Why license the massage therapy profession?
Under U.S. law authority rests with states to regulate professions that have an impact on the health, safety and welfare of the public. This isn’t something that is done through national legislation. AMTA recognizes that state government regulation of the practice of massage therapy is the best way to meet the needs of the public and the massage therapy profession. Leaving massage therapy regulation decisions to local government results in inconsistent regulation or none at all. The association believes that state licensure is the most effective means for the states to regulate our profession. State licensure requires that only a person who holds a valid license from the state can engage in the practice of massage therapy or advertise to the public that they are practicing massage therapy. It also applies criminal penalties for people who practice without a valid massage therapy license. Professional licensure laws establish a minimum level of competency necessary to safely and effecti
