Massage License Reciprocity
You have your massage license, and now you are moving to another state.
How do you obtain a new massage license in the state where you will be residing?
Will their massage board accept your school, your hours, or the licensing exam you took?
What about “Reciprocity”?
Reciprocity is a mutual exchange of privileges. An example of this is that the Board of Massage in the state you are moving to recognizes the validity of your current license, or the educational requirements/training in the state where you currently reside. Reciprocity allows massage therapists to obtain a new license and practice without a lot of extra paperwork, delays, and hassle.
But, reciprocity in the massage field is a little complicated.
The massage field has talked about license portability and reciprocity for years. But as of right now, no two state massage licensing regulations are identical. Most massage therapists have to navigate the licencing process in a new state, which is not always clear or without extra costs.
So, here are some tips to help make your career move less complicated.
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Changes to Florida Massage Law and Rules (2012-2013)
If you are licensed in Florida, please take the time to read about a couple recent rule changes.
Two changes to note:
- A recent 2×2 photo required to be displayed with a massage license.
- HIV course is no longer required for renewal.
Even though I happily reside most of the year in Iowa, I also hold a Florida Massage License (Let me take the time to insert my license number – as required by Florida Law – MA66325).
Today I am going to tell you a little more about massage regulations in the Sunshine State.
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A Brilliant Idea for Massage Gift Cards and Certificates
Are they putting out Christmas trees in Target yet? If not, they will be soon. That means Christmas (i.e gift certificate season) will be here soon. It is time to prepare.
Here is a fantastic idea from the 31in31 challenge I had to share. Thank you to Ariana from MassageHacks for this idea. I wish I could take credit for it.
If you are looking for a inexpensive, convenient, professional-looking gift card (that can also be used for tons of other promotions), then here it is: Massage Gift Certificate Hack
I need to Pin this.
What is “The Big Idea” of Massage Therapy?
Every year, during the second weekend in August, my family loaded up the minivan (which replaced our awesome Caprice Classic). We drove 90 miles west to Davenport, Iowa, for Palmer College of Chiropractic’s annual homecoming celebration.
My dad attended continuing education classes with friends and colleagues. My mom and I went shopping for school clothes and supplies. Back at the hotel, I played with the offspring of other chiropractors. We ran around, swam in the pool, and pretended to give each other adjustments (that’s what the little kids of chiropractors do for fun).
On one of these trips I read a piece written by one of chiropractic’s early developers, BJ Palmer. At that time in my life I was thinking about becoming a chiropractor. “The Big Idea” was written in 1944, and is about chiropractic philosophy. I remember being very impressed and intrigued by this idea of BJ Palmer’s.
Today, I still love this piece, and its big idea. Maybe it just me, but I think there is a lot that massage therapists can take from it.
If you ever doubt the power and effects from ONE massage, or if you are unfamiliar with this piece, here it is in video form.
Bloggercising – 31 Blog Posts in 31 Days
One of the first things I do every morning is check my Facebook page to make sure the world is still in order, and my email for overnight orders and correspondence. I typically accomplish this task with a groggy two-and-a-half year old on one leg, and a wiggly five year old on the other. As we browse my Facebook news feed, they make me stop for things that would not normally catch my attention – like pictures of tiny, cute kittens (Thanks, Allissa).
It is from said tiny, cute kittens that I learned about Kelli Wise’s August challenge of 31 blog posts in 31 days. Many others have since accepted this epic August challenge. If you want to follow along and read some great blogs from knowledgeable people in massage field, here are a few colleagues that are a few days into the challenge.
Kelli Wise – Massage Therapy World
Allissa Haines – Writing A Blue Streak
Eric Brown – Bodywork Biz Blog
I will not be participating in this challenge. I seriously thought about it, but I am going to slow my pace down this month. Last month I completed a Copyblogger/Sonia Simone challenge. It was to release a minimal viable product in one week. It took me a month. Then, like I mentioned a few days ago, this product led me to the decision that it might be “fun” to take the MBLEx twelve years after I went to massage school. I completed that challenge on Wednesday.
I am looking forward to a little break, and to reading all of the other colleague posts!
My August challenge awaits me at the Iowa State Fair next week: A fried stick of butter on a stick. Challenge accepted.
Again, leave your link below if you are taking part in the challenge. If this challenge is not for you, sit down and come up with a less aggressive schedule for your business blog, Allissa has a suggestions for publications calendar posted today.
~Ivy
The Day I Took the NCETMB…
When I graduated there was no choice for examinations. You took the NCETMB. So, that is what I did. I wrote out my check to the NCBTMB, took my exam, and complained about CAM and Asian theory being on the exam like everyone else.
As an added bonus, the NCETMB exam was not given in entire state of Iowa at all the year I graduated. I had to drive 150 miles to Illinois to take it. Obviously I am not over it yet.
On April 7th, 2001, My parents and boyfriend (my husband) dropped me off Knox college in Galesburg and told me “good luck”, “they would be thinking about me”, and that they would be back in about 3 hours. I was there 30 minutes early with 2 IDs. I made my way to room A-107 (I still have my directions) and joined a few of my classmates that had also made the journey to take the test that day. I sat there for the next two hours and tried to recall every detail I had learned in the past six months and punch it into a computer(oid). The only thing I recall is that I had 3 questions on wry neck/torticollis. That seems excessive, right?
I passed.
It did not kill me, but remember being glad I never, ever have to do that again…
So, now we have the MBLEx.
- The cheaper exam.
- The shorter exam.
- The one without Asian theory.
- The “easier” exam.
Muscles -There’s An App For That Now
Trail Guide to the Body…
If you have this book then you know it is a fantastic guide for massage practitioners (or physical therapists, athletic trainers, or anyone who works with soft tissues). It is one of the best guides for developing palpation skills and learning detailed information about the structure and movement of the body. I find useful for for educating clients about their bodies, why I am going to work on a certain area, and the general benefits of therapeutic massage. These days I find myself using my iPad more and more for client education. Do you?
The other day Allissa Haines’ (from Writing a Blue Streak) mentioned on Facebook that she pulled out her Trail Guide to the Body book. Somebody was kind enough to mentioned there was now an app for the guide available on iTunes. It appears it was released in May.
Here is the link for a free “lite” version of this app (limited functions). It is a great way to check it out to see if you like it before spending $39.00 on the full version.
And the link to the full version ($39 .00). It costs less than the Trail Guide to the Body
What you think of the app? How do you use this guide or app in your practice?
Happy app-ing