Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2025

22 • Massage Therapy Journal

5 Legislation Will Shape the Future for Years to Come ■ Romanelli: Foundational progress for our profession is rooted in the establishment and strengthening of licensing regulations at the state level. Not all states in the U.S. have embraced the importance of regulating massage. From the perspective of a legislator, the primary rationale for regulation is the essential protection of the public from unqualified or potentially harmful individuals. A regulatory board or advisory committee serves as the body for addressing complaints filed against licensees, ensuring due process for all parties involved and taking appropriate action when a violation of regulations is substantiated, thereby safeguarding the well-being of the public. From the standpoint of a massage therapist, licensing establishes clear definitions for the practice of massage therapy, outlines scope of practice, sets minimum entry-level education standards to ensure competency, defines examination requirements to assess knowledge and skills, and codifies professional ethics to guide conduct. The act of licensing massage therapy as a profession formally acknowledges its significant growth, considerable impact on the public’s health and wellness, and increasing maturity for self-regulation. Therefore, a strong focus should be placed on successfully passing licensing legislation in the remaining states that have yet to adopt it. Achieving uniform licensing standards across all 50 states fosters greater professional portability between states, promotes a unified professional identity, and ultimately bolsters a stronger national voice that is essential for effective advocacy at the state and federal level. Unified state licensing and a strong foundation of evidence-based research is needed for effectively advocating for the further advancement of the massage therapy profession at the state and federal level.

5. Greater Credential Portability We’ll see movement toward unified national licensing standards, making it easier for graduates to practice across the U.S. 6. Eco-Friendly, Paperless Schools Sustainability will be front and center. Paperless systems, digital forms and eco conscious practices will become the new standard in education and in practice. 7. Stronger Business and Tech Training Students will be empowered to succeed as entrepreneurs with training in digital marketing, scheduling platforms, online booking and virtual client engagement. ■ Rivera-Placido: One of the most critical areas in which massage therapy needs to evolve is education. Currently, the number of hours required for licensing varies from state to state, with New York and Nebraska being the only two to mandate 1,000 hours of training. In contrast, many states fall short, leaving room for inconsistency in the quality of education. If we want to elevate the profession, we must standardize the training requirements across the country. In the coming years, it’s possible that more states will adopt educational programs closer to 1,000 hours, with some even considering an associate’s degree as the minimum standard for practicing massage therapy. New York state has already taken the step of offering associate’s degree programs at six schools. Could a similar shift occur nationwide? It is certainly within the realm of possibility. The model for physical therapy offers valuable insight. Over the years, physical therapy has transformed from a certificate program to requiring a doctoral degree, largely due to the efforts of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. For massage therapy to achieve similar progress, industry associations should come together to create a unified education and licensure framework.

WHY LICENSING MATTERS Read more about why fair licensing is essential to the growth of the massage therapy profession, as well as how AMTA’s advocacy efforts around licensing work to support both the profession and the public, in “Elevating the Profession: Why Fair Licensing is Essential for Massage Therapists in Every State Across the U.S.” in the Summer 2025 issue of Massage Therapy Journal. Available at amtamassage.org/mtj or by scanning the QR code above

amtamassage.org/mtj