333.17957 Massage therapy; license required; exceptions.

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Sec. 17957.

(1)An individual shall not engage in the practice of massage therapy unless licensed under this part. The practices for which a license is not required under this subsection include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a)The use of touch, words, or directed movement to deepen awareness of patterns of movement in the body as long as those services are not designated or implied to be massage or massage therapy. These practices include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(i)The Feldenkrais method.

(ii)The Trager approach.

(b)The affectation of the human energy system or acupoints or qi meridians of the human body while engaged within the scope of practice of a profession with established standards and ethics and as long as those services are not designated or implied to be massage or massage therapy. These practices include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(i)Polarity or polarity therapy.

(ii)Asian bodywork therapy.

(iii)Reiki.

(iv)Shiatsu.

(c)Reflexology.

(d)Structural integration.

(2)The department shall provide for a 3-year license cycle.

(3)Subsection

(1)does not prevent any of the following:

(a)An individual licensed under any other part or act from performing activities that are considered massage therapy services if those activities are within the individual's scope of practice and if the individual does not use the titles, words, or initials protected under section 17953.

(b)The practice of massage therapy that is an integral part of a program of study by students enrolled in a school, provided that they are identified as students and provide massage therapy services only while under the supervision of a licensed massage therapist.

(c)Self-care by a patient or uncompensated care by a friend or family member who does not represent or hold himself or herself out to be a licensed massage therapist.

History: Add. 2008, Act 471 , Imd. Eff. Jan. 9, 2009

Popular Name: Act 368