ND Massage Law cheat sheet

The Board of Massage Therapy regulates massage therapists; the statute is codified at North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-25 and administered through the board and its rules.

"Massage" is defined as the manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic, hygienic, or relaxation purposes; the definition anchors what falls inside licensure and what does not.

A license is required before practicing massage therapy for compensation; practicing without a license is a statutory violation subject to board discipline and legal penalties.

Licensure requires completion of a board-approved massage therapy program with a minimum number of clock hours, plus a passing score on a board-recognized examination such as the MBLEx.

Applications are filed with the board with fee, transcripts, and exam results; the board may deny, suspend, or revoke a license for unprofessional or unethical conduct.

Continuing education is a renewal condition: licensees must document a set number of CE hours per renewal cycle, with specific subject-area requirements set by board rule.

Exemptions from licensure typically cover students in supervised clinical training and practitioners of other licensed health professions acting within their scope; the exemption list is narrow.

The board may investigate complaints, hold hearings, and impose sanctions including reprimand, probation, suspension, revocation, and civil penalties for violations.

Licensee records, advertising, and scope-of-practice claims must be accurate; misrepresenting credentials or practicing beyond the defined scope is grounds for discipline.

The administrative rules implementing chapter 43-25 appear in title 33 of the North Dakota Administrative Code; the board adopts and amends these rules.

Rule provisions set the required curriculum and minimum clock hours for approved massage schools and specify what a qualifying program must include (anatomy, physiology, pathology, hands-on technique, ethics, business).

The rules define application procedures, required documentation, fee amounts, and examination standards for initial licensure.

Renewal rules specify the license period, late-renewal and reinstatement procedures, and the consequence of practicing on an expired license.

Continuing education rules set the number of hours required per cycle, acceptable activity types, documentation retention, and audit procedures.

The rules define unprofessional conduct - including boundary violations, inadequate client records, and failure to maintain sanitation - and list the disciplinary actions available.

Scope and prohibited-practice provisions describe what a massage therapist may and may not do, including restrictions on diagnosing, prescribing, and invasive techniques.

Recordkeeping rules require client records sufficient to document intake, treatment, and consent, and set retention periods for those records.

Advertising and title rules govern how a licensee may present credentials and prohibit use of titles implying licensure status the person does not hold.