State Certificate or City License?

A little FYI if you heard anything about the new certification process for massage therapist.

The State of California recently adopted a statewide certificate program for massage therapists. It is a two-tier system that will phase out to a single certificate system over the next two years. It is an optional program that allows bodyworkers to by-pass most local permitting requirements. The keyword here is "most" as you will see.

If you can document that you have completed 250 training hours from an accredited school (or 130 professional work hours as a therapist and 120 school hours), you can use the title "Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP)". If you can document that you have 500 training hours from an accredited school, you can use the title "Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)". For some reason, you can NOT apply any work hours (practical, in the field experience) to the 500 hours required to use the "CMT" title.

I am a LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST with over 454 training hours from accredited schools and 2 years practical work experience. The City of Los Angeles requires me to have 3 pieces of documentation to work as a massage therapist.

1. Per the Los Angeles Police Commission, I have a Massage Technician permit that allows me to perform massage therapy. 
2. I have another permit form the LA Police Commission to own a Massage Business; this allows me to work for myself or as an independent contractor for a spa or clinic. It also allows me to hire other massage therapists if I wanted to. Many therapists avoid getting this by saying they are working in a clinic or spa for someone else.
3. The third document is related to the second but issued by the Office of Finance - a business permit. This how we pay our taxes. Some insurance policies require a copy of this in order for therapists to obtain liability coverage.

Many of my colleagues are under the misconception that if they get a state certificate, they will no longer need the business permits issued by the city but this is not true. I was informed that a therapist may change his or her status from city-permitted technician to state-certified practitioner/therapist, but only if (s)he does not have private clients. If a therapist has private clients (clients who pay the therapist directly instead of the clinic or spa), he or she needs the business permits (items 2 & 3).

Because I am a therapist (not just in title but in deed), and because I had to renew my City permits anyway, I have opted not to persue State certification at this time.

Half-Price Holiday Massage Special

Happy Holidays! As my way of giving Thanks I am offering my biggest discount ever to help you beat holiday stress:

50% off my regular massage rates!

Normally, a full-body massage is $90 for the first hour and $30 for each additional half-hour but through the month of December, I have appointments available at $45 for the first hour and $30 each additional hour. This means you can get a TWO-HOUR FULL BODY MASSAGE  or two ONE-HOUR massages for YOU AND A FRIEND for only $75.

You are worth it. Massage isn't just a luxury perk anymore, it has been clinically proven to have a wide range of medical benefits also.

• Activity-related soreness. Athletes receive massages after exercise, especially to the muscles they use most in their sport or activity. Massage helps increase blood flow to your muscles and reduce soreness after exercise and other strenuous activities (like shopping, holiday packing, cooking for 20+ friends and relatives, etc.).
• Anxiety. Massage reduced anxiety in depressed children and anorexic women. It also reduced anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in adults trying to quit smoking. For the 40 million Americans with an anxiety disorder, this may be a particularly stressful time and can prevent them from taking part in what should be a joyful season.
• Pain. Pain was decreased in people with fibromyalgia, migraines and recent surgery.
  
• Alcohol withdrawal. Massage during withdrawal from alcohol has shown benefits when combined with traditional medical treatment by increasing feelings of support, safety and engagement in the therapy.
  
• Immune system. People with HIV who participated in massage studies showed an increased number of natural killer cells, which are thought to defend the body from viral and cancer cells.
• Cancer treatment. People with cancer who received regularly scheduled massage therapy during treatment reported less anxiety, pain and fatigue.

Show how much you care for your loved ones by giving them the gift of a massage. Thank mom for cooking a great Thanksgiving supper having me give her a massage while you take care of the post-holiday wrap-up. Reward yourself and your employees for a successful year with massage gift-certificates or chair massage at your office. Prepare yourself for the December parties and shopping and odd work-hours with a stress-reducing relaxation massage.