Indiana Massage Therapy

Until 2007, Indiana massage therapy was not governed by the state of Indiana. There were local rules and regulations in some counties.

For several years now, the state had been trying to take control of massage but the proposed bill never got approved by the state House and/or Senate.

The proposed legislation would have required massage therapists to complete at least 500 hours of classroom instruction, pass a standardized test and obtain a state license. People who were already practicing massage therapists would be grandfathered in under the law. The bill would establish a state board of massage therapy charged with overseeing licensing. The law would also provide an equivalency-licensing protocol for massage therapists coming into Indiana from other states.

Well, guess what? It finally happened.

During the state legislation session in 2007, this bill was finally passed. Indiana massage therapy is now regulated by the state of Indiana. This became effective on July 1, 2007.

Apparently, this regulation still has not been officially adopted by the state because the AMTA Indiana website says it will be officially adopted after the public hearing of the State Massage Board regarding the Rules and Regulations of the Certification Act. It is set for October 27, 2008.

A massage therapy state board was appointed by the governor and they held their first meeting in April of 2008. They have established that practicing massage therapists can apply to be grandfathered in as licensed massage therapists by completing a form and submitting $100 by July 1, 2009. A license will last for four years. Forms to apply to be grandfathered in are supposed to be available by January of 2009.

For new massage therapists, they will be required to complete 5oo hours of classroom instruction, be 18 years of age or older, have a high school diploma or equivalency, and pass either the national test, the new FSTMB or the NCE from the American Medical Massage Association.

For additional information, please see the state website.

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