House Bill 1016 would have disbanded the Board of Massage Therapy under the Department of Health and created a new Board of Barbering, Cosmetology, and Massage Therapy, but HB 1016 died in the House.
Legislative Updates
Senate Bill 750 and House Bill 1652 were not heard in committee and therefore did not pass this year.
Kentucky House Bill 79 was signed by Governor Beshear March 18, 2021. HB 79 requires criminal background checks and photos to be submitted with applications to practice massage therapy.
All continuing education for even-numbered licenses can now be completed online.
House Bill 1440 was introduced in February 2021 and was amended March 17, 2021. The bill would allow online education for an entire massage therapy training program and in-person education by a master massage therapist or instructor at a spa or massage clinic if the clinic or spa has a relationship with a massage therapy school.
Vermont passed Senate Bill 220 last year, which requires registration of massage therapists. Massage therapists, bodyworkers, and touch professionals must register with the state of Vermont by April 1, 2021.
Effective March 1, 2021, a new rule allows all 24 hours of continuing education credits to be completed online.
The Arkansas House of Representatives introduced House Bill 1440 in February, which would allow online education for an entire massage therapy training program and in-person education by a master massage therapist or instructor at a spa or massage clinic.
Vermont passed Senate Bill 220 last year, which requires massage therapists, bodyworkers, and touch professionals to register with the state by April 1, 2021. Find out what you need to apply.
House Bill 1289, which was passed in 2017, will create mandatory licensure in Indiana after the rules are final. Those who are currently certified will automatically roll into licensure. Those who are not certified have 183 days after the rules are final to apply through grandfathering.