Moving to a new state can be challenging enough; add in the frustration of applying for a new state massage therapy license and it can seem like the world is working against you.

The profession has long lamented the lack of mobility in the field, yet nothing ever seems to change. Most states are pretty consistent in their requirements for a license, typically requiring a minimum 500 hours of education, passing an entry-level competency exam, completing a background check, filling out an application, and paying a fee in order to qualify.
In addition, most state laws include a “licensure by endorsement” that recognizes an applicant has already met the licensing standards of another state (with substantially equivalent requirements) and should therefore be allowed a streamlined application process.
Twenty-seven states fall into this category, so it would seem the profession could at least enjoy portability
between these 27 states. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Even though states have the ability to offer a more streamlined application process for licensed professionals who have moved from another state, they rarely do. And, despite the fact that the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)—developed, in part, to promote professional portability—has been accepted by almost all licensure states, it’s just as difficult for practitioners to move and maintain their professional license as it was 10 years ago.
What’s worse is that most states require the same application process for endorsement applicants as they do for initial applicants. They require primary source documentation for school transcripts and exam scores, as if the applicant has never been licensed before, thereby making the entire endorsement process a fallacy. In fact, endorsement applicants have to jump through more hoops than an initial applicant, as they have to also submit verification that their license is in good standing with the state they’re currently licensed in.
Also, many states don’t have adequate systems in place to ensure a proper repository for the records of closed schools. Therapists are being refused a license in a new state because their school is closed and they can’t get primary verification, or original transcripts, sent.

Time for Change
It’s time for state boards to make some changes. There is a thorough regulatory structure in place to allow for better professional mobility and there is no reason to disregard it. In many ways, endorsement applicants should be viewed as a more desirable applicant since they have already been practicing in good standing.
The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) will soon be hosting a Massage Therapy Practitioner Database that will make it easier for the state regulatory boards to detect fraud, diploma mills, and problem practitioners.
FSMTB is planning to release its Model Practice Act in 2014, and ABMP is hopeful that sensible endorsement processes will be included to encourage better mobility for practitioners.

Portability for Some
The US Department of Defense advocated for more streamlined application processes for military spouses when a survey indicated that a primary reason why military personnel were not re-enlisting was because their MT spouses couldn’t become licensed in a timely manner when they were relocated by the military. Forty states have adopted laws to expedite license applications for military spouses, and there has been no impact on public safety and zero complaints.

Jean Robinson is ABMP’s director of government relations. Contact her at jean@abmp.com.