Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, and Touch Professionals FAQs

Registration for Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, and Touch Professionals went into effect on April 1, 2021.

• Am I required to give clients a public disclosure? What does my public disclosure need to have in it?
• What is the purpose of the client disclosure?
• How do I distribute the disclosure?
• Does the disclosure have to be signed by the registrant or by the client?
• Do I as the massage therapist, bodyworker or touch professional have to retain a copy of the disclosure?
• Am I required to register my business?
• How do I obtain verification of my other state licenses for my application?
• Who must register with the Office of Professional Regulation?
• I practice Reiki or Energy Work. Do I need to register with OPR?
• When do I need to register by?
• What are the statutory requirements to obtain a license?
• Is continuing education required?
• What is an establishment under the new law?
• Are establishments subject to inspections?
• Are registrants required to display proof of registration in the establishment?

Am I required to give clients a public disclosure? What does my public disclosure need to have in it?

Yes, you must disclose certain information to each new client before the first treatment. Until Administrative Rules are in place, OPR cannot provide a sample disclosure. At this time, the information may be disclosed in an electronic format or on paper, as long as the following information is provided:

1. Your professional qualifications and experience.
   1. Examples are professional apprenticeships, schools and years of work.
2. Actions that constitute unprofessional conduct.
   1. You can find information about actions that constitute unprofessional conduct at 26 V.S.A. Section 5427and 3 V.S.A. Section 129a.
   2. Disclosure Example: Copying and pasting these laws into a disclosure.
3. How to file a complaint with OPR.
   1. Information on how to file a complaint with OPR can be found here.
   2. Disclosure Example: Summarizing the complaint filing process and including this link in a disclosure.
4. How to get more information about the profession and registered professionals from OPR.
   1. People can get more information about registered massage therapists, bodyworkers, and touch professionals here.
   2. Disclosure Example: Including this link in your disclosure.

Please note that the above is the current state of the law. Rulemaking on disclosures will begin soon and the law may change. These rules will provide more information about the nature, format, timing and other matters regarding the disclosure. The rulemaking process will include at least one public hearing and members of the public are welcome to provide comments on the rules at any time. Information about the draft rules, meetings and the rulemaking process will be available here: https://sos.vermont.gov/massage-therapists-bodyworkers-and-touch-professionals/statutes-rules-resources/ (Check back frequently for updates!) Some updates will also be sent to the email address on file, so please make sure that is up to date.

What is the purpose of the client disclosure?

The purpose of this disclosure is to allow the public to have sufficient information to choose their massage therapist, bodyworker or touch professional. The disclosure provides the public with the opportunity and information to make this choice. Additionally, the disclosure gives the public information about what constitutes unprofessional conduct and how to contact OPR in the event a professional engages in unprofessional conduct. Thus, this disclosure is a key consumer protection element of the new law.

How do I distribute the disclosure?

Currently, there are no laws requiring that information be delivered in a specific form (e.g., electronically or paper). You may hand the client a paper copy in person or send it electronically through email.

Please note that the above is the current state of the law. Rulemaking on disclosures will begin soon and the law may change. These rules will provide more information about the nature, format, timing and other matters regarding the disclosure. The rulemaking process will include at least one public hearing and members of the public are welcome to provide comments on the rules at any time. Information about the draft rules, meetings and the rulemaking process will be available here: https://sos.vermont.gov/massage-therapists-bodyworkers-and-touch-professionals/statutes-rules-resources/ (Check back frequently for updates!) 

Does the disclosure have to be signed by the registrant or by the client?

Currently, there are no laws requiring a signature, just a distribution requirement.

Please note that the above is the current state of the law. Rulemaking on disclosures will begin soon and the law may change. These rules will provide more information about the nature, format, timing and other matters regarding the disclosure. The rulemaking process will include at least one public hearing and members of the public are welcome to provide comments on the rules at any time. Information about the draft rules, meetings and the rulemaking process will be available here: https://sos.vermont.gov/massage-therapists-bodyworkers-and-touch-professionals/statutes-rules-resources/ (Check back frequently for updates!) 

Do I as the massage therapist, bodyworker or touch professional have to retain a copy of the disclosure?

Currently, there is only a distribution requirement. So, there's no need for the registrant to retain a copy, just distribute.

Please note that the above is the current state of the law. Rulemaking on disclosures will begin soon and the law may change. These rules will provide more information about the nature, format, timing and other matters regarding the disclosure. The rulemaking process will include at least one public hearing and members of the public are welcome to provide comments on the rules at any time. Information about the draft rules, meetings and the rulemaking process will be available here: https://sos.vermont.gov/massage-therapists-bodyworkers-and-touch-professionals/statutes-rules-resources/ (Check back frequently for updates!) 

Am I required to register my business?

