Towns Lose Control Over Massage Therapist Licensing

CHATHAM --- New regulations recently implemented by the state removes the licensing of massage therapists from local boards of health. Officials are concerned that oversight from Boston rather than the local health department could lead to more lax enforcement of health and cleanliness standards, and local message therapists are upset at the hike in license fees attending the change.

The new licensing requirements could lead some who currently practice as massage therapists to call themselves “body workers,” a classification not licensed by the state, one massage therapist said.

Health Agent Judy Giorgio said about 43 massage therapists were licensed by the town. They’ll all be receiving a rebate of their $50 license fee. Under the new state regulations promulgated last month by the board of registration of massage therapy, therapists who held local licenses are grandfathered if an application is filed with the state division of professional licensure by May 1.

The initial license fee is $225.

The benefit of the new regulation, said Janelle Brown, a massage therapist who owns Sol Spa in Chatham, is the therapists no longer have to get licenses in every town they practice in, since each person is covered by a state permit. The downside is the higher license fee.

Because of the Cape’s seasonal economy, she said some therapists may call themselves body workers to avoid the state license requirement. Those who practice reflexology, qui gong, Reiki, shiatsu and other forms of bodywork are exempt from the new licensing requirements. They must refer to themselves as body workers or body work therapists.

According to the Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals, the new law also requires that all massage therapists have professional liability insurance. Brown said the new regulations also require that therapists provide two letters of reference.

Giorgio said the health department will continue to license and inspect massage therapy establishments, at least until the state implements regulations governing those businesses.

“Most likely that will end after this year,” she said, raising concerns that under a state licensing system, inspections will be few and far between. “I suspect it will be complaint driven,” she added. “We’re not going to be going in on a regular basis.”

Because of the town’s seasonality, many more massage therapists are licensed here than the 43 currently on file, Giorgio said. Chatham Bars Inn, for instance, hired more massage therapists for their spa during the summer, when there is higher demand.

While the department will be losing several thousand dollars in licensing fees due to the change, Giorgio is more upset she never received formal notification of the new regulations from the state. She only learned of them when a local massage therapist contacted her. “It kind of came as a surprise to us,” she said.

2/21/08