Kansas might establish a state board for Massage Therapy
- by: Julia Thomas Imagine Wholeness Massage Therapy
- recipient: Everyone who cares about health and wellness
Kansas is only one of 6 states who does not offer a state license for Massage Therapists.
By not requiring a state license, KS is allowing anyone who wants to practice to call themselves a massage therapist. Only 14 cities currently require any license or proof of training in KS. That means the person working on you might have no background check, training or knowledge of the body. You have no way to know if your Therapist is a violent offender, or guilty of sex crimes.
I work in Roeland Park, KS. Most Johnson County cities have city license laws. The problem is that the cities are not prepared for taking on this task, and they don't understand the industry. Most Johnson County cities will not let a massage therapist work in their city unless they have a physical facility in that city, and that facility is inspected and licensed. They make no concession for having a facility in a bordering city. So, Massage Therapy companies cannot participate in health fairs in Johnson County unless they have a facility and license in that city. There are 14 cities in Johnson County, licenses range from $200-$500 per city. Most Johnson County cities prohibit any Massage Therapy in private residences or health care facilities. Just think about that for a moment, cities in Johnson County are prohibiting you from having a massage in your home. We cannot do massage therapy at Hospice Care, nursing homes or anywhere else outside of our own facility. If you are bound to a bed you are not allowed to get Massage in your home there is no concession. NO other industry is held to the standards of Massage Therapists in Johnson County, KS.
Most Kansas Cities have no rules, licenses or regulations. People make up a business card and the unsuspecting public assumes they have training. This is a public safety issue. Massage Therapists are required to be trained in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology and Pathology. Without a firm understanding of the body, damage can easily be done. Without a good understanding of Pathology, someone performing massage would not know contraindications which puts the general public at harm.
Finally, by establishing a State Board of Massage Therapy, authorities will have a much easier job tracking and arresting non-licensed persons posing as massage therapists. Example: Investigators see an ad on Craigslist, all they have to do is type the name into the database and they immediately know whether or not the Therapist is legitimate. Same with doing website searches, it would be easy to know who is legitimate and who isn't.
Massage Therapy is a legitimate Healing modality, and needs the same respect as all other modalities. We urge the State of KS to form a Massage Therapy Board granting statewide licensure to all Massage Therapists.
By not requiring a state license, KS is allowing anyone who wants to practice to call themselves a massage therapist. Only 14 cities currently require any license or proof of training in KS. That means the person working on you might have no background check, training or knowledge of the body. You have no way to know if your Therapist is a violent offender, or guilty of sex crimes.
I work in Roeland Park, KS. Most Johnson County cities have city license laws. The problem is that the cities are not prepared for taking on this task, and they don't understand the industry. Most Johnson County cities will not let a massage therapist work in their city unless they have a physical facility in that city, and that facility is inspected and licensed. They make no concession for having a facility in a bordering city. So, Massage Therapy companies cannot participate in health fairs in Johnson County unless they have a facility and license in that city. There are 14 cities in Johnson County, licenses range from $200-$500 per city. Most Johnson County cities prohibit any Massage Therapy in private residences or health care facilities. Just think about that for a moment, cities in Johnson County are prohibiting you from having a massage in your home. We cannot do massage therapy at Hospice Care, nursing homes or anywhere else outside of our own facility. If you are bound to a bed you are not allowed to get Massage in your home there is no concession. NO other industry is held to the standards of Massage Therapists in Johnson County, KS.
Most Kansas Cities have no rules, licenses or regulations. People make up a business card and the unsuspecting public assumes they have training. This is a public safety issue. Massage Therapists are required to be trained in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology and Pathology. Without a firm understanding of the body, damage can easily be done. Without a good understanding of Pathology, someone performing massage would not know contraindications which puts the general public at harm.
Finally, by establishing a State Board of Massage Therapy, authorities will have a much easier job tracking and arresting non-licensed persons posing as massage therapists. Example: Investigators see an ad on Craigslist, all they have to do is type the name into the database and they immediately know whether or not the Therapist is legitimate. Same with doing website searches, it would be easy to know who is legitimate and who isn't.
Massage Therapy is a legitimate Healing modality, and needs the same respect as all other modalities. We urge the State of KS to form a Massage Therapy Board granting statewide licensure to all Massage Therapists.
KS is one of only 6 states that does not have State Licensure or Certification for Massage Therapists. Currently there is a committee in KS determining if state licensure has merit, and if public health and safety is at stake by not having a license law for Massage Therapy.
In most of the country, Massage Therapists are required to have minimum education requirements, background check, and liability insurance to protect the general public. When there is no State License Board, anyone who chooses to do so, can call themselves a Massage Therapist. Modern Massage Therapy programs are between 700 and 1000 credit hours, and include Anatomy/Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology, beginning thru advanced techniques and many more classes. There is a necessary emphasis on contraindications, to protect the client and therapist. As a healing modality, Massage Therapy is a deeply important practice.
