Mission:
To pass an entry-level Massage Therapy Law to protect the public, increase the available access to care and establish minimum standards for those entering the profession
Who We Are
The Alliance for Licensing Massage Therapists is a grassroots organization of volunteers who are Massage Therapists, clients, friends, employers, teachers, and other health care professionals. We have enjoyed the support of both the organizations and members of AMTA and ABMP, as well as several Massage Therapy schools from all over the state. In the past we have also enjoyed the support of groups like the League of MN Cities, members of the Federation of Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Practice Organizations, and others. We will be working to bring these strategic partners, as well as others, on board for this push. Many of our Registered Supporters have consented to having their support announced on this site along with the city in which they work. That page is linked HERE.
History of the Effort:
The effort to pass a Massage Therapy credentialing law has been underway in Minnesota since 1991. Every attempt that has been made has failed. We aim to change that.
Over the years, there has been a large group of Massage Therapists and their clients who have supported Legislation to regulate the practice of Massage Therapy (as is now the case in 43 states plus the District of Columbia). The efforts before have aimed for different goals over the years, but we have fallen short for various reasons, including political splits in the legislature not being ideal for Licensure passage, writing too much into the bill, and perhaps most importantly, not getting those who support the effort to come forward in an organized way to voice that opinion. Other things we have not done include surveys, and an organized campaign to "Call St. Paul". We aim to change that.
At every attempt we have made to bring Minnesota up to speed with the majority of the country, there has always been an opposition group. Though much smaller in number, they have been better at getting organized and at getting their numbers to yell louder when it comes time to let the elected representatives in St. Paul know what the public wants. We aim to change that.
We are currently one of 7 states with no state-wide regulation for Massage Therapists. In the absence of a state-level regulation, we are left with two forms of regulations:
There are some Massage Therapists out there who have never really thought about whether they would want to be credentialed by the state. To those, we say, read on. We believe that if you see what we are going for, you will find it leading to a win-win situation.
There are some Massage Therapists who have thought about it and come to the conclusion, as we have, that a well-written law will be a great benefit to not only our individual practices, but to our profession as a whole, and most importantly, to the clients who seek us out. To them we say, the time for sitting on the side-lines is passed and your chance to let your opinion be heard is now! The time to speak up and be counted is now! Let your voice join the hundreds of others in the heretofore silent majority to support this law all the way to the governor's desk!
There are some Massage Therapists who have been told by friends teachers or colleagues that any state credentialing effort for that matter will mean negative things for their practice or the practice of others, and why they should oppose that effort on those grounds. These opinions are at best misunderstandings of the facts, and at worst, blatant attempts to scare others into opposing something good by distorting the truth. To those we say, as long as you are practicing ethical, professional Massage Therapy, you have nothing to fear. To those we say, find out the facts and make up your own mind. Read the language of the bill for yourself and ask those asking you to oppose this, what lines of the legislation will have the effects they are forecasting. If they can and it seems your practice will be negatively effected, email us and tell us. If they cannot give you the lines they are talking about, it means those effects will not happen. you can certainly email us and ask, but if it is not in the language, it is likely not going to happen. T
With your help, we can do this. Go to the Simple Ways to Help page with the navigation button on the side to find out the quick, simple and easy ways you can make a tremendous, positive difference for your profession.
Page updated 22Dec2009
To pass an entry-level Massage Therapy Law to protect the public, increase the available access to care and establish minimum standards for those entering the profession
Who We Are
The Alliance for Licensing Massage Therapists is a grassroots organization of volunteers who are Massage Therapists, clients, friends, employers, teachers, and other health care professionals. We have enjoyed the support of both the organizations and members of AMTA and ABMP, as well as several Massage Therapy schools from all over the state. In the past we have also enjoyed the support of groups like the League of MN Cities, members of the Federation of Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Practice Organizations, and others. We will be working to bring these strategic partners, as well as others, on board for this push. Many of our Registered Supporters have consented to having their support announced on this site along with the city in which they work. That page is linked HERE.
History of the Effort:
The effort to pass a Massage Therapy credentialing law has been underway in Minnesota since 1991. Every attempt that has been made has failed. We aim to change that.
Over the years, there has been a large group of Massage Therapists and their clients who have supported Legislation to regulate the practice of Massage Therapy (as is now the case in 43 states plus the District of Columbia). The efforts before have aimed for different goals over the years, but we have fallen short for various reasons, including political splits in the legislature not being ideal for Licensure passage, writing too much into the bill, and perhaps most importantly, not getting those who support the effort to come forward in an organized way to voice that opinion. Other things we have not done include surveys, and an organized campaign to "Call St. Paul". We aim to change that.
At every attempt we have made to bring Minnesota up to speed with the majority of the country, there has always been an opposition group. Though much smaller in number, they have been better at getting organized and at getting their numbers to yell louder when it comes time to let the elected representatives in St. Paul know what the public wants. We aim to change that.
We are currently one of 7 states with no state-wide regulation for Massage Therapists. In the absence of a state-level regulation, we are left with two forms of regulations:
- Local "Home rule", where each city can pass its own "License" requirement, which is really just a business permit and with a few exceptions, requires little or no Massage Therapy training or experience. We are in the process of surveying many of the cities of MN to get more quantifiable numbers on the impact of this City Licensing on the access to care for clients who need it. Click here to find our more or to help with this project.
- In addition to the City ordinances, since 2001 we have been under the auspices of the MN "CAP Law", (Complementary and Alternative Practices) which requires Massage Therapists and other CAP providers make available a CAP Client Bill of Rights. This law, (MN Statute 146A) has had subtle changes over the years, and with those changes, the things that are required to be a part of each CAP Client Bill of Rights has changed with it. Click here to find out more. (Under the "Forms Forms Forms" page of this site, we have a free template that you may use to make sure your Bill of Rights is up to date.)
There are some Massage Therapists out there who have never really thought about whether they would want to be credentialed by the state. To those, we say, read on. We believe that if you see what we are going for, you will find it leading to a win-win situation.
There are some Massage Therapists who have thought about it and come to the conclusion, as we have, that a well-written law will be a great benefit to not only our individual practices, but to our profession as a whole, and most importantly, to the clients who seek us out. To them we say, the time for sitting on the side-lines is passed and your chance to let your opinion be heard is now! The time to speak up and be counted is now! Let your voice join the hundreds of others in the heretofore silent majority to support this law all the way to the governor's desk!
There are some Massage Therapists who have been told by friends teachers or colleagues that any state credentialing effort for that matter will mean negative things for their practice or the practice of others, and why they should oppose that effort on those grounds. These opinions are at best misunderstandings of the facts, and at worst, blatant attempts to scare others into opposing something good by distorting the truth. To those we say, as long as you are practicing ethical, professional Massage Therapy, you have nothing to fear. To those we say, find out the facts and make up your own mind. Read the language of the bill for yourself and ask those asking you to oppose this, what lines of the legislation will have the effects they are forecasting. If they can and it seems your practice will be negatively effected, email us and tell us. If they cannot give you the lines they are talking about, it means those effects will not happen. you can certainly email us and ask, but if it is not in the language, it is likely not going to happen. T
With your help, we can do this. Go to the Simple Ways to Help page with the navigation button on the side to find out the quick, simple and easy ways you can make a tremendous, positive difference for your profession.
Page updated 22Dec2009
