BAD NEWS. The Massage Board has cancelled all remaining meetings for the 2009 calendar year. Just noticed it on their website. For those waiting for a hearing. I would highly suggest contacting the Registration Board office. Depending on what you get for a response you may want to call your state legislators and ask to speak with your Senator &/or representative and let them know that you are being prohibited from applying your trade all because the massage board is not following through with their duties to expediently review your case. Get the name of whoever you speak with and follow up with them.
The cancellations are posted on the board website..

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=...

ANOTHER BOARD CANCELLATION!!! These people do need to be reported to the state. Every one of us needs to complain, they are damaging our profession by failing to perform their duties.

Complaints should likely go to the Governor's office. He appointed them. Might be wise to remind the governor of his campaign promise to help small businesses and employment. The board's inaction is resulting in graduates remaining unemployed, and businesses unable to practice. (Not to mention their slow actions on schools allow potential studentss to languish)

One avenue for complaint:
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3...

or just google "governor deval patrick" and his site comes up...

Seems they can review them individually. Originally I was going to have to wait until 11/20. My congratulations came 10/23. So they can goose them through.
I did miss the Sept meeting. Meeting was on 9/20. My paper work was there on the 15th. I was told they already had the minutes set up for the meeting and could not add mine even though it arrived 5 days b4.
Bureaucratic doo doo.

For more information on the issues and the legacy with the MA board take a look at: http://www.spatech.edu/massachusetts-massage-regulation-changes.html

Get everyone you can involved. Send email to Gov.Webmail@state.ma.us (or go to the Governor's page and use the form) and contact your representative and request that the Board be replaced with a more responsible board that is capable of meeting it's commitments and is willing to listen to and be responsive to the input from the public and the industry rather than the narrow interests of a few members.

I don't see what the big deal with a 650 program is??? I went to the Central Mass School of Massage in 2000 and it was 600 hr. program as was Bancroft at the time. So what wrong with more education. Yes there is a big wide world out there for "bodywork", but that's what CEU's are for. I wen to massage school bc I wanted to learn massage. I then wanted to learn about Spa Services so I worked at an AVEDA Spa and took their classes. If schools are worried about the bodywork part of there program than off extra CEU classes

Hey Robin, it does seem bizarre (and extraordinarily inefficient) for the whole board to be required for approval of individual licenses.

The issue with the hours and the bodywork is this: There are a lot of people (single moms, young people without good family support, out of work people) that would like to improve their lives but the cost of getting a good massage education puts it out of reach. By increasing the hours and eliminating bodywork it becomes anywhere from 10% to 40% more expensive for these students. It would be great if everyone had the same support and money that you have but it's just not the case. People who can afford it can always get a longer education. Many of our students take more than one program, sometimes graduating with over 2000 hours, but many of the students live on just noodles for a year so they can afford to get their entry level education. As always, the poor are the ones who are hurt the most and it keeps them locked into limited options.

Jessica: You raise great questions about what the big deal is... I have been in education field for 27 years. More does not equal better. I am happy that you had programs that you found to be good. The same cannot be said for everyone. I know of students who are going to a "college" that offers a 1000 hour program. Many of the hours are filler material like math, english, key boarding, data entry. The actual massage classes are taught by people who are not trained as educators, and the students do not realize the lack of quality of their training until they go to interview for jobs and find out that employers do nt care that they did a 1000 hour program. They care about the quality of their work and their drive for success. These individuals either then have to invest money in improving their skills or they never enter the workforce.
It is important to note that at present the board has yet to even define what they will accept for CEU's. Based on their current record, people should be concerned. This is the same board that recently had to explain to one of it's members who is supposed to be an LMT the hydrotherapy is not the same thing as golon hydrotherapy. At another meeting this summer a board member questioned why a school would teach self care and body mechanics as part of the massage hours in the curriculum. I have attended the majority of meetings since the boards beginning and while they have done some good things, there is a huge history of them not being responsive to industry leaders or the opinions of the general public. I cannot recommned strong enough for people to read the regs, attend meetings and get involved. A few months back i was talking to a couple of spas in a beach resort town in Massachusetts. They were offering chair massage on the sidewalk immediately in fornt of their spa. They had no idea that they were violating the regulations as set forth by the state massage board. Yup that is right. In the state of Massachusetts it is against the regulations at anytime to offer chair massage on a sidewalk or street, this would even include a street fair. This is our massage board!

Not exactly. Currently "bodywork", is not licensed in MA. Much more than Asian bodywork is included....things as varied as Polarity, Reiki, etc...no license.

