If you have been practicing massage in California, you will want to stay informed as regulations are determined for SB 731. Beginning in September of this year, the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) will begin issuing voluntary Certificates for Massage Practitioners and Therapists in California. The Massage Practitioner will require 250 hours of training with 100 of that being in Anatomy & Physiology. At this level, there are several ways for grandfathering in with prior work experience and at least 100 hours of training. The Massage Therapist will require either 500 hours of training, in any modality massage related, or have passed a competency assessment examination that has been approved by the board. There will also be some allowances for people with out of state qualifications. While many efforts and good intentions have gone into the decades that brought this about, the real question remains – to see how it will all play out. The CAMTC is a non-governmental organization that will be issuing voluntary Certificates. The CAMTC Certification will legally supersede the local permitting regulations that are currently in place in local cities and counties. If you are currently permitted through your local government, you do not need to change anything. The CAMTC Certification does not however exempt you from getting a business license in each city that you do business. There are many questions that still remain within this new legislation and over the next few months many of these will be resolved. For example, which exams will be accepted as eligible for the Massage Therapist.
SB 731 is a Title Act, which means it will restrict the right of someone advertising themselves as a Certified Massage Practitioner or Therapist to those who are certified through the CAMTC. Even with this, you will not be state certified or licensed.
I am serving on the Credentials Committee for the CAMTC and making every effort to understand and communicate the details as they become available. We will be holding an informational meeting for therapists, students, employers and anyone interested in learning more about SB 731 and the CAMTC Certification June 30th at 6pm, McKinnon BTC 2940 Webster St Oakland CA 94609 510-465-3488
Selena Lee
Director