New Massage Law to Open More Doors

By Mike Metzger, CMT, NMT, LDT

Hey, Northern California! I hope and pray that the coming New Year is a safe, healthy, and prosperous one for each of you. With everything around us being so unstable and chaotic (internationally, nationally, and even locally) it’s important to stay positive, healthy, and giving to others in need.

“One man gives freely, yet gains even more;

Another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes

Others will himself become refreshed.”

Proverbs 11:24-25

As a certified massage therapist and the owner and director of Chico Therapy Wellness Center (also known as CTWC), I am proud to be associated with a state-licensed massage school since 1989.

I have truly been blessed. For the last two decades, my highly educated staff and I have had the privilege of educating, mentoring, and encouraging more than 1,500 massage therapists and body workers. I believe this is the sole reason why throughout these 20 years CTWC has continued to be California’s oldest and largest massage school north of Sacramento. I’m still amazed at the seemingly infinite numbers of lives touched by our graduates.

Having more than 3,000 clinical hours of practice I myself have witnessed the massage therapy industry rapidly grow to become the second-most popular trade in the nation!

Recognizing this fact, California recently passed a bill (SB 731) on September 27, 2008, which will shortly implement required certification and eventually licensing of massage therapists.

We’re excited about the validity this gives us as certified massage therapists (CMTs). Of course, further education will be necessary for CMTs to maintain their professional title of certified massage therapist.

Bill SB 731 means qualified massage therapists will need to have a total of 250 hours of basic Level I training from a state-licensed massage school to continue practicing massage as a certified massage practitioner (CMP). Starting September 2009, CMTs will need to take an additional 250 hours of advanced courses, adding up to a total of 500 hours, to hold their title as certified massage therapist. In the future, the state of California may also require a state exam administered by the California Massage Therapy Organization (CMTO) after achieving 250-500 hours of training.

I and most other CMTs are happy to be given this opportunity to be respected as professionals.

The CMTO, in addition to SB 731, will serve many purposes:

• Create one uniform standard for all California cities
• Help legal CMTs obtain their business license throughout the state of California
• Help legal CMTs get higher paying jobs in clinics, hospitals, health clubs, spas, and so on.
• Help legal CMTs gain more respect and recognition from the medical community and insurance companies
• Help “weed out” unprofessional people doing massage illegally and unethically (check out the “Classifieds” section in many local newspaper publications)

In closing, all of us at CTWC would like to thank and support local CMTs who have spent their time and hard-earned income to be legal, professional, and ethical body workers.

Mike L. Metzger CMT, NMT, LDT

Third-generation Chico resident; owner, director, instructor of Chico Therapy Wellness Center; on the medical staff for the Chico Outlaws (Chico’s professional baseball team); 3,000 hours of international training; 530-891-4301.