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Fingerprints

Within the past month, I have voluntarily subjected myself to the following:

* HIV Test
* TB Test
* Full Physical
* Sex Offender Registry Clearance
* Local Police Background Check
* Local Fingerprinting
* FBI –Biometric Fingerprinting
* Home Inspection (I will liken this to a massage establishment inspection.)
* A Passport Photo (It might as well be a mug shot if it is like my last one.)

My husband and I have entered the exciting and paperwork heavy world of international adoption. All of the above are just a fraction of the domestic and international adoption requirements. I did not find these test offensive, just inconvenient and overwhelming at times. Through all of these tests, I thought about the massage therapists that have been asked to provide similar clearances and tests, as well as fight outdated massage parlor laws in order to obtain a license. I remember when I started practicing here in Iowa, the city of Waterloo still had a law that required two sinks in each massage therapy room. This old law is a classic example of the city’s past attempt to ward off massage parlors. Luckily, brave local therapists fought to get this law removed from the books.

I want to hear your experience or opinions about your local or state massage therapy laws and requirements, past or present. Have you had any experience with local massage parlor laws or unnecessary requests in order to obtain a license to practice massage therapy?

Ivy Hultquist, L.M.T.

Advanced Massage Techniques – Continuing Education Provider

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Comment by Ivy Hultquist on March 31, 2010 at 2:11pm: I just wanted to clarify that I do not believe a background checks or fingerprinting are the same as massage parlor laws. Since most state boards are created to protect the public, I understand why may require background checks for many professions. What I do not like is exactly what Rick is talking about, unannounced inspections or something similar to Laura's blog this week about New York's new bill about being guilty by association.

Comment by Laura Allen on March 31, 2010 at 9:46am: The North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy just got the right about a year and a half ago to require criminal record reports and fingerprints of applicants. Personally, I am glad they did. There have been some licenses given to people who would have never received one if we had been able to get that before. A lot of people complained about it, but my feeling is, if you haven't done anything, you don't have anything to worry about.

Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you won't be issued a license. I am on the License Standards Committee that reviews those. We consider how old the person was at the time, what the crime(s) were, how much time has passed, and mainly whether or not the person shows any evidence of rehabilitation.

I don't equate this to a "massage parlor law." State boards are charged with protecting the public. I don't want a rapist getting a license and if requiring a criminal report prevents that happening even once, then I don't mind the inconvenience or cost of having it done.