Licensure Exam For Massage Therapists Pushed

A lawmaker has filed a measure regulating the massage practice by mandating massage therapists to pass a licensure examination.

Rep. Alfredo D. Vargas III (5th District, Quezon City) said House Bill 6371 seeks to promote fair competition and salaries for massage therapists and the interest of public health, safety and welfare.

In filing the bill, Vargas said the legal recognition of massage therapy in the form of licensure creates standards of minimum competency.

“Massage therapy has a significant impact on a person’s health and well-being. The public has a right to expect that a massage therapist has the qualifications needed to practice effectively and safely,” Vargas said.

Vargas said competency is measured and enforced through formal education, training and examination requirements. It ensures that individuals have met the eligibility requirements needed to practice massage therapy and that they are qualified to represent themselves to the public as state licensed massage therapists.

“This enables the state or jurisdiction to discipline a massage therapist, because a government does not have the ability to regulate a profession that is not formally recognized in statute,” Vargas said.

The bill will create the Board of Massage Therapy, which shall be under the administrative supervision and control of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

The Board shall consist of seven members to be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health. Five members of the Board shall be licensed massage therapists and shall have been engaged in the practice of massage for not less than five years.

The measure to be known as the “Massage Practice Act,” provides that applicants for registration for the massage practice shall be required to pass a licensure examination.

Vargas said the bill also aims to eliminate prostitution that uses massage parlors as front of their elicit trades.

Under the bill, sexual misconduct in the practice of massage therapy is prohibited. The massage therapist-patient relationship is founded on mutual trust. Sexual misconduct in the practice means violation of the massage therapist-patient relationship through which the massagetherapist uses that relationship to induce or attempt to induce the patient to engage, or to attempt to engage the patient, in sexual activity outside the scope of practice.

The Department of Health (DOH), in coordination with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) are mandated to provide investigative services required in carrying out the provisions of this Act. (PNA) FPV/HOR-PR/EBP