A division of the state Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LRA), this panel “promotes and protects the public’s health, safety, and welfare.”
The board establishes standards for massage therapists concerning education, examinations, and other considerations. It determines whether a license applicant is eligible to practice in Michigan, and ensures that therapists renew their licenses and receive continuing education.
Another responsibility is to approve schools with curricula that comply with certain criteria. The board also investigates complaints, taking disciplinary action against licensees who violate laws, regulations, or ethics. The 11 voting board members include seven massage therapists and four public representatives.
The LRA’s Bureau of Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing issues licenses to massage therapy schools. A list is posted online.
Minimum Education Requirements for Massage Therapy Programs in Michigan
To become a massage therapist in Michigan, the process begins by graduating from high school or securing a GED. Science and health classes might be helpful in winning admission to an MT school.
To earn state board approval, a postsecondary institution has to provide a certificate or degree program with 625 or more clock hours of instruction and training. This must include:
- 200 hours of massage and bodywork assessment theory and application
- 125 hours of instruction on the body system (including anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology)
- 40 hours in pathology
- 40 hours performing massage therapy services in a student clinic under the supervision of a licensed practitioner
- 10 hours of business, professional practice, and ethics instruction (with at least six hours in ethics)
The rest of the schools’ curricula are often not the same. Some programs train students in many massage modalities, while others exceed the required number of hours in clinical settings. Students need to find out which institution best satisfies their interests and career goals.
To qualify for state licensure, graduates must contact the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards to sign up for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination. The test, known as the MBLEx, is administered at Pearson VUE assessment centers. There is a fee of about $200 to take the computer-based exam, which is available in English and Spanish.
Every three years, Michigan practitioners are required to obtain license renewals. They must earn 18 continuing education credits from board-approved providers.