 |
| Massage Licensing in
Illinois |
|
A state license is required to
practice massage in Illinois under the Illinois Massage
Licensing Act. Local governments may not require city-issued
professional licenses for massage. Cities can continue to
require business licenses similar to those issued for other
types of businesses in that city.
The first renewal for massage therapist licenses is now in
process. All currently licensed massage therapists should have
received by now a mailing from the state with the renewal forms.
You can renew at the state’s web site just as easily as an
on-line driver’s license renewal. Or you can mail in the hard
copy forms. If you did not receive the forms, the state may not
have your correct address. You can correct your address when you
renew on-line or
click here to obtain the forms from the Illinois Department
of Financial and Professional Regulation web site.
Massage Defined ...
Under the Illinois law, massage is defined as palpation or
movement of soft tissue, with or without aids, to enhance
general health and well-being. Diagnosis of conditions is
excluded, but treatment is not. For the complete language, read
Section 10 of the law
Title Protection ...
Only licensed massage therapists can use the terms “Massage
therapist”, “massage therapy”, or “massage” in their
advertising. Advertising is defined in the law to include
everything from business cards and web sites to phone directory
listings and conventional newspaper ads.
Who can get a license ...
Newly trained massage therapists must have completed a
500-hour program and passed a competency examination to get a
license. Those coming to Illinois from other states or countries
may also be able to get a license; the Illinois law has a
reciprocity provision, recognizing licensees from states with
similar entry requirements. For details,
see Section 15 of the law
Who is exempt ...
Exempt from the license requirement are practitioners of certain
service marked bodywork approaches that do not involve
intentional soft tissue manipulation, including, but not limited
to Rolfing, Trager Approach, Polarity Therapy, and Orthobionomy
if they are approved by their governing body. There are other
exemptions in the law
(See
Section 25).
More information ...
Get more details at our “Licensing
Frequently Asked Questions” or from the
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation |
 GO
BACK
|
|
last update 11/27/06 |
| |
|
|
|
|
