After many years of working with the state legislature to enact statewide regulation of the Massage Therapy profession, we finally got a bill passed and signed by the governor.

Starting 1 September 2009, massage practitioners and massage therapists will be able to voluntarily register for statewide certification, which would prohibit a local government from imposing certain ordinances they do not currently impose upon other healthcare professionals.  It will also provide for reciprocation with other states to allow certificate holders to move from state to state and be able to set up their practice with the states that offer reciprocation.

Also, as it will establish a uniform standard, massage therapists will be able to freely move about the state offering their services, without having to go through the humiliating and invasive process that some localities have imposed.

I applaud the ABMP and AMTA for their hard work in getting this much needed legislation passed, and will be one of the first in line to apply for state certification.