The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy oversees the guidelines and requirements for licensing of massage therapists. The education requirements have increased since May 2010 and continuing education requirements are currently being revised. Escorts and others who are interested in becoming massage therapists in Massachusetts should meet the following criteria for licensure:
Applicants must provide evidence of achieving a high school diploma or the equivalent.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Applicants must submit two letters of reference along with their application.
The first letter must address the applicant's competency and integrity as a massage therapist, and it must be from a massage therapist (or someone within the industry), a medical professional or a massage therapy educator.
The second letter must be from an unrelated individual who attests to the candidate's business and professional integrity.
Applicants must be of good moral character. Any past convictions for offenses more serious than traffic violations must be reviewed by the board.
Applicants must provide official transcripts that prove he or she has completed at least 650 hours of instruction from a licensed massage school. The curriculum should include:
100 hours of Anatomy and Physiology
45 hours of Pathology
45 hours of Kinesiology
300 hours of Massage Theory and Technique
60 hours of Ethics, Professionalism and Business Practices
100 hours of unpaid, supervised clinical or internship hours
Applicants must not have any convictions of sexually-related crimes or crimes involving a lack of moral turpitude within the previous 10 years.
Applicants must submit a completed application along with a non-refundable application fee.
Candidates seeking a reciprocal license as a result of their previous licensure from another state may obtain one, as long as the requirements of their previous residence were nearly equivalent to Massachusetts' guidelines.
