On May 12, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5229 (SB 5229) into law.
SB 5229 requires the rulemaking authority for health professions licensed under Title 18 RCW subject to continuing education requirements—this includes massage therapists—to adopt rules by January 1, 2024, that require licensees to complete health equity continuing education training at least once every four years.
The Washington Board of Massage will provide information to licensees about available courses and a free course option. The course will address how bias, racism, and poverty are health inequities, and how to develop skills to “care effectively for patients from diverse cultures, groups, and communities, varying in race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, religion, age, ability, socioeconomic status, and other categories of identity.”
The Board created a subcommittee to address these issues in their March 2021 meeting and the subcommittee started their work on April 27, 2021. Licensees will not be required to take a health equity continuing education course until 2024.
If you have questions or concerns, email us at gr@abmp.com.