Basically check out the Dept. of Licensing board, they list what is and is not included in "massage" licnese.

Vinny is correct that the bodywork modalities are not included under the state massage license and are not currently licensed on the state level. It should be noted though that local municipalities retain the right to license bodywork/energywork modalities. and movement based modalities that are not included in the massage regulations.
The thing people may want to check into is to see if their liability insurance will cover these non licensed modalities if performed during a massage session.....

I dont know why it's so hard to find a job here in Boston.. Let me rephrase that.. the job I want. Right now it would have to be a second job.. Sat. , Sun. , and Mon. erghhhh! It's so frustrating... sorry ppl. I just had to vent. >:o

Hey Everyone!! Glad i found a MA group! I live in Gloucester and work at a great little Spa dedicated to Massage in Ipswich..its called PAX massage..I look forward to hopefull getting aquainted w/ all of you!

Hi Everyone. Announcing a NEW Lomilomi Training coming to Brattleboro, Vermont, Feb. 12-14... LomiLomi Temple Style Unveiled. 24 CE Hours

Just in time for Valentine's Day & President's Day! It's one way to experience the beach in the mid of winter! A great way to rejuvenate your existing massage practice or learn body mechanics that will provide vitality and extend your career!

This new workshop is a presentation of experience and insights from my island travels and encounters with elders and teachers who are committed to restore the integrity of Lomilomi and dissolve the new age interpretation that has replaced the traditional values. You'll learn the roots and truth of Lomilomi, what's authentic or inauthentic, the secrets of true healing, flowing forearm techniques for a full session, and more!

www.hunamua.com

The full training is held on the Island of Kauai, March 18-28. Local master healers in residence with us!

http://hunamua.com/lomiretreatmarch2010/returntosource.htm

I am glad I found this site. Much of what is written in the comment thread below is of interest to me. I especially appreciated and agreed with Timothy Starkey's comment.

Here is my situation. I have been a massage therapist for 22 years. My initial training was in Ohio from 1987 to 1988. I obtained a Limited Practitioner's License in Massage from the State Medical Board in Ohio which I held until 2005 (I let this licensing expire as I had moved to Massachusetts in 2000 and realized I would never practice in Ohio any more).

My training in Ohio at the time was 250 or 300 hours (not sure any more how many). Our boards had 3 parts: Massage Theory, Massage Practicum; Anatomy and Physiology. All of these portions I passed with grades over 87%. There has never been legal action or a complaint against me in Ohio or Massachusetts. I can provide glowing referrals from other mts as well as lay people.

When I moved to Amherst, MA in 2000, I was dismayed to be in a state that had no statewide licensing. However, I submitted all of the pertinent information in order to hold a license in my town. The hours of training required in Amherst by the Board of Health was 500. The hours over and above the 250 or so I had from my massage school in Ohio were made up by all of the extra trainings and certifications I have: Neuromuscular Therapy from Paul St. John; Pregnancy Massage from Kate Jordan; Infant Massage Instruction; etc, etc. All of my extra training put me well above the 500 hours required and frankly, when the Board of Health no longer checked on me after the first year but only wanted my money in order to keep my license current, I began to see that it was just a money grab. No one really knew what I was doing or what massage therapy really is. Not uncommon amongst those in power over licenses.

I let my Amherst license lapse in 2004 as I was only massaging friends and loved ones at that point, no longer advertising or trying to get new clients.

Lo and behold, because I haven't held a license for a few years, I was unaware of the state licensing changes and I missed the grandfathering in (I doubt they would accept it anyway as my licenses were not current).

I have been back and forth on the phone with Boston over the last 3 weeks trying to figure out if I could become licensed, knowing that my basic school hours from Ohio were not sufficient. They have repeatedly told me that they will not accept any external hours (ie, Infant Massage, Pregnancy Massage, Sports Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy). I trained so long ago and am knowledgeable and excellent at what I do. So many of my trainers are nationally recognized and have been at this for 30+ years. I was told I could not get a hearing with the Board. They have left me with only an option to return to massage school which to me is patently absurd. Not only can I not afford it financially, but I am still raising a family and would not like to commute to a massage school 1/2 hour away only to already know more than what is being taught.

As you can probably tell, I am furious, but ultimately, if you have read this far, I wonder if anyone else is in anything of a similar situation.

Also, I have over 1600 hours of training and am a certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. It is neither massage nor bodywork, but I can tell anyone that my hands-on qualifications have been enhanced even further than before.

