In Maine, the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation oversees the Maine Massage Therapy Board, which is the granting body for massage therapy licenses. In order to use the term massage therapist (or other forms of the term), one must obtain a license and display it in his or her business or have it with them during out-call services. Escorts who include massage therapy with their other services must get a license.
Licensing guidelines include:
Massage therapists must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Applicants must demonstrate proof of completion (through evidence of official transcripts) of at least 500 hours of board-approved education. The curriculum of an applicant's program must include:
At least 120 hours of studies involving physiology, anatomy and pathology.
Courses that pertain to massage therapy, theory, technique and practice.
Classes with focus on contraindications, benefits, ethics and business.
At least 100 hours of supervised hands-on experience.
Massage therapists must provide proof of passage of a nationally-recognized examination. Accepted tests include the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Other tests may be considered by the Maine Massage Therapy Board.
Applicants must have proof of CPR and First Aid certification. This certification may not be included as part of the required 500 hours of instruction.
Licenses may be denied or revoked for:
Habitual substance abuse.
Mental incompetence.
Fraud or deceit (especially on one's application).
Gross negligence, incompetency or misconduct, including:
Causing harm to a patient.
Promoting massage by someone other than a licensed therapists.
Engaging in lewd, indecent or obscene acts with a patient as a massage therapist.
Massaging of the genital areas, improper draping techniques or improper dressing as a massage therapist.
