HB 2172
Initials DC/TM Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
First Regular Session
House: RA DP 7-0-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 39-21-0-0
HB 2172: massage therapy; communication proficiency; repeal
Sponsor: Representative Longdon, LD 5
House Engrossed
Overview
Removes the requirement that the Board of Massage Therapy (the Board) have rules for licensure
requiring communication proficiency for health and safety in massage therapy.
History
The Board licenses and regulates massage therapists (A.R.S. § 32-4203). The practice of
massage therapy is defined as the application of massage therapy to an individual for a fee or
other consideration. This does not include medical diagnosis, medical procedures, naturopathic
manipulative medicine, osteopathic manipulative medicine and chiropractic adjustive procedures,
the prescription of medicine or the use of medical modalities requiring an alternative license to
practice (A.R.S. § 32-4201).
The Board requires the submission of select direct source documents for initial applicants, which
are documents that cannot be submitted by the applicant and must be received directly from the
issuing agency/entity. These documents consist of:
1) academic transcripts from each Board-recognized school;
2) written verification of a passing score on the Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage
and Bodywork (BCTMB) or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)
exams;
3) completed license verification if from or each jurisdiction the applicant has ever held or
currently holds a massage therapy or bodywork license; and
4) scores earned on either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Test
of English for International Communication (TOEIC) exam if the applicant's native
language is not English (Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy – Initial Application).
Provisions
1. Strikes the requirement that the Board of Massage Therapy must adopt rules for licensure
involving communication proficiency relating to protecting the health and safety in the practice
of massage therapy. (Sec. 1)
2. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note