CA AB 1147 – Final Version

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AB 1147 has been amended several times since our May update, most currently on August 22, 2014. We believe this is the final amendment and expect the bill to pass as it now stands. Most importantly, if passed, the bill authorizes the continuation of statewide voluntary certification for massage therapists by the California Massage Therapy Council. In addition the bill does the following:

• The California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) organization would be reauthorized until 1/1/2017.
• Changes the composition of the CAMTC board of directors from a majority of board members appointed by the massage profession, to a composition in which the net result could be a 13 person board with only 3-5 members from the massage community – depending which organizations named in the bill actually exercise their right to appoint.
• Extends the statewide voluntary certification of massage therapists. The qualifications for CMT would change; all new applicants starting January 1, 2015, would have to meet a minimum 500 hour education requirement and pass an entry-level competency exam (such as the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx).
• New applications for the massage practitioner tier of certification (requires a minimum of 250 hours) will no longer be accepted by CAMTC after 12/31/14. Active CMP’s will be able to continue to renew every two years and keep their CMP status.
• Massage professionals currently holding an active conditional certified massage practitioner (CCMP) will be able to continue to work toward their CMP.
• CAMTC would be authorized to approve schools.
• CAMTC would be required to submit a report to the legislature by June 1, 2016. The report would include a feasibility study of licensure for the massage profession (i.e. possible replacement of CAMTC by a state board or bureau) as well as performance metrics for the CAMTC organization.

Though still not ideal, this bill version is much improved from the original version that would have expanded CAMTC’s authority in a massive way. The bill no longer includes a continuing education requirement for renewal or any CAMTC authority over businesses. These are positive developments.

How the Bill Will Affect Individual Massage Professionals​

AB 1147 amends the current state voluntary certification law that the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) administers for the state. CAMTC certification would remain voluntary under AB 1147; however, please be aware of what the city you work in requires. More than 80 jurisdictions currently require massage professionals in their jurisdiction to be CAMTC certified in order to work there.
Individual massage professionals would be affected in the following way:
CMT (Section 4604 of AB 1147)
The qualifications for the Certified Massage Therapist tier would change on January 1, 2015, and would require all new applicants to possess a minimum 500 hour education requirement in addition to passing a national competency exam.

• Current CMT certificate holders must renew on time every 2 years in order to avoid having to re-apply for CAMTC certification under the new requirements.
• If you are not currently CAMTC certified and possess a minimum of 500 hours massage education, applying before December 31, 2014 would be a great idea.
• If you allowed your CAMTC certification to expire, you would need to re-apply in order to become CAMTC certified again. This would be a great time to re-apply.

CMP (Section 4604.1 of AB 1147)
The Certified Massage Practitioner level of CAMTC certification (requires a minimum of 250 hours of massage education) would be phased out on December 31, 2014. No new applications would be accepted.

• Current CMP certificate holders must renew on time every two years in order to keep their certification active. If you remain active, you will be able to renew in perpetuity.
• If you currently possess between 250 and 499 hours of massage education, the remainder of 2014 represents your last chance to apply for the CMP level of CAMTC certification. Future applicants will all have to meet a 500 hour education requirement AND pass an entry-level competency exam in order to qualify for CMT.

CCMP (Section 4604.2 of AB 1147)
As you may be aware, starting January 2, 2012, no new certificates were issued for those practitioners possessing less than 250 hours of education. Those individuals previously issued a Conditional Certified Massage Practitioner certificate will continue to work toward their goal of 250 hours of education – at which point they will be issued a Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP) certification.* CCMP’s must each year complete a minimum of 30 hours of CE from approved schools or approved CE providers to qualify for CMP. CAMTC can automatically nullify a CCMP if the holder does not comply with these CE requirements. In this case only is a new CMP certificate issued upon completion of requirements.

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