Legislative Overview - Vermont

Vermont’s legislation is an addendum to a previously existing massage therapy bill. After extensive review, the Office of Professional Licensing (OPL) determined the least restrictive and most effective approach to address sexual misconduct was to require massage therapists and practitioners of all complementary therapies to register with the state.

 

Initially OPL was also concerned with human trafficking. After extensive research and discussion with law enforcement, OPL concluded neither licensing, credentialing, nor registration has any constructive impact as a deterrent to human trafficking.

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the bill is to protect public safety by preventing repeated incidents of practitioner sexual misconduct.

 
 

Modalities Affected

Broadly redefines massage therapists to include practitioners of all complementary modalities, i.e. any practice in which a client may be placed in a vulnerable position relative to a practitioner.

 

The Details

  • Three-person advisory board; two representatives are massage therapists, bodyworkers or touch professionals, actively engaged in the field

  • Registration required to practice professionally. Failure to register subject to penalties.

  • Gathers criminal history before permitting registration

  • Publishes online list of Vermont practitioners

  • Imposes discipline on registrants engaged in unprofessional conduct, including sexual misconduct. 

  • Maintains public list of professionals engaged in sexual misconduct

  • Prevents repeat offenses by practitioners by prohibiting practice

  • New client disclosures

 

  • professional qualifications and experience of the registrant

  • actions that constitute unprofessional conduct

  • method for filing a complaint against a registrant

  • method for making a consumer inquiry with the Office

How this impacts you, your clients and students

  • Requires background check, registration and payment of registration fee. Renewal, every two years. 

  • No education or training requirements to obtain registration 

  • No investment to begin practicing

  • No requirement to follow defined standards of practice

The Vermont Statute, effective April 1, 2021

Title 26: Chapter 105: Massage Therapists, Bodyworkers, And Touch Professionals  

Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Licensing, detailed rationale for addendum to statute

ADDENDUM TO THE 2015-2016 PRELIMINARY SUNRISE ASSESSMENT ON MASSAGE THERAPY: THE IMPACT ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF PROFESSIONAL REGULATION OF MASSAGE THERAPY.