The public safety is in jeopardy with no state licensing, and minimum requirements or background checks. In KS, there is no database to check the status of licensure for a therapist, so there is no way of knowing if they are legitimate. This opens up the possibility for sexual predators to make up business cards and practice Massage Therapy. All but 14 cities in KS have no requirements at all. If someone is not a legitimate therapist, they will not have liability insurance, as it is only issued to qualified therapists.
In Johnson County, KS, there are 14 cities with 14 separate city governments. Most Johnson County cities have their own patchwork rules. Most also prohibit in home massage therapy. To be clear, if you live in Johnson County KS, it is likely you are prohibited by the city you live in from having in-home care of Massage Therapy. NO other health care field is held to this standard. I am also licensed in MO, and no such requirements exist for the entire state. State licensure in KS would end this prohibitive restriction. Please note, no exceptions are made for Hospice, or home bound patients.
As a small business owner, the lack of state licensure is becoming cost prohibitive. Most cities will not allow my therapists to work in a health fair, or festival without a license for the city where the event is being held. What's more, even though I have all the educational requirements, they will not issue me a license unless I have a physical space in their city. No concession is made for the fact that I have a licensed facility in a bordering town. NO other industry is held to this standard. State Licensing would allow Massage Therapists in KS to work in any city, with one state license. It would require all therapists to have minimum education requirements, and maintain insurance and updated education.
Finally, state licensing is the first step in enforcing illegal practices where people say they are performing massage, when their intent is to sell sex. For too long, legitimate Massage Therapists have suffered under the shadow of this illegal practice. With state licensing, there will be a database that will allow law enforcement officials to quickly identify who is legitimate and who is not. As legitimate Massage Therapists, we welcome this scrutiny so that our industry can be scrubbed of these illegitimate people.
We the undersigned plead with the committee to advance this motion and allow the legislature of KS to take up the issue so that we can finally right this wrong. Massage Therapists are highly educated and skilled tradespeople who have worked hard for legitimacy. Kansans deserve to know that all Massage Therapists are skilled and safe technicians.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionIn most of the country, Massage Therapists are required to have minimum education requirements, background check, and liability insurance to protect the general public. When there is no State License Board, anyone who chooses to do so, can call themselves a Massage Therapist. Modern Massage Therapy programs are between 700 and 1000 credit hours, and include Anatomy/Physiology, Kinesiology, Pathology, beginning thru advanced techniques and many more classes. There is a necessary emphasis on contraindications, to protect the client and therapist. As a healing modality, Massage Therapy is a deeply important practice.
The public safety is in jeopardy with no state licensing, and minimum requirements or background checks. In KS, there is no database to check the status of licensure for a therapist, so there is no way of knowing if they are legitimate. This opens up the possibility for sexual predators to make up business cards and practice Massage Therapy. All but 14 cities in KS have no requirements at all. If someone is not a legitimate therapist, they will not have liability insurance, as it is only issued to qualified therapists.
In Johnson County, KS, there are 14 cities with 14 separate city governments. Most Johnson County cities have their own patchwork rules. Most also prohibit in home massage therapy. To be clear, if you live in Johnson County KS, it is likely you are prohibited by the city you live in from having in-home care of Massage Therapy. NO other health care field is held to this standard. I am also licensed in MO, and no such requirements exist for the entire state. State licensure in KS would end this prohibitive restriction. Please note, no exceptions are made for Hospice, or home bound patients.
As a small business owner, the lack of state licensure is becoming cost prohibitive. Most cities will not allow my therapists to work in a health fair, or festival without a license for the city where the event is being held. What's more, even though I have all the educational requirements, they will not issue me a license unless I have a physical space in their city. No concession is made for the fact that I have a licensed facility in a bordering town. NO other industry is held to this standard. State Licensing would allow Massage Therapists in KS to work in any city, with one state license. It would require all therapists to have minimum education requirements, and maintain insurance and updated education.
Finally, state licensing is the first step in enforcing illegal practices where people say they are performing massage, when their intent is to sell sex. For too long, legitimate Massage Therapists have suffered under the shadow of this illegal practice. With state licensing, there will be a database that will allow law enforcement officials to quickly identify who is legitimate and who is not. As legitimate Massage Therapists, we welcome this scrutiny so that our industry can be scrubbed of these illegitimate people.
We the undersigned plead with the committee to advance this motion and allow the legislature of KS to take up the issue so that we can finally right this wrong. Massage Therapists are highly educated and skilled tradespeople who have worked hard for legitimacy. Kansans deserve to know that all Massage Therapists are skilled and safe technicians.
See more petitions:
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.