WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Enrolled
Senate Bill 496
By Senators Thorne and Rucker
[Passed April 10, 2025; in effect 90 days from passage (July 9, 2025)]
AN ACT to amend and reenact §30-37-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to massage therapists; and clarifying the definition of “massage therapy”.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
## ARTICLE 37. MASSAGE THERAPISTS.
(a) "Board" means the West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board.
(b) "Massage therapist" means a person licensed to practice the health care service of massage therapy under this article who practices or administers massage therapy to a client of either gender for compensation. No person licensed by the massage therapy licensure board may be referred to as a primary care provider nor be permitted to use such designation.
(c) "Massage therapy" means a health care service which is a scientific and skillful manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic or remedial purposes, specifically for improving muscle tone, circulation, promoting health and physical well-being. Massage therapy includes massage, myotherapy, massotherapy, bodywork, bodywork therapy, or therapeutic massage including hydrotherapy, superficial hot and cold applications, vibration and topical applications or other therapies which involve manipulation of the muscle and connective tissue of the body, for the purpose of enhancing health, reducing stress, improving circulation, aiding muscle relaxation, increasing range of motion, or relieving neuro-muscular pain. Massage therapy does not include diagnosis or service which requires a license to practice medicine or surgery, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic, or podiatry, and does not include service performed by nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, or reflexologists who act under their own professional license, certificate, or registration, or energy work practitioners (including reiki, qigong, and sound healing).
(d) "Massage establishment" means a place of business wherein massage therapy is practiced, with a physical site or premise, including mobile sites, licensed as required by this article, in which licensed massage therapists are employees or contractors practicing massage therapy on clients.
(e) "Sole practitioner" means a licensed massage therapist who is licensed pursuant to this article, who is not an employee or contractor of the sole practitioner or an establishment, and who provides massage therapy to clients at a specific location including, but not limited to, a rental space, home office space, offsite, or onsite space.
The Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Delegates hereby certify that the foregoing bill is correctly enrolled.
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Clerk of the Senate
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Clerk of the House of Delegates
Originated in the Senate.
In effect 90 days from passage.
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President of the Senate
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Speaker of the House of Delegates
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The within is ................................................ this the...........................................
Day of ..........................................................................................................., 2025.
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Governor