General

Most states require a nationally recognized licensing exam, while a few opt for a state-specific exam. Lately, some jurisdictions are exploring the state-specific testing pathway. Learn the pros and cons of each exam option.

Legislative session is winding down, but rulemaking is just picking up, and it directly affects what you can do in the treatment room. Find out how massage therapy boards develop rules around new laws that guide your daily practice. Also, discover how to track changes early and your role in advocacy at the regulatory level.

Help protect massage therapy and wellness-related programs by submitting a comment by May 20. Your perspective as a practicing professional (whether you received financial aid or not), a business owner, an educator, or a school leader carries weight, particularly with your congressional representative. Your voice matters.

With a busy media stream competing for your attention, it can be difficult to find the energy to engage with an advocacy call to action. But supporting your profession matters and advocacy fatigue can pop up if you don't find a balance. Learn how to stay informed and take action while protecting your peace in a face-paced environment.

In a profession built on personal relationships, the question of who "owns" the client is not always straightforward. Is it the business or the service provider? Non-solicitation agreements have been a staple in the beauty and wellness space, but as states begin regulating employment restrictions for licensed massage therapists, some professionals are asking whether these agreements still belong in 2026.

The US Department of Education (ED) is proposing a set of rules that would establish a new accountability standard for higher education programs with low earnings outcomes. The proposed rules, if formalized, will make a higher education program ineligible for Title IV Higher Education Act (HEA) funds if the program fails a do-no-harm test that sets an earnings standard for its graduates.

While massage therapy hasn't been pulled into legislative pricing debates yet, exploring the landscape now can help you be prepared if the chatter enters the treatment room in the future. Discover the pros and cons of transparent pricing laws and best pricing practices for professionals.

The ABMP Government Relations team was busy this year, protecting and advocating for the massage profession. Discover our top government relations wins from 2025.

Proposed laws could impact massage therapy. The big question is whether your voice will be part of the conversation. Now is the time to be inspired to advocate when bills reach lawmakers' desks.

ABMP has worked with massage profession stakeholders to pass an Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) to allow qualified massage therapists to apply for a multistate license to work across state lines. Learn about an unexpected hurdle in the IMpact's progress and implementation.

With the 2026 legislative season on the horizon, we're monitoring trends that could transform the massage profession. From establishment and professional licensing to credential portability, check out the issues that matter most to practitioners and see what's next.

As the hustle and bustle of the 2025 legislative season winds down, let's round up the massage trends that heated up legislatures. State legislatures have adjourned in over 50 percent of the country. Some bills filed this year have been signed by governors, some are waiting to be signed into law, and some never made it past the finish line. The ABMP Government Relations team noted clear trends in massage therapy, which is a great way to better predict and prepare for next year's legislative sess

Whether you're signing up for a CE course to satisfy state board licensing requirements or for the pursuit of knowledge, lifelong learning improves job performance and elevates your practice to help you succeed. Find out how investing in professional development can lead to nurturing the mind and seeing ROI in better client care.

Licensure, certification, registration: What are the notable differences? Let's peel back the layers to uncover the distinctions between these types of massage therapy regulation.

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards will soon launch its new Exam Service Center, featuring technological upgrades. Plan for a two-week online blackout beginning March 1.

Engage in advocacy and elevate your voice! Public service, such as sitting on a massage licensing board, is an endeavor worth exploring at any stage in your career. Did you know you can make a positive impact as a board member? Boards hold a lot of responsibility and massage therapists sitting on a board can help shape the direction of their profession by making important decisions for the larger massage community. Learn about board responsibilities, top reasons to become a board member, and whe

House Bill 5135 adds training requirements for applicants and licensed professionals in abnormal skin growth education. Find out when individuals must comply with this new law.

The Ohio legislature adopted Senate Bill 56 on June 21, becoming the second state to enact the Interstate Massage Compact. Massage therapists will soon be able to obtain a multistate license that will reduce holdups and delays that often occur when moving to a different state.

A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that halts the enforcement of the US Department of Education’s new Bare Minimum Rule, also known as the “100% rule,” until the court takes further action. This is the first step in what could be a lengthy battle to ultimately delay enforcement of the rule, providing schools more time to adjust their programmatic standards, or overturn the rule altogether. Find out more and what your school needs to do to prepare.

On May 15, 2024, Governor Kay Ivey signed into law Senate Bill 137, terminating the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy and its functions to create the new Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board. Learn key takeaways from the bill and how its passage may affect you.