These frequently asked questions
and answers address the impact of recently enacted 2001 Wisconsin
Act 74, which created Wis. Stats., Chapter 460, relating to the certification
of massage therapists and bodyworkers. The new law is effective March
1, 2003 . The statute and rules may be viewed on the department's
website at http://drl.wi.gov
Q. I am already
registered as a massage therapist or bodyworker. What do I do to receive
a certificate?
A. If you have a renewable
registration, you will simply renew your credential. You will retain
your old registration number. You will then be deemed a certificate
holder. You will want to review the statute and rules at www.drl.state.wi.us
to insure that you comply with other practice requirements of Wis.
Stats., Chapter 460.
Q. Is a “license”
needed to practice massage therapy or bodywork in Wisconsin ? - No
I am in school for massage therapy. When can I start to practice?-
Anytime
A. In Wisconsin, Wis. Stats.,
Chapter 460, is a title protection act, not a practice protection
act. This allows for voluntary certification of persons as massage
therapists or bodyworkers. Persons with a certificate granted under
the statute are allowed to use certain protected titles. To become
a certificate holder you must meet certain minimum educational and
other qualifications. You can work as a massage therapist or bodyworker
without being a certificate holder, however, if you do not receive
a certificate from the state you are limited in the permissible titles
that may be used to call yourself.
Q. What names can
a certificate holder use?
A. Generally, no person
may designate himself or herself as a massage therapist or bodyworker,
or use or assume the title “massage therapist and bodyworker” or “massage
therapist” or “bodyworker” or any title that includes “massage therapist”
or “bodyworker,” or append to the person's name the letters “M.T.,”
“C.M.T.,” “B.W.,” or “C.B.W.,” or use any other title or designation
that represents or may tend to represent that he or she is certified
under this chapter, unless the person is certified under Chapter 460.
Q. What names can
a NON certificate holder use?
A. Commercial speech protections
allow non certificate holders to advertise massage therapy or bodyworker
services provided the advertisements are not misleading or likely
to mislead pertaining to state certification or other qualifications.
The use of “ Wisconsin ” or “certified” combined with any other title
wording will be impermissible.
Otherwise,
other terms as follow will generally be acceptable:
Acceptable
Titles:
Massage Therapy
exact wording on a local license, such as “(City) Licensed Massage
Therapist/Therapy”
Masseuse
Tissue Palpater
Tissue Manipulator
Body Manipulator
Relaxation Massager
Body Massager
Oriental Massage,
Massage Practitioner
Massage Therapy Practitioner
Q. For a state certified
massage therapist, are there any other advertising rules?
A. Yes, a certificate holder
may not advertise that he or she practices massage therapy or bodywork
unless the advertisement includes his or her certificate number and
a statement that the certificate holder is a “certified massage therapist
and bodyworker” or “certified massage therapist” or “certified bodyworker.”
A telephone directory listing for which no additional advertising
charge is made is not considered advertising
.
Q. What is the “scope
of practice” for a massage therapist or bodyworker who holds a certificate?
A. “Massage
therapy or bodywork” means the science and healing art that uses manual
actions to palpate and manipulate the soft tissue of the human body,
in order to improve circulation, reduce tension, relieve soft tissue
pain, or increase flexibility, and includes determining whether massage
therapy or bodywork is appropriate or contraindicated, or whether a
referral to another health care practitioner is appropriate. “Massage
therapy or bodywork” does not include making a medical or chiropractic
diagnosis.
Massage therapy or bodywork
is the manipulation of soft tissue of humans, without use of machines
Q. May a massage
therapist or bodyworker perform body wraps?
A. No. Regardless of whether
a massage therapist or bodyworker is a state certificate holder or
not; and whether a bodywrap technique is learned at a school or seminar,
bodywraps are within the protected practice of Barber/Cosmetology
Practice, (including aestheticians). Bodywraps are not the manipulation
of soft tissue of humans
.
Note- Also within
the protected practice of Barber/Cosmetology Practice are techniques
or applications involving the skin which exfoliate, tone, tighten,
or are intended to beautify.
Q. What are the
requirements to obtain a certificate from the state?
A. There are three
ways to obtain certification, Examination/Education, Reciproical and
Alternate certification. You will need to contact the department to
obtain an application packet for
a complete explanation of the requirements
.
Q. Has the law of
informed consent now changed as it applies to state certificate holders
practicing massage therapy or bodywork?
A. Yes. A new
administrative rule, at RL 94.01 (6), now provides that it is unprofessional
conduct to practice massage therapy or bodywork on a client without
first obtaining the informed consent of the client before initiating
a plan of treatment. The informed consent shall be in writing, signed
by the client and shall inform the client in writting that he or she
may withdrwa the consent at any time.
