The Texas Department of State Health Services
(DSHS) is the regulatory authority for massage therapists,
massage schools, massage therapy instructors, and massage
establishments in Texas. DSHS adopts rules to implement the
provisions of the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 455 (formerly
Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4512k (the Massage Therapy Registration
Act)) effective September 1, 1985. Implementation of the Massage
Therapy Registration Act is carried out by DSHS to protect
public health, safety and welfare.
This page contains information about massage therapy including
registration requirements, examination, annual renewals, how
to file a complaint, where to go for more information, and
more. Return to the Professional
Licensing and Certification Unit Home Page for information
on other regulatory programs. |
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| Table of
Contents |
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| Program
Responsibilities |
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- Evaluate credentials of applicants for
registration as massage therapists, massage schools, massage
therapy instructors, and massage establishments
- Develop registration examinations; coordinate
exam administration with contract examination company;
evaluate results; and notify candidates of results
- Issue registration(s) and renewal(s)
to qualified applicants
- Investigate complaints
- Initiate disciplinary
action including denial of initial applications or renewals,
revocation, suspension, probation; reprimand; or assess
administrative penalties after opportunity for hearing
has been offered
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| Enabling
Legislation and Administrative Rules |
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- Law: Chapter
455, Texas Occupations Code The Texas Massage Therapy
Registration Act defines massage therapy, massage therapist,
massage school, massage therapy instructor, and massage
establishment; sets out registration requirements for
massage therapists; authorizes the Texas Department of
State Health Services (DSHS) to adopt rules relating to
massage therapists, massage therapy instructors, massage
schools, and massage establishments; establishes DSHS
as the regulatory authority for massage therapy in the
state; and prohibits persons from acting as or representing
the person as a massage therapist, massage school, massage
therapy instructor, or massage establishment without registration
unless otherwise exempt from the registration requirement.
The text of the law is available
to download or print by scrolling to Chapter 455 at: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/statutes/oc.toc.htm
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Administrative Rules: Title
25 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 141. The administrative
rules (adopted by the Texas Department of State Health
Services (DSHS) under the authority of the Massage Therapy
Registration Act) regulating massage therapy in Texas
govern all aspects of registration and regulation including
qualifications for application and examination, registration
renewal, guidelines for conduct, continuing education,
complaints and disciplinary actions. Once adopted, the
rules become Texas Administrative Code which carries
the weight and intent of law. It is the responsibility
of each registrant to be familiar with and comply with
both the law and the rules.
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| HIPAA
Notice |
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Click the link below to
read an important message about HIPAA Privacy Standards for
providers and entities that submit protected health information
to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/hipaa/webmessage.htm |
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| Registration
Required |
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Unless exempt from the registration
requirements, a person may not act as a massage therapist,
massage school, massage therapy instructor, or massage establishment
without being registered with DSHS.
Unless exempt, a person may not represent himself or herself
as a massage therapist unless the person holds a certificate
of registration issued by DSHS. |
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| Ineligibility
for Registration |
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Please be aware that the
Massage Therapy Registration Act, Texas Occupations Code,
Chapter 455, Sec. 455.152(a) states that a person is NOT ELIGIBLE
"for registration as a massage establishment, massage
school, massage therapist, or massage therapy instructor if
the person is an individual and has been convicted of, entered
a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, or received deferred
adjudication for an offense involving prostitution or another
sexual offense."
Additionally, Sec. 455.155(d) prohibits sexually oriented
businesses from registering or operating as massage establishments. |
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| Definitions
and Description of Practice |
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"Massage therapy"
means the manipulation of soft tissue by hand or through a
mechanical or electrical apparatus for the purpose of body
massage and includes effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading),
tapotement (percussion), compression, vibration, friction,
nerve strokes, and Swedish gymnastics. The terms "massage,"
"therapeutic massage," "massage technology,"
myotherapy," "body massage," "body rub,"
or any derivation of those terms are synonyms for "massage
therapy."
Practices in massage therapy include the use of oil, salt
glows, heat lamps, hot and cold packs, and tub, shower, or
cabinet baths.
Massage therapy constitutes a health care service if the massage
therapy is for therapeutic purposes. Massage therapy does
not constitute the practice of chiropractic. The terms therapy
and therapeutic when used in the context of massage therapy
practice do not include (1) the diagnosis or treatment of
illness or disease; or (2) a service or procedure for which
a license to practice medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy,
or podiatry is required by law.
"Massage school" is an entity that (a) teaches at
a minimum the course of instruction required for registration
as a massage therapist; and (b) has at least two instructors;
and is registered by DSHS.