I cannot go back to massage school. I am overqualified to be in that position. I am sure that I could pass a standardized test on massage right now, without preparation. I have had 4 college level anatomy and physiology courses. My clients have always loved me, my work, and have gotten tremendous therapeutic benefit from my treatments.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? If you have managed to read this far.....thanks. I just want to put that I am a massage therapist on my business card.

The actions and behavior of the Board make them seem woefully uninformed. There doesn't seem to be a good way of testing anyone's qualifications beyond their notion of what they should be. It also feels like a money grab.

Should I hire a lawyer? Should I simply say I am a bodyworker, though how could anyone doubt that I am a massage therapist if they received a treatment from me? 22 years!!!! It means nothing to them. It is my life's passion and I am conscientious and knowledgeable about the body and hands-on.

I would love any help. Would a lawyer be able to get me a hearing from the Board? Are their actions completely legal? Can they actually say I am not a massage therapist when in fact I have over and above the knowledge, training, and experience that they require? They are threatening my livelihood and one of my life's great passions.

Help help help, Katherine

Well, I just read through the entire set of comments here. Many of the people who seemed to have trouble were applying for the grandfathering, but I do see a few folks who came from out-of-state, have practiced for a long time, could no longer get their records, etc. It's all very helpful. I may write to my state rep and to the governor's office. Thanks so much for this!

ALL HANDS ON DECK! Calling out to all Massage Therapists in the Boston Area.
The Avon Breast Cancer Walk is THIS weekend.. and so far.. there are only 5 massage therapists confirmed (for thousands of walkers). If you have the time and the heart, we could really use your help.
May 15, 12p-8p- even if you can take a shift of 4 hours or all 8 hours, it would greatly be appreciated.

Give a little, get a lot!
3 REASONS why You should help:
* Networking with other massage therapists
* Hand out business cards to potential clients! You already got them on your table, minus well have them as a repeat client!
*IT'S SO MUCH FUN!

Please e-mail Lynne Schiller if you want to help out!
Lynne.schiller@ge.com

Lomi Ka Huna Bodywork & Healing Skills
w/Kumu Karen Pualalea Reifinger

Learn how to be a conduit for change and creative healing energy using Hawaiian Concepts and Healing Skills. You will learn how to create space to allow healing and manifestation, the free flow of expansion, and how to radiate and reflect your soul light. Learn various styles and lineages of Hawaiian Healing, Massage, Healing Concepts, Body Mechanics to Energize & Vitalize, and more! NCBTMB CE Hours Available

May 21-23 - Wasaga Beach, Ontario
June 5-6 - Kansas City, Missouri
July 8,15, 29, Aug. 5 - Bethlehem, PA
July 23-25 - Philadelphia, PA
Aug.- Lansdale, PA
Sept.- Wilmington, VT
Oct. 14-17 - Rapid City, SD
Dec.1-9 - Honolulu Retreat
Jan. 20-30 - Big Island Retreat

Contact: Kumu Karen Reifinger
Halau Huna Mua - Philadelphia, PA
610-360-2427
karen@hunamua.com

Massage Board meeting today, new fines for unlicensed establishments and a new form for initial license application.

Aloha New England!

Lomi Kapa Lele Training - July 23-25 - Philadelphia

Massage Arts Center of Philadelphia
519 S 4th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Learn how to be a conduit for change and creative healing energy using Hawaiian Concepts and Healing Skills. You will learn how to create space to allow healing and manifestation, the free flow of expansion, and how to radiate and reflect your soul light.

Lomi Kapa Lele restores physical integrity and inner harmony with long flowing strokes of the forearms, and a holistic approach to wellness.
In this workshop you will learn the Hawaiian values and concepts of healing. When practiced with understanding, awareness and appreciation for the native culture, LomiLomi can restore physical integrity, inner harmony and support Divine alignment. Lomilomi can heal, balance and mend broken relationships between family, community, and even people.

You will learn:
Forearm Techniques For The Prone Position, Vital Body Mechanics, “Ha” Breath, Traditional Protocol To Integrate Old & New Healing Concepts, How To Facilitate A Session With Practical & Spiritual Understanding.
You will need: 1 Twin Sheet Set, Wear Loose Comfortable Clothing.

24 NCBTMB CE Hours 10am -6pm all 3 days

Cost: $450

To Register:
Massage Arts Center of Philadelphia
267-321-0200
www.massagearts.com

For information contact:
Karen Reifinger
karen@hunamua.com
www.hunamua.com
610-360-2427

ALSO COMING TO NEW ENGLAND THIS AUTUMN!!!

