Massage therapy licensing guidelines: New Hapmshire
In New Hampshire, the Licensing and Regulative Services Board oversees the Massage Therapy Commission's regulation of massage therapy rules, guidelines and licensing. Escorts and others who wish to obtain their massage therapy licenses in New Hampshire must meet several eligibility requirements and provide documentation as proof of compliance with certain guidelines. The basic guidelines for becoming licensed as a massage therapist in New Hampshire are:
A practitioner who practices massage therapy without a license may be convicted of a misdemeanor. Subsequent offenses are considered felony crimes.
Massage therapists in New Hampshire are licensed individuals who perform massage for compensation. They may use several titles including: massage therapist, massage practitioner, bodywork practitioner, muscle therapist, massotherapist and other terms. They use kinesthetic, visual and palpatory skills to evaluate the body and a client's condition.
Applicants must possess and provide proof of a high school diploma.
Applicants must complete an application for a new license and submit the application fee. Completion of the application includes the filling in of contact information, date of birth, Social Security number and other information about yourself. A 2-inch x 2-inch photo of you should be sent in with your application. The photo should be a head shot (much like a passport photo).
Candidates must submit or arrange for submission of official proof of passage of the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another equivalent nationally-recognized examination.
Applicants are required to provide official transcripts of massage therapy education at an approved school offering a curriculum that meets the standards of the Commission. The curriculum of education should include 750 hours of education, broken down into core content areas. The breakdown of curriculum should be:
375 hours of history, theory, benefits and scope of massage therapy
150 hours of anatomy and physiology
125 hours of documented practical hours
50 hours of hygiene, CPR, first aid and others
50 hours of business practices, management and professional ethics
Candidates must submit proof of current, valid CPR certification.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of first aid certification.
Candidates must provide a statement guaranteeing their good physical and mental health status and a clear criminal history with no violent crimes or sexually-related crimes in any state.
Qualified applicants who become licensed will be required to renew it every 2 years. Twelve hours of continuing education credit are required annually.
Reciprocity licenses may be acquired by massage therapists who move to New Hampshire from other states. They must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid licensing in good standing from another state, have a clear criminal history and be able to provide a written statement of good health.
A massage therapy license may be denied for the following reasons (among others):
Committing acts of inappropriate sexual contact with a client
Falsification of facts on one's application
Failure to respond to requests made by commissioner
