Utah Massage Therapy Licensing

Utah Massage therapists are licensed by the Utah Department of Commerce: Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL)

Scope of Practice:

58-47b-102.  Definitions.
     In addition to the definitions in Section 58-1-102, as used in this chapter:

Utah allows for a unique apprenticeship program:

R156-47b-302c. Massage Apprenticeship Standards.Under Subsections 58-47b-302(2)(d)(ii) and 58-47b-302(3)(d), the following standards are established for a massage apprenticeship program:

(1) A supervisor and apprentice may begin an apprenticeship program after:(a) the apprentice is licensed as a massage apprentice;(b) the supervisor is approved by the Division; and(c) unless otherwise approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board, each of the supervisor’s previous apprentices has passed the FSMTB MBLEx.

(2) A massage therapist may not serve as a supervisor if the massage therapist has been disciplined for unlawful or unprofessional conduct within five years of the start of the apprenticeship program.

(3)(a) If an apprentice being supervised fails the FSMTB MBLEx three times, the supervisor shall:(i) with the apprentice, meet with the Board at the next appropriate Board meeting;(ii) explain to the Board why the apprentice is not able to pass the examination;(iii) provide to the Board a plan of study in the appropriate subject matter to assist the apprentice in passing the examination; and(b) upon successful completion of the review in Subsection (3)(a)(iii), the apprentice shall again be eligible to take the FSMTB MBLEx.

(4) A supervisor may not supervise more than two apprentices at one time, unless otherwise approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board.

(5) The supervisor shall train the apprentice in the areas of:(a) anatomy, physiology and kinesiology – 125 hours;(b) pathology – 40 hours;(c) massage theory – 50 hours;(d) massage techniques including the five basic Swedish massage strokes – 120 hours;(e) massage client service – 300 hours;(f) hands on instruction – 310 hours;(g) professional standards, ethics and business practices – 40 hours; and(h) sanitation and universal precautions including CPR and first aid – 15 hours.

(6)(a) The supervisor shall submit with the apprentice’s application a curriculum content outline that includes a list of the resource materials to be used, which has been preapproved by the Division.(b) The apprentice shall follow the submitted Division-approved curriculum content outline.

(7) The supervisor and apprentice shall:(a) display a conspicuous sign near the apprentice’s workstationstating “Apprentice in Training”;(b) keep a daily record that includes:(i) the number of hours of instruction and training completed;(ii) the number of hours of client services performed; and(iii) the number of hours of training completed;(c) make the apprentice’s training records available to the Division immediately upon request;(d) verify the completion of the apprenticeship program on forms available from the Division;(e) notify the Division within ten working days if the apprenticeship program is terminated; and(f) ensure that the apprentice performs the massage client services in Subsection (5)(e) only on the public, and performs the other hands on instruction or practice on an apprentice or supervisor.

Animal Massage Therapist requirements:

R156-47b-601. Standards for Animal Massage Therapy Training.Under Subsection 58-28-307(12)(c), a massage therapist practicing animal massage shall have received 60 hours of animal massage therapy training in the following areas:(1) quadruped anatomy;(2) the theory of quadruped massage; and(3) supervised quadruped massage experience

Effective 5/5/2021
58-47b-304.  Exemptions from licensure.

(n)

an individual:(i)certified by or through, and in good standing with, an industry organization that is recognized by the division and that represents a profession with established standards and ethics:(A)who is certified to practice reflexology and whose practice is limited to the scope of practice of reflexology;(B)who is certified to practice a type of zone therapy, including foot zone therapy, and whose practice is limited to the scope of practice for which the individual is certified;(C)who is certified to practice ortho-bionomy and whose practice is limited to the scope of practice of ortho-bionomy;(D)who is certified to practice bowenwork and whose practice is limited to the scope of practice of bowenwork; or(E)who is certified to practice a type of brain integration and whose practice is limited to the scope of practice for which the individual is certified;(ii)whose clients remain fully clothed from the shoulders to the knees; and(iii)whose clients do not receive gratuitous massage from the individual.