those massage procedures which are observable by the common person.
  • Successful completion of a professional course of study consisting of at least five hundred (500) hours of in-class, supervised education.
  • Successful completion of an examination approved by the newly created Indiana State Board of Massage Therapy. 
  • Powers and duties of the Indiana State Massage Therapy Board which are customary for the regulation of other health care professions in the state.
  • Disciplinary and penalty provisions which are customary for the regulation of other health care professions in the state.
  • An authoritative Indiana State Board of Massage Therapy, with a majority comprised of massage therapists, and special provisions for the initial appointment of qualified massage therapists as board members whose terms will begin before any certificates have been issued.
  • Grandfathering provisions which allow existing practitioners to qualify for certification if the applicant provides proof of employment as a massage therapist for two (2) years through IRS forms or business records, or has completed a minimum 500 hour supervised massage therapy program.  The grandfathering period lasts from July 1, 2007 through July 1, 2009.
  • Title protection for massage therapists, which includes the titles of “Massage Therapist” and “Certified Massage Therapist” only. In order to use these titles a massage practitioner in Indiana must apply for a state certificate.  Those practicing other bodywork modalities are prohibited from using these titles unless they meet the certification qualifications and apply for state massage therapy certification.

While SB 320 does not license massage therapists nor does it pre-empt local regulations, it is the association’s hope that future legislation will improve on this important first step at regulating the massage therapy profession in Indiana. 

To view the law, please visit http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2007/SE/SE0320.1.html.

For questions about the new certification law in Indiana and/or the AMTA Government Relations Program, please contact Bill Brown, AMTA Government Relations Director at (877) 905-2700 ext. 182 or e-mail bbrown@amtamassage.org.