Title 5 - Business Licenses and Regulations

5.50.500 Massage Therapist License Required, Examination Requirements, Restrictions.

No person shall perform massage therapy or in-office massage within the City, unless he or she has a valid massage therapist license issued by the City pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, provided massage therapy may be performed by a student massage therapist subject to the provisions of Section 5.50.550.

1. A.
   To be eligible for issuance of a Massage Therapist license, an applicant must: 1. Submit an application on a form provided by the City Clerk, and; 2. Submit acceptable proof that the applicant has successfully passed the 1992 or later National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB), or the 2007 or later Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). The applicant must also have successfully completed a course of instruction, consisting of not less than 500 hours, in the theory, method or practice of massage. The required curriculum must include the subjects of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, first aid and hygiene and practical instruction in massage technique. Proof of completion of educational and training requirements must be by certified transcripts. The educational and training requirements required by this Chapter may be received from more than one school. Training hours from a school that has had its NCBTMB Assigned School Code denied, suspended or revoked will not be accepted. The applicant must also have successfully completed an in-person certification program in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR, or equivalent programs, and provide current certification, and; 3. Pay the applicable license fee(s).
2. B.
   All licensed massage therapists applying for a renewal license must show proof that they have received a minimum of twelve hours (fifty minutes per hour) of professional massage continuing education during the preceding twelve-month licensing period. One hour continuing education credit will be awarded for each hour attendance at programs relating to the theory or clinical application of theory pertaining to the practice of massage to include, but not limited to, clinical business practices, hygiene, record-keeping, medical terminology, professional ethics, business management, human behavior, client interaction and state and local laws that are sponsored by a university, junior college or otherwise found to be acceptable by the Police Department. The certificate for any on-line continuing education courses must clearly depict the time required to acquire such certificate. All licensed massage therapists applying for renewal license must show proof of current in-person certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR, or equivalent programs in addition to the twelve hours of continuing education. Continuing education hours are required for all applicants seeking a license renewal. This includes applicants whose license has lapsed or expired. Applicants seeking a new massage therapy license shall also be required to provide twelve (12) continuing education hours from the past year when the applicant's NCBTM or MBLEx certification is more than one year old.
3. C.
   Individuals licensed with the City as massage therapists as of the effective date of this ordinance may renew that license notwithstanding failure to satisfy the minimum education and testing provisions in Section 5.50.500A, and continue to renew such license so long as there are no lapses in active licensure status. If active licensure status lapses, the person will be required to apply for a new massage therapist license and meet the qualifications in Section 5.50.500A, and continuing education hours meeting the requirements set forth in Section 5.50.500B.

(History: Ord. MP-3230 §1, 2018; Ord. MP-3033 §1, 2014; MP-2890 §2, 2010; MP-2790 §21, 2008)

Effective on: 1/1/1901