New Massage Rules Raise Requirements

Massage practitioners hoping to ply their trade in the city will have to abide by new rules adopted this week by the City Council.

Under amendments to the city’s existing requirements, masseurs and masseuses will need 600 hours of basic education if they lack experience in the field. The requirement increases by 100 the number of hours needed by new practitioners and falls in line with guidelines issued by the American Massage Therapy Assn.

New requirements also increase from 250 to 300 hours the amount of education needed by practitioners with three years’ experience and reduces to 200 hours the education needed by those with 15 years’ experience.