Utah

The proposed rules establish educational training, supervisory roles, examinations, renewal requirements, and unprofessional conduct for massage assistants and massage assistants-in-training. Express your thoughts and suggestions for how you think these massage therapy lower-licensing tiers should be regulated in Utah before December 15.

Senate Bill 42 introduces lower-tiered licensing for massage assistants and massage assistants-in-training. Learn about the educational requirements of each limited massage therapy license.

Utah’s Senate Bill 180 (SB 180) will be heard in committee November 16, 2022. SB 180 seeks to create two lower tiers of licensure for “massage assistants” and “massage assistants in training.” The public can attend the committee meeting in person or virtually to fight the bill.

Senate Bill 180 was introduced will create a tiered licensing structure for massage therapists: Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) and a second tier of Certified Massage Practitioners (CMPs) who practice limited massage therapy. ABMP is opposed to SB 180 as is, because there are no education requirements for becoming a CMP.

Senate Bill 214 removes the provision that English be the sole language for the government in the state of Utah.

Reiki is now exempt from the massage license requirement in Utah if it is used as a “spiritual healing art” and does not involve the methods outlined in the Utah massage statute’s scope of practice for Massage Therapy.  However, should a Reiki Practitioner while performing the “spiritual healing art” involve the use of any of the methods outlined in the scope of practice for Massage Therapy, then the Reiki Practitioner must be licensed as a Massage Therapist.

On April 1, 2014, Governor Herbert signed into law two bills which create new exemptions from the massage licensing law.

House Bill 207 provides that practitioners whose practices are limited to the manipulation of the soft tissues of the hands, feet, and outer ears, including practitioners of reflexology and foot zone therapy, are not be required to have a state massage therapy license, as long as:

Two bills have been introduced in the Utah state legislature that would create new exemptions from the massage licensing law.

House Bill 207 provides that practitioners whose practices are limited to the manipulation of the soft tissues of the hands, feet, and outer ears, including practitioners of reflexology and foot zone therapy, would not be required to have a state massage therapy license, as long as:

House Bill 351, sponsored by Rep. Paul Ray, would require massage therapy licensees to complete twenty-four hours of mandatory continuing education during each 2 year renewal cycle. You may read ABMP’s letter to the bill sponsor and committee members regarding our concerns here.

House Bill 114, Sponsored by Representative Tim Cosgrove (D-Murray), would amend the state's Massage Therapy Act to close a perceived loophole that allows for unsavory purveyors to trade under the name of massage.

The primary changes in the law would be to: