SF1131

Purpose and overall aim

This bill creates a formal state registration system for massage therapy and Asian bodywork therapy in Minnesota. It sets standards for who can practice, how they are trained, what titles they can use, and how the state oversees and disciplines practitioners. The goal is to protect public health and safety by ensuring practitioners meet consistent education, testing, insurance, and ethical requirements.

What would be created and who is affected

• A new Minnesota Massage Therapy and Asian Bodywork Therapy Act, establishing two professions the state will regulate through registration.
• Professionals who want to use protected titles would need to become registered:
  • Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
  • Registered Asian Bodywork Therapist (RABT)
• An advisory council and the Commissioner of Health would administer the program, set standards, and enforce rules.

Key definitions and terms

• Massage therapy: manual work on the body's soft tissues to promote health and well-being, using techniques like stroking, kneading, vibration, stretching, and other movements.
• Asian bodywork therapy: therapies based on Chinese medical principles, including techniques like pressing, kneading, vibration, passive/active movement, stretching, and related assessments.
• Protected titles: RMT and RABT, which can only be used by those who are registered.
• Credentialing examination: a standardized test approved by the commissioner to certify competence.

Registration process and requirements

• Applicants must submit a complete state application, provide contact details, disclose prior licensing or disciplinary history, and consent to background checks.
• They must show they completed an appropriate postsecondary program in massage therapy or Asian bodywork therapy.
• They must pass a credentialing examination and have professional liability insurance.
• Fees apply to registration, and applicants sign a consent to allow the commissioner to verify information.

Education and training requirements

• For massage therapy (before July 1, 2031): proof of a postsecondary program with required topics (anatomy, physiology, pathology, massage therapy theory and practice, ethics, communications, business/legal practice, supervised practice).
• Starting July 1, 2031: programs must have either programmatic accreditation or meet a minimum of 625 total hours (500 hours of instruction in listed topics plus 125 hours of supervised clinical practice). Programs may exceed these amounts if they still cover the required topics.
• For Asian bodywork therapy: similar education structure, with required topics including traditional Chinese medicine theory and related history/theory/research, plus supervised practice.

Insurance, background checks, and ongoing requirements

• Applicants must have professional liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 annual aggregate.
• A criminal background check is required.
• Registered practitioners must complete continuing education and renew every two years, with fees and updated insurance proof due at renewal.

Temporary, endorsement, and prior-experience registrations

• Temporary registrations may be issued so applicants can begin working while their full registration is processed (valid up to action on the application or 90 days, whichever comes first).
• Endorsement: allows registration based on equivalent credentials from another jurisdiction, with certain proof requirements.
• Prior experience: allows registration based on experience in the prior five years, under specified conditions, with renewals on the same schedule as standard registrations.

Scope of practice and referrals

• The bill defines what massage therapists and Asian bodywork therapists can and cannot do. It explicitly prohibits certain medical procedures and treatments outside the defined scope.
• If a client’s condition falls outside the registered practitioner’s scope, they must refer the client to a licensed health care provider. Co-management of a client’s care with another provider is allowed.

Protected titles and use

• Beginning January 1, 2028, it will be unlawful to use the titles “registered massage therapist” or “registered Asian bodywork therapist” (or similar variants) unless the person is registered.
• Using these protected titles without registration can lead to disciplinary action.

Exemptions and public-safety protections

• Other licensed health professionals are not restricted by these sections when practicing within their own licensed scope.
• The bill allows protections for practitioners who aren’t using protected titles or who are practicing complementary and alternative health care methods, as long as they don’t imply state registration or use protected titles.

Disciplinary actions and grounds for action

• The commissioner can deny, suspend, revoke, or condition registrations and take disciplinary actions for a variety of offenses, including:
  • False advertising or misrepresentation of registration status
  • Sexual conduct with clients or sexual exploitation
  • Gross malpractice, negligence, or incompetence
  • Inability to practice safely due to illness or impairment
  • Criminal convictions related to trafficking, violent crimes, or criminal sexual conduct
  • Being a registered sex offender
  • Other conduct that endangers the public or violates registration rules
• The advisory council may review certain denial decisions, and there are processes for review and appeal.

Public safety and oversight

• The Commissioner of Health, with input from an advisory council, would oversee registration, enforcement, disciplinary actions, and the maintenance of registrant records.
• The act emphasizes ethical standards, standards of practice, and a formal code of ethics.

Implementation timeline and notable dates

• A major implementation milestone is the protection of titles effective January 1, 2028.
• Education, testing, and renewal standards apply on a rolling basis, with some requirements phased in by July 1, 2031.

Summary of potential impact

• Establishes a uniform, state-regulated system for massage therapy and Asian bodywork therapy.
• Creates clear pathways to practice through education, testing, background checks, insurance, and ongoing training.
• Enhances public safety by setting limits on practice, requiring referrals when appropriate, and providing oversight and accountability through disciplinary processes.

Relevant Terms - Massage therapy - Asian bodywork therapy - Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) - Registered Asian Bodywork Therapist (RABT) - Minnesota Massage Therapy and Asian Bodywork Therapy Act - Commissioner of Health - Advisory Council (Massage Therapy Advisory Council) - Credentialing examination - Postsecondary program - Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology - Traditional Chinese Medicine theory - Continuing education (CE) - Professional liability insurance (coverage amounts) - Criminal background check - Protected titles - Endorsement - Prior experience registration - Temporary registration - Renewal, inactive status, lapse - Grounds for disciplinary action - Scope of practice - Referrals to licensed health care providers - Nonrenewal/cancellation - 2028 effective date