"Massage therapy instructor" is a registered massage
therapist who provides to one or more students instruction
approved by the department in massage therapy. Massage therapy
instructors may be registered as a school-based instructor
and instruct only at a massage school; or as an independent
massage therapy instructor who may instruct independently
or at a registered massage school.
"Massage therapy educational program" means the
supervised 300 hour course of instruction required for registration
provided by a massage school or massage therapy instructor
and is registered by DSHS.
"Massage establishment" means a place of business
that advertises massage therapy or offers massage therapy
as a service and requires establishment registration unless
the establishment holds a license, permit, certificate, or
other credential issued in Texas under another law and offers
or performs massage therapy under the scope of that credential.
Registered massage therapists who practice as solo practitioners
are not required to register as a massage establishment. A
sexually oriented business may not register under the Massage
Therapy Registration Act or operate as a massage establishment
under the Act. |
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| Providers
of Continuing Education |
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Any Massage Therapy Educational
Program approved in Texas may offer continuing education.
Roster
of Massage Therapy Educational Programs (Schools/Independent
Instructors) in alphabetical order (text file, 13 KB)
Roster
of Additional School Locations/Community Colleges (text file,
4 KB)
Additionally, the Texas Department of State Health Services
approves certain individuals as pre-approved providers of
continuing education. The lists of approved pre-providers
of continuing education available below are current through
the date at the top of each list. |
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| Consultation
Documentation |
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| Registrants are required to
provide an initial consultation to each client prior to the
first massage session and obtain the signature of the client
on a consultation document. The document must include: |
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- the type of massage techniques the registrant anticipates
using during the massage therapy session;
- the parts of the client's body that will be massaged
or the areas of the client's body that will be avoided
during the session, including indications and contraindications;
- a statement that the registrant shall not engage in
breast massage of female clients without the written consent
of the client;
- a statement that draping will be used during the session,
unless otherwise agreed to by both the client and the
registrant;
- a statement that if uncomfortable for any reason, the
client may ask the registrant to cease the massage and
the registrant will end the massage session; and
- the signature of both the client and the registrant.
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| If the client's reason for seeking massage
changes at any time and any of the information in subsection
(h)(1)-(4) of this section is modified, the registrant must
provide an updated consultation reflecting any changes and
modifications to the techniques used or the parts of the client's
body to be massaged. |
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| Consumer
Information |
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| Each registered massage therapist,
massage therapy instructor, massage school, or massage establishment
must notify each client of the name, mailing address, and
telephone number of DSHS for the purpose of directing complaints
to DSHS. This information must be provided on one of the following: |
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- each written contract for services of a registrant;
or
- on a sign prominently displayed in the primary place
of business of each registrant; or
- on a bill for service provided by a registrant to a
client or third party; or
- by other written and documented method
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| Filing
a Complaint |
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An individual who wishes to
file a complaint against a massage therapist, a massage therapy
school, a massage therapy instructor, or a massage therapy
establishment may write to one of the following:
Complaints Management and Investigative Section
P.O. Box 141369
Austin, Texas 78714-1369
Massage Therapy Registration Program
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756-3183
. . . or call 1-800-942-5540 to request the appropriate form
or obtain more information. This number is for complaints
only (please direct routine calls and correspondence to the
phone number and address given below).
. . . or e-mail the Massage Therapy Registration Program at massage@tdh.state.tx.us.
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| Obtaining
More Information |
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| To obtain an application packet
or for any other information or inquiries, please contact
us at: |
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Massage
Therapy Registration Program
Texas Department of State Health Services
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, Texas 78756-3183, USA E-mail: massage@dshs.state.tx.us
Telephone: (512) 834-6616
Facsimile: (512) 834-6677 |
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| Forms
and Publications |
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Obtain a copy of the following
publications now - click on your selection.
To access documents in Adobe Acrobat format, you must download
the Acrobat Reader software free from the
Adobe web site. An Adobe Accessibility plug-in is available
at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_downloads.html |
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| Law and Rules |
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| Massage Therapist - Forms |
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| Individual Forms from the Massage Therapist
Application Packet |
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Renewal
terms are being staggered; if you are
unsure whether you are set to renew for a one or
a two year term, please call our office at
(512)834-6616 before submitting
the renewal form and fee |
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| Massage Therapy
Instructor - Forms |
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| Massage Therapy Establishment
- Forms |
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| Massage Therapy School
- Forms and Publications |
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| Massage Therapy Continuing
Education Provider |
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| To access documents in Adobe Acrobat format,
you must download the Acrobat Reader software free from the
Adobe web site. An Adobe Accessibility plug-in is available
at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_downloads.html. |
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