Seeking MA AMTA members for the SUSAN G. KOMEN 3-DAY FOR THE CURE

DATE: Saturday, July 24
LOCATION: Boston, MA (Waltham)

MASSAGE VOLUNTEERS:
~ 10-min chair massage in the Energizer Tent.
~ Must have MA MT license and be an AMTA member with insurance.

SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS:
~ There are many ways to volunteer for this event. Email for more details.
~ Students are welcome!

AMTA IS PROVIDING:
~ Event t-shirts including logos from AMTA, Energizer and Susan G. Komen
~ Massage supplies (sanitizer, face cradles, and wipes)


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: http://www.amtamassage.org/member/volunteersusangkomen.html

Please Contact Kathy Hinds at touchpeacemassage@yahoo.com

@ Lisa Just curious if MA LMT's who are not insured with AMTA are welcome to volunteer at this event or is it blocked for just AMTA members exclusively or can members of other organizations volunteer directly with the charity.. Also are students permited and if yes are they being required to be members of AMTA to volunteer. Thanks

I have been hear via facebook about new grads not being able to get their licenses bc some schools have not satisfied the new education requirements for the Board of Massage Therapy. How is this possible?

There were 2 schools operating without licenses in the Boston area. The John Winsolow massage school, and Dovestar. The board chose not to license graduates of these programs. Of the schools left, Cortiva, Spatech, The Massage School, and Bancroft, no graduates have been denied licensure.

I know new grads from the Central Mass School of Massage have been effected by this also. They where told they need to wait till the next board meeting

Really? The next Board meeting is scheduled for August 20th, this should be interesting.

I would love to be a fly on the wall for this one. LOL. There are going to be a lot of PO people there that can't get licensed

I go to every Board meeting (I'm the director of The Massage School) in order to keep up with the new requirements. There is a new form for translating school's curriculum to see if it meets the new requirements, perhaps the school you mentioned is unfamiliar with the new form, it's a little confusing. At our school we've matched our new curriculum to the new requirements exactly so there will be no problems. We now have an 800 hour program to satisfy the new requirements (up from 500) Because of all the new changes I recommend that all school's send representatives to the Board meetings to keep up.

I know CMS has a 650 hr. program. I guess they don't have the right amount of hours in the right subjects

Jessica, these Board meetings are open to the public so you should attend the next meeting. I bet these students will get licensed, the Board probably just wants clarification regarding the schools' curriculum and how it translates into the new requirements.

Here's the link to the new curriculum requirements on the Boards' website: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocamodulechunk&L=4&L0=Home&...

Over the past year I contacted CMS, Accusage, Elizabeth Grady and others multilple times to try and get them to come to board meetings but they never did. Involvement is key. There are a lot of other schools such as Salter, Lincoln, Everest and a lot of community colleges and tech schools that offer programs as well and we never saw them at the meetings either. There may be a lot of unhappy students and the fall out is that when it shows up in the press, the perception may be that all massage schools are questionable. Keep your eyes open for articles and get involved in correcting them if you see them.

In some professions it's possible to get a temporary permit while your application for licensure is processed. Whereas it's vitally important that the students need to start working as soon as possible so they don't lose their skills, it may be a good idea for the massage board to do a similar thing. Waiting 4 weeks or more for a license is very detrimental. Who is interested in joining me to present this to the board?

I think I need to start going to meetings bc I am not all that pleased with out things are dealt with once you get you license. For example why have I not have not had an inspection of my office. And you know seedy places are getting away with being open bc of this

If any of the affected students or administrators at CMS would like help with this situation you can contact me at 413-529-2900. I have attended every Board meeting and am well versed in the new forms and requirements. It's important to know that there may be conflicts of interest at play here. Two of the four board members run schools or programs that compete for students with CMS, and a Board member is also an officer of COMTA, an accrediting agency. State law prohibits people from regulating or licensing their business competitors. The whole Board system appears to be a relic of an earlier, ethically primitive age. This is why the new Sheet Metal Board is being sued. There appears to be a cartel emerging in the Massage world. At our school we maintain a "war chest" of funds for legal fees to defend against any unjust actions by the Board, I hope CMS does the same.

I will pass the info along to Greg

@ Jessica. Alexei and Kris are correct that being involved is important. Be aware that there are many establishments are not inspected yet but if a complaint is issued against an establishment that can trigger an inspection. Spa Tech has been represented at these meetings since the very beginning and we have encouraged all the other schools to get involved with minimal response other than Alexei. It is important to note that the public is generally not able to speak at the meetings but unless they go into executive session to talk about the legal, ethical or disciplinary issues of an individual.

