Investigation finds minimal oversight on MN's massage therapy industry - KARE11.com

[Audrey Russo]

Instead of a statewide system, Minnesota leaves licensing laws up to individual cities.



ST PAUL, Minn. — When she went to get a massage in Tofte in 2021, Jennifer Halpaus thought she knew what to expect.


“The usual, small square room,” the St. Paul woman said.


Halpaus said she clearly communicated boundaries, assuming she'd receive service from a massage therapist held to a strict set of professional standards.


Instead, Halpaus said the therapist touched her inappropriately.


“He proceeded to just massage up my legs,” Halpaus said. “I know when I'm being touched there. And I froze.”


What Halpaus didn’t realize was that the massage therapy standards she assumed would keep her safe simply didn't exist in Minnesota.


Minnesota is one of only four states in the entire country that doesn't license massage therapists. That means there are no uniform background checks or training required by the state and no oversight on the practicing therapists by a statewide governing body.


Instead of a statewide system, Minnesota leaves licensing laws up to individual cities.


“Completely different standards,” said Rachel Romanelli, the government relations chair for Minnesota's Chapter of the American Massage Therapist Association. According to the AMTA, fewer than 1 in 8 Minnesota cities requires the licensure of every practicing massage therapist.


“Without having that standardization, you could say it's like a box of chocolates maybe in some way,” Romanelli said.


It didn't take long to find an example of that "box of chocolates" approach landing a spa in trouble.


Last year, two former employees of TigerCave Spa in Eden Prairie were charged with inappropriately touching clients. One of the employees, who will be sentenced next week, did not hold a license with Eden Prairie despite the city’s local laws requiring one.


The second employee, who was licensed, is accused of inappropriately touching two clients within two days.


Following these cases, KARE 11 learned none of TigerCave’s remaining therapists held a city license. When we brought this to the city's attention in late 2024, Eden Prairie’s licensing officer promised to investigate.


TigerCave closed its doors by January 2025 and is now transitioning to new management.


The spa declined to comment when KARE 11 contacted them.


“Oftentimes, we'll see harm with massage therapists,” Romanelli said. “You don't have a regulatory board, you don't have a set of educational standards.”


Regulating the industry through legislation has been an uphill battle. Since 2011, at least five bills have been introduced to state lawmakers, but none reached a vote.


“They naturally assume that we already have a license,” Romanelli said.


She says another bill was introduced this month to establish statewide massage therapy licensure.


Across the border in Wisconsin, that goal is already a reality. The Badger State makes all massage therapists pass the same training requirements and criminal background checks to get a state-issued license.


Every license is searchable online by the public.


“You can look up someone with a license,” Adam Clayton, a Wisconsin massage therapist said.


In addition, Clayton says every therapist must get updated ethics training every two years.


“This is very serious,” Clayton said. “It's good to be reminded that great conduct must be practiced.”


No such ethics training is required in Tofte, where Halpaus said she was assaulted.


“I'm not a fan of regulation,” Halpaus said “However, when people are taking advantage of others in a vulnerable state…I mean hairdressers are licensed and nobody's naked.”


Halpaus contacted police back in 2021. KARE 11 is not naming the therapist or resort in question because the Cook County Sheriff did not press charges. In the case report, the spa’s manager reported running a background check and told police the therapist never had a complaint before.


“It was his word against mine,” Halpaus said.


Her only option left: Warn others that a massage in Minnesota may not be as safe as you’d assume.


“To keep people safe. Everybody needs to know.”