Remember how challenging it was to build your massage practice? Would you relish the thought of repeating that journey?

Some of you may not have a choice. You could move to a different state because of a spouse’s job transfer, to care for an aging parent, or just to pursue a new lifestyle. Among the downsides of such a move is saying goodbye to a nurtured clientele and starting over in a new community. Skills and experience can travel with you anywhere, but restarting your practice is no walk in the park—especially when different regulations factor in.

The Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) is a legislative effort sponsored by the US Department of Defense and the Council of State Governments in conjunction with the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). The IMpact legislation was developed by a technical assistance group of 25 individuals from many massage therapy purviews—educators, licensees, regulators, and representatives from ABMP, FSMTB, and AMTA.

The legislation is an imperfect but important first step in solving the portability issue. According to the massage therapy compact language, if you’re licensed, have 625 hours of massage therapy education (including continuing education), have passed a national examination, have had no disciplinary action against you, and have a clean background check, you may temporarily move from one IMpact state to another without application forms and fees and can avoid long wait times to receive a new state license. You can also lessen the hiatus between practicing in your former and new residence states.

The IMpact requirements were established to ensure that practitioners who have the opportunity for multistate practice comply with standards to ensure safety and competence. Requirements and standards protect the profession and the public from unqualified imposters and human traffickers. It’s important to note that practitioners can alternatively apply to each individual state to obtain a license. The IMpact reduces obstacles to obtaining licenses in multiple states.

Think about your driver’s license—you can drive in California, Colorado, Delaware, and Virginia without needing to get local permission. Why is that? Because states have compromised about what is needed to be able to drive in every state, even if it varies from what’s allowed in your state.

ABMP supports the IMpact because we believe in making sound public policy that supports the profession. The IMpact is just that. There are approximately 320,000 massage therapists in the US. The majority will likely not have to navigate the IMpact requirements to practice in another state. But progress as a profession matters, and enacting an interstate compact is an important step forward as a profession. Those who need or want to practice in other states—especially those moving to a state with more rigorous standards than that of their “home” state—will value the opportunity to obtain permission to practice in additional states with relatively minimal effort.

In the most recent legislative cycle, the IMpact saw significant progress and drawbacks. By late March, when this edition of Massage & Bodywork magazine was sent for publication, several states had introduced the legislation, including Alabama, Georgia, and Wisconsin. Those states and several others could adopt the IMpact, as Nevada did in 2023. 

The positive progress shows that the profession cares about portability and therapists’ ability to increase their earning potential. The IMpact is about elevating you and the profession. ABMP will continue to champion the IMpact so you can reach your highest potential.