Hello, new to this site and wanted to join this group as I live here in MA. Am a graduate of the late John Winsolow Institute of MT that was recently shut down due to state compliance issues. What a mess! Long story short, a few of us that had completed our 800 hour program last December realized after we submitted our paperwork to the Board in January for licensure that we were denied. Up to that point, we had NO idea there was an issue at our school. Seems the school was sent offical notice in June of 2009 and continued to operate business as usual. Even our instructors were in the dark! We finally received our licenses after a six month wait. I'm just thankful that the Board ruled in our favor and granted us our licenses.

The take away message is for those of you who have schools of your own. The decisions you make in running your business affects everyone. Take those roles seriously as people are putting their trust in you to be above board to set the example.

Looking forward to participating here....til next time, happy massaging....

I am so glad it worked out for you in the end

Thanks, Jessica, me too! lol

@Dawn: We are very serious about the responsibility we have to our students and graduates and there is nothing we can do about the quality at other schools. Running a good school requires attention to a lot of details. Unfortunately consumers don't always check all of their options or ask the right questions. Although accreditation is not perfect, it at least demonstrates that a school is attempting to conform to a review process to verify that it is a viable business. But if a consumer is not willing to pay the price of going to an accredited school, they are going to have to take responsibility for taking an additional risk. And even within accredited schools, program content and delivery vary widely so due diligence is required. Help to spread the word. The quality of the school is vitally important, not only while you are in school but after you graduate. A good school will teach you. A great school will support you in your job search and career development.

i would love to find the beginning of this thread ... while i get the gist of what's going on, i'm a little lost with the details. anyone care to point me to the original post or just break it down for me?

I started by asking why some new grads have not been able to get their license BC the state board doesnot approve the school. Students from the central mass school of massage have their applications on hold BC the board needs to review the school circuliam

Hi Jessica. Under the new application procedure with the state each applicant must supply a sealed transcript, a copy of their class schedule & calendar which shows which classes and topics were taught when, the school catalog, a detailed course description, a letter of recommendation from the school or a teacher. These all need to show how the student has met the May1st curriculum requirements for the state of massachusetts and how the school & students have fulfulled them. This is in addition to the notarized application, passport photo, proof of insurance, application fee, and letter of character recommendation. As Kris and Alexei said in previous posts most schools were not involved with what the board has been doing for the past two years. Schools have been aware of the changes once hey became final as these have been sent out by the board, department of education, ABMP, and AMTA. If the office for the board is not processing someone's application it is likely because there are questions with the documentaion meeting the current requirements or there is a concern on an individual's application or cori check. In all of these cases the process is that it would need to go before the board which meets next month for their review before a decision on how to proceed can be made. It is unfortunate that it affects people who want to go out and start working. This is one of the reasons we have stayed so active in the process. We want to make sure our students and graduates have the best opportunities to successfully get their license and start working as quickly as possible.

How did the last board meeting go?

The next Board meeting is one week from today, Friday 8/20. Here's a link to the Boards' calender: http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=...

Here's the agenda for Friday's board meeting. I don't see CMS mentioned specifically, although they may be included under applicant reviews:

DATE: August 20, 2010
PLACE: Room 1D
1000 Washington Street,
Boston, MA 02118-6100
TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Item 1) 10:00 a.m. Meeting called to order

Item 2) 10:05 a.m. Open Meeting Laws:

* Board counsel reviews changes to open meeting laws

Item 3) 10:20 a.m. Board Minutes:


* May 21, 2010 minutes
* June 8, 2010 Minutes

Item 4) 10:25 a.m. Discussion Regarding 650 Hour Applications:


* Including electives in Massage Therapy Theory and Technique requirement.
* Guidelines for approval
* Course of action for applicants who do not meet educational requirements
* New Transcript Analysis Form

Item 5) 11:50 a.m. Application Reviews:

Item 6) 12:20 p.m. Break

Item 7) 12:45 p.m. John Winslow Institute and Dovestar Graduates:


* DESE inquiry on whether Board will accept Teach-out transcripts where students have tested out of course requirements.
* DESE inquiry on whether students participating in teach-outs be evaluated under the 500 or 650 hour training requirements.
* Discussion Dovestar Graduate options.

Item 8) 1:25 p.m. Investigative Conference
[closed session pursuant to MGL c. 112, §65C]

Item 9) 1:35 p.m. Candidate Interviews:
[Executive Session – closed session pursuant to G.L.30A §21(1)]

Item 10) 2:35 p.m. Application Reviews (left from AM session):

Friday's board meeting looks like an important one for school related issues! Come on school directors, please attend!