Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2025

Fall 2025 • 23

■ Timothy Peckinpaugh , Government Relations Chair, AMTA CA The most significant upcoming legislative effort in the near future is occurring in my home state of California. I am confident that our advocacy will pay off and that we will join 45 other states, together with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, in adopting statewide licensure for massage therapy. Transitioning from the current voluntary certification system to a mandatory statewide license will ensure that the profession is treated with the respect it deserves and is aligned with other health care disciplines. It would be unthinkable for health care fields such as chiropractic, physical therapy or acupuncture to operate under a voluntary regulatory system. Yet massage therapy continues to do so in a handful of states. This allows for the misuse of professional titles and undermines the legitimacy of our work. By implementing licensure, California will be able to enforce appropriate standards, protect the public, and honor the training and expertise of qualified therapists. My prediction for the future is that a state licensing board will replace California’s current certification system, which fails to set consistent, enforceable qualifications. This change will not only align California with the majority of the country but also elevates the status of our profession within the broader health care landscape. California’s example will have a ripple effect—encouraging the remaining states, such as Minnesota and Kansas, to follow suit. With nationwide licensure, we will increase consumer access to care and present a unified front in advocating for the profession, the practitioners and the clients we serve. 6 The Future of Massage is Evidence-Based ■ Romanelli: Massage research is crucial for advancing the profession with validated, evidence based findings. While those of us within the massage field can readily attest to the

Certification vs. Licensure: What’s the Difference?

In California, massage therapy is regulated through a certification system, unlike most other states that use a statewide licensing system. The key difference between these two approaches is that certification is voluntary, whereas licensure is mandatory. What this difference means practically is that anyone in California can legally call themselves a massage therapist—even without any formal qualifications, education or training. In contrast, licensure is mandatory in states that require it. To obtain a license, individuals must demonstrate that they have met specific education and training standards before they can legally practice massage therapy or use the professional title.

profound impact of massage on various conditions—including pain reduction, easing of depression and anxiety, support of athletic performance, and its valuable role in wellness maintenance plans—the systematic gathering of comprehensive data is of paramount importance. Continued human-based research provides the essential qualitative and quantitative analysis necessary to determine standards of practice and standards of care. Data collected to determine optimal techniques, duration and frequency of massage interventions for various conditions and client populations can be analyzed to help determine an appropriate standards of care. Additional research also ensures that massage treatments are standardized, effective and appropriately applied for reducing pain, addressing other health conditions and promoting overall well-being. Data collected can also contribute to the continued development in the standards of practice. Correlating the education level of a massage therapist and their successful

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