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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Keith McCall |
  
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Professional massage therapists and their clients would be protected with new licensing legislation approved by the House
HARRISBURG, June 24 – State Rep. Keith McCall, D-Carbon, said the House of Representatives approved legislation today that would protect massage therapists and their clients by requiring therapists to get a state license.
"It is important to establish necessary educational standards within the massage therapy profession, not only to ensure that practitioners have the customers’ best interests at heart, but to maintain a highly regarded reputation as a professional massage therapist," McCall said. "I believe the licensure of massage therapists will help boost our state’s economy, adding it to a list of more than 200 professions licensed in Pennsylvania, and in turn, allow more practitioners the chance to begin or continue practicing in the Commonwealth."
McCall said H.B.2499 would license massage therapists under a new State Board of Massage Therapy. Applicants would have to meet specific criteria to become certified; including completing a minimum of 600 hours of in-class and postsecondary training approved by the Department of Education, as well as pass an exam administered by a qualified professional testing organization. In addition, the bill would require 24 hours of continuing education every two years.
"We’re one of just 11 states that doesn’t regulate or license massage therapists, and, as a result, trained and reputable therapists are at the mercy of dishonest, unethical people who call themselves ‘therapists’ but give the entire industry a bad name," McCall said. "This bill would give consumers peace of mind and treat trained therapists like the professionals they are."
Therapists would be grandfathered into the new licensing program if they have:
· been in practice for more than five years;
· passed a national certification test;
· passed a licensing exam and completed 100 hours of instruction; or
· 500 hours of instruction from an institution approved by the Department of Education.
The measure passed the House 193-5 and now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
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CONTACT: Bob Caton |