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Massage therapists urge licensure or establishment regulation; OPR says registration has worked so far
Summary
Representatives of the Vermont chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association asked the Senate Government Operations Committee to pursue licensure or creation of establishment‑level regulation for massage therapists and to convene stakeholders to produce proposed legislation.
Representatives of the Vermont chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA Vermont) asked the Senate Government Operations Committee on April 23 to add language to H.472 directing the Office of Professional Regulation to consider licensing massage therapists and to include specified stakeholders in a study of regulating massage establishments.
Hercules Leechard, an AMTA Vermont board member and a long‑time practitioner, and Christine Hoover, AMTA government relations, testified that many other states license massage therapists and that licensure would establish minimum education, examination and background-check requirements. Leechard said the association wants OPR to consider licensure and to include massage‑industry stakeholders, the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, state’s attorneys and other law enforcement representatives in drafting proposals.
The AMTA witnesses proposed a specific amendment to section 13 of H.472 asking OPR to convene interested stakeholders and submit proposed legislation, which “may include licensure,” by November 15, 2025. The proposed stakeholder list included AMTA Vermont, the Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, state’s attorneys and sheriffs and "other law enforcement agencies" so chiefs of police and similar offices could be invited.
AMTA witnesses and committee members discussed fees, enforcement and the registry. AMTA representatives said the current registration fee and biannual renewal are high for what they described as a registration rather than a full license and urged OPR and the committee to consider licensure to enable therapists to meet interstate portability and to participate in some federal programs. They also said the registry on the OPR site causes confusion for practitioners about whether they are licensed.
Jennifer Cohen of the Office of Professional Regulation testified that OPR has repeatedly reviewed the profession, including a March 2024 report, and concluded that registration has provided effective public protection to date. Cohen said OPR has used registration and enforcement authority to investigate and remove practitioners when misconduct occurred and that OPR supports regulation of massage establishments (to permit inspections and oversight of physical premises) even while retaining individual registration rather than converting to full individual licensure at this time.
Committee members questioned whether rules and fees had been fully set and whether additional outreach was needed. Several senators asked OPR to provide more information on how fees are calculated and how many individuals are registered versus practicing. Committee members and witnesses discussed earlier House committee activity: AMTA provided testimony to House Government Operations and House Ways and Means declined to act on the fee issue pending a broader OPR review.
No committee vote was taken on the AMTA amendment. The committee chair said the chair would invite OPR and AMTA representatives back to discuss the proposed amendment again later in the week and that staff would follow up on outstanding fiscal and operational questions.
