Since 2005, all massage therapists wishing to practice their trade in Illinois must be licensed. Any escort who wishes to become a massage therapist must obtain a license from the Massage Therapy Licensure Board, which is overseen by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Several things are required, including proper education, a clean background check and a completed application.
Massage therapists seeking licensure must be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
Massage therapists must complete at least 500 hours of supervised classroom instruction and hands-on practical instruction. The instructor must be on-site, qualified according to the Board and immediately available to the student. Classes must include a variety of subjects including: physiology, human anatomy, kinesiology, pathology, massage theory and technique, client data collection, contraindications and ethics, among many others. Students must pass the classes with at least 70 percent pass rate, and the education must be from a board-approved school that meets several qualifications.
Applicants must pass the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworks (NCETMB). Official results from the testing center are required for official application.
Applicants must present a full set of electronic fingerprints to the Illinois Department of State Police for a criminal background check through Illinois and Federal Bureau of Investigation records. A fee is also required.
Those seeking licensing must fully complete an official application and submit a one-time, non-refundable application fee.
Some applicants are required to produce additional information and/or appear before the Massage Licensing Board for an official interview.
Licensed massage therapists must complete at least 24 hours of continuing education every two years in order to renew his or her license. The courses must include at least 2 hours of ethics instruction.
It is illegal for any unlicensed practitioner to use the words "massage," "massage therapy" or "massage therapist" in any advertising or literature about his or her practice.
A licensee may be fined or have his or her licensed revoked for certain infractions of the law including:
Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor that is related to his or her massage therapy practice.
Conviction of a crime involving immoral conduct, especially sexually-related crimes.
Excessive drug or alcohol use that impairs a licensee's skills or judgment or a client's safety.
Applicants from other states may obtain a license based on their licensing status in their previous home.
