This regulatory agency “promotes the health, welfare, and safety” of massage therapy in the state. It assesses the qualifications of license applicants, approving those who have received the mandated education and passed a licensure exam.
The board establishes rules and regulations “to ensure the integrity and competence” of practitioners. It investigates complaints of alleged unprofessional conduct, and takes disciplinary action when warranted.
There are seven panel members, four of whom hold massage therapy licenses. The other three represent the public. The governor appoints all members, with state Senate approval. Board terms are three years, with no one serving more than three terms.
Minimum Education Requirements for Massage Therapy Programs in Iowa
Postsecondary schools accept only students who have graduated from high school or obtained GEDs. To become a massage therapist in Iowa, it is necessary to successfully complete an education program at an accredited institution that the state board has approved.
Iowa requires curricula to consist of at least 600 clock hours. Core courses must cover massage therapy fundamentals, anatomy and physiology, massage and bodywork clinical application, kinesiology, pathology, client communications, healthcare referral, business management, and laws and ethics. The 600 hours are to include 120 hours of clinical work.
Upon graduation, the next step is applying online to the state board for licensure. This entails a fee of about $120. Qualified applicants then contact the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards to seek approval to take the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx). Students schedule their exam sessions at Pearson VUE testing centers in Davenport, Sioux City, Coralville, West Des Moines, or Sioux Falls.
The exam, which students must finish within two hours, features 100 multiple-choice questions concerning client assessment, treatment plans, benefits and physiological effects of massage techniques, pathology with contraindications, treatment for special populations, ethics, laws and regulations, guidelines for professional practice, kinesiology, and anatomy and physiology.
Students who pass the MBLEx are eligible for licensure, if they have CPR and first aid certification. Licenses must be renewed every two years, which involves 24 hours of continuing education units. Half of the hours must be accrued in “hands-on training.”