We do not require the businesses to register with our office, only individuals. Businesses can be registered with the Corporations Division at 802-828-2386 or https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations

How do I obtain verification of my other state licenses for my application?

We will accept an online verification(s). This can be obtained by you visiting the states’ website in which you are licensed and uploading a screen shot or copy of that online verification to your VT online application.

1. Please log in to your account at https://sos.vermont.gov/opr/online-services/
2. Once you log in, you will click Update License or Application found under the license tab and follow the screen prompts.

You may also request that the other state send a verification of licensure directly to OPR per your request.

Who must register with the Office of Professional Regulation?

Any person or establishment holding himself or herself out to the public as practicing as a massage therapist, bodyworker or touch professional must register with OPR.

Additionally, if your practice involves the “practice of massage therapy” or “practice of bodywork” in return for consideration, you are required to register with the Office. Under the new law, the “practice of massage” and the “practice of bodywork” are defined as “systems of structured touch” provided to clients in a manner in which the clients have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and that are either:

• (i) “applied to the superficial, soft or deep tissue, muscle, or connective tissue of another person by manual means, including friction, gliding, rocking, tapping, kneading, and nonspecific stretching”, OR
• (ii) “designed to affect the energy fields of the body for the purpose of promoting and maintaining health and well-being.”

“Systems of structured touch” include any form of touching that occurs during the practice of massage or the practice of bodywork, however minimal.

You do NOT have to register as a massage therapist, bodyworker and touch professional if you practice massage or bodywork as part of your customary duties as a licensed physician, podiatrist, physician assistant, nurse, including advanced practice registered nurse, osteopath, acupuncturist, athletic trainer, barber, cosmetologist, esthetician, electrologist, chiropractor, midwife, naturopathic physician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, or respiratory care practitioner.

Nor do you need to register if you:

• (a) practice massage or bodywork as a student or apprentice as part of a professional massage or bodywork educational program or apprenticeship; OR
• (b) engage in the practice of massage or bodywork with clients who do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.

I practice Reiki or Energy Work. Do I need to register with OPR?

You must register with the Office as a massage therapist, bodyworker and touch professional if:

• (a) you are providing services in exchange for consideration (i.e., receipt of anything of value in exchange for services); AND
• (b) your practice involves any structured touch (regardless of how minimal or infrequent) that is “designed to affect the energy fields of the body for the purpose of promoting and maintaining health and well-being”; AND
• (c) your clients “have a reasonable expectation of privacy” (for example, your clients do not have clothes on, are in a private room, etc.) while receiving services.

Click here to read the full Act.

When do I need to register by?

You must be registered with the Office by the time the new law takes effect on April 1, 2021. Applications for registration will be available prior to April 1^st. Please check our site often for updates.

What are the statutory requirements to obtain a license?

To register with OPR, a massage therapist, bodyworker or touch professional need only complete the application and submit the fee for registration. Applicants do not need to provide documentation of qualifications, examination(s), or education. As required by law, the application will ask other questions regarding compliance with taxes and child support, criminal convictions, pending criminal charges and any professional discipline.

An applicant that holds, in good standing, a massage therapist, bodyworker or touch professional license or authorization to practice in another U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction, is eligible to register for practice in Vermont by submitting a “verification of licensure”.

No exam scores are needed to obtain a registration. You do not need to have scores sent to OPR.

Is continuing education required?

No, registered massage therapist, bodyworkers and touch professionals are not required to complete any continuing education to maintain a registration.

What is an establishment under the new law?

An establishment is defined in the law as a place of business that offers the practice of massage or the practice of bodywork or where the practice of massage or bodywork is conducted on the premises of the business. A place of business includes any office, clinic, facility, salon, spa, or other location not otherwise exempted under the law, such as a transitory location, where a person or persons engage in the practice of massage or the practice of bodywork.

Transitory locations are those locations where a registrant may offer the practice of massage or the practice of bodywork once or occasionally, such as at a client’s home or at a health fair. A transitory location is not considered an establishment under the law (meaning the location is not subject to inspection and the registrant need not display their registration or the required disclosures in a conspicuous manner), if a client and the registrant agree that a location is acceptable prior to the practice of massage at that location However, the registrant must show their registration to the client upon request, and all other registration requirements for the practice of massage or the practice of bodywork under the new law apply.

Are establishments subject to inspections?

Yes, a person authorized by the director may enter any establishment for the purpose of inspection when a complaint has been filed with the Office regarding the practice of massage therapy or the practice of bodywork at the establishment. A fee shall not be charge for any inspection.

Are registrants required to display proof of registration in the establishment?

Yes, all registrants shall conspicuously display their registration in any establishment where the registrant is engaged in the practice of massage or the practice of bodywork.

For more answers to commonly asked questions, please visit our General FAQ page.

For more information, please contact us.