On Jan. 9, 2009 House Bill 5651 became law, marking Michigan as the 41st state to enact massage regulation, and leaving only eight states behind that do not require regulation. (California certification is on a volunteer basis, and is not included in the regulation total.) Much like massage therapists in other states where massage therapy is not regulated, Michigan therapists have spent countless hours fighting for the reputation of their profession and to be viewed as legitimate health care providers.

The legislation establishes a state board of massage therapy, consisting of 11 members appointed by the governor, to establish licensure and competence assessment requirements. Individuals seeking licensure will be required to meet a minimum 500 hours of training (from an approved school) and pay a $75 yearly fee. The legislation also exempts practitioners of specific modalities from licensure requirement. Some of the common "practices for which a license is not required" under subsection 17957 include: the Feldenkrais Method, the Trager Approach, polarity therapy, Reiki, Shiatsu and reflexology.

M.K. Brennan, AMTA president, comments on the dedication it took to pass this legislation: "Many massage therapists in Michigan devoted their time and energy since 2004 to achieve the new massage licensing bill in the state. AMTA is happy that so many people with diverse approaches and points of view came together to accomplish this for the profession. The governor has until January 13 to sign the bill or it automatically becomes law. Our members will now support the licensing process in the state as it rolls out."

The AMTA-Michigan chapter had been working with other organizations to draft and pass this legislation for years. In a March 2008 coalition letter supporting Michigan licensure for massage therapists, then president of AMTA-Michigan chapter Todd Simmons, addressesed their state representative: "AMTA-MI has been working as part of a coalition with Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), the International Myomassethics Federation (IMF), Irene's Myomassology Institute, the Lakewood School of Massage Therapy, and other supporting schools for more than three years. Our coalition, comprised of the vast majority of massage therapists in the state, is in support of licensure for massage therapy in Michigan... It will place licensed massage therapists in the public health code, instead of adult entertainment."

It's a battle of which the seeds were planted long ago. One such battle that Massage Today reader Steven Serra, Michigan resident, describes in the following 2002 letter to the editor:

"If I may, I wish to share my thoughts about my life as a massage therapist practicing in the state of Michigan for 11 years. Michigan currently does not regulate massage therapy. Many early massage regulations were enacted to prevent massage practitioners from diagnosing and treating illness with massage. State licensed medical professionals pushed these laws through.

"During the 1960s - 1980s, massage regulations were changed to "tax" the growing adult entertainment massage industry. These laws were challenged and found unconstitutional by the courts in the mid 1980s. As a result, many municipalities, cities, villages and townships were forced to deal with regulating the "massage parlors" and protecting public safety.

"The city I live in banned the practice of any and all forms of massage. Massage, as stated in the city ordinance, had no medical or social value and only brought down local property values. So in the minds of the city officials, our profession was banned to protect the public!

"Many of us didn't think this position was fair or tenable. We proved that education mattered. We have continued with our education after graduating from state-licensed schools of massage. We have become nationally certified in therapeutic massage & bodywork. We've worked with established medical professionals who believed in the efficacy of massage, and asked for their support in changing these laws.

"We have joined the local chambers of commerce and have introduced massage professionals as caring responsible business people with a strong code of ethics. We have stood in front of local boards of zoning appeals and presented evidence and support for changing zoning ordinances to classify massage as an "other allied health profession." We have stood in front of city councils and helped to change restrictive ordinances.

"Officials in our area have come to understand what massage professionals stand for and what we believe in. We continue working hard to enhance the image and standing of the massage therapy profession."

Sincerely, Steven Serra, NCTMB
Sterling Heights, Michigan

To read the complete letter to the editor read "Fight for Your Rights!" by Vivian Madison-Mahoney, Massage Today August 2002. The current eight states that do not require regulation are Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Wyoming.