On June 17th, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 2644. The bill amended Texas Massage Therapy law in a very positive manner. Effective September 1, 2007, candidates for massage therapy licensure must now have completed a more comprehensive training program of at least 500 hours in length, a significant increase over the previously required 300 hours. The new 500 hour training programs will meet the following requirements:

1) 200 hours taught by a licensed massage therapy instructor and dedicated to the study of massage therapy techniques and theory and the practice of manipulation of soft tissue, with at least 125 hours dedicated to the study of Swedish massage therapy techniques;

2) 50 hours of anatomy;

3) 25 hours of physiology;

4) 50 hours of kinesiology;

5) 40 hours of pathology;

6) 20 hours of hydrotherapy;

7) 45 hours of massage therapy laws and rules, business practices, and professional ethics standards;

20 hours of health, hygiene, first aid, universal precautions, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and

9) 50 hours in an internship program.

Additionally, the bill eliminated the practical (hands-on) examination requirement. The elimination of the 6-minute practical exam eliminates the requirement for all massage therapy licensure candidates to travel to Austin to take the exam. Therefore, all massage therapy licensure candidates may take the written licensure exam near home instead of having to travel to the state capitol.

As written, the new law’s requirements do not affect any of the approximately 20,000 currently licensed massage therapists. The law also does not affect any massage therapy student pursuing a massage therapy training program provided the student was enrolled in the program before September 1, 2007.

The new requirements are meant to improve the quality of massage therapy provided in the State of Texas and to improve the professional image of Licensed Massage Therapists in the state. The new requirements also bring Texas’ massage therapy regulations more in line with other states regulating massage therapy and with the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB). So, it is likely that the new laws will improve license reciprocity, allowing Texas Licensed Massage Therapists to more easily relocate to other states and separately licensed municipalities.

Ben Crabtree is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Neuromuscular Therapist, and Neuromuscular Therapy Instructor in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Crabtree’s practice is dedicated to relieving pain and dysfunction using Neuromuscular Therapy, Medical Massage and other bodywork techniques. Mr. Crabtree may be reached through his website http://www.sanantoniomassage-therapy.com

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Purpose

The goal is to advance the field of massage therapy and to promote and establish it as a viable therapy integral to good health. The AMTA works to set standards for care and ethical practice, support member therapists, to educate the public about massage therapy and its benefits, and to support legislative efforts in favor of massage therapy.

Who Can Join

Membership to AMTA is open to professionals and students pursuing a career in massage therapy. There is a fee to join and maintain membership; the fee is dependent on the level of membership chosen. Membership is offered at different levels for both students and practicing professionals, and each level of membership requires different qualifications.

What The AMTA Offers Clients And Consumers

Although the AMTA is an association which exists largely for the benefit of its members, the function of the organization is also to promote the art and science of massage therapy, and so the American Massage Therapy Association offers services to massage therapy clients and consumers as well.

The AMTA offers opportunities for the consumers and clients to advertise in their journal and on their website, but what it s most interested in doing for consumers is to educate them and assist in obtaining professional massage therapy services. This is done by

o Offering advertising and job posting services to consumers looking to reach massage therapists

o Offering a “National Locator Service” which can be used to locate a local therapist

o Promoting public education initiatives

o Offering informational resources for consumers

What The AMTA Offers Massage Therapy Professionals

The Association offers a number of different services to its members; access to services is dependent on the level of membership, and some services are available to non-members for a fee.

Professional services offered to therapists by the AMTA include

* Access to member’s section
* Informational resources
* Job search/listing services
* Inclusion in locator directory
* Continuing education opportunities
* Advertising opportunities
* Materials and resources for clients/public education
* Code of Ethics and core documents
* Industry demographics
* Professional support
* Access to insurance (liability, health, disability, optional insurances)
* Regulatory information and updates
* Professional publications
* Political/legislative voice

The American Massage Therapy Association, a member of the Federation of Therapeutic Massage, Bodywork, and Somatic Practice Organizations, represents over 56,000 massage therapy professionals. The AMTA is a valuable resource for both clients and therapists alike.

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In massage therapy, a therapist conducts motion and muscle tests and proposes treatment plans such as soft tissue manipulation, hydrotherapy, remedial exercise programs and client self-help programs. Most therapists also provide courses of treatment for medical conditions and injuries, and may work with other healthcare professionals as part of a team to promote health and overall wellness.

Most massage therapy has developed from a number of sources and there are an estimated 150 types of massage therapy that one can try. Some of the popular massage therapies are breema, chair massage, Chinese Tui Na massage, deep muscle therapy, deep tissue massage, foot or sole massage, traditional Hawaiian massage, myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy, scalp massage, stone massage, Thai massage, and Swedish massage, among others. Most therapy massages can be performed with pressure ranging from superficial to deep; however, an ideal therapeutic massage can be identified when a receiver experiences some discomfort, activating the body’s natural healing response. Although most therapeutic massage leaves some soreness, it is recommended to check with your therapist if the soreness lasts more than two or three days.

Massage therapy is an organized business and most countries have specific organizations that provide information regarding the therapy. In the US, the American Massage Therapy Association is the largest non-profit professional organization of massage therapists in the country. One can also undertake a test to be a professional massage therapist, conducted by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

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