Massage Regulation: What is the Point?

[massageblog]

Seems like almost daily, on one of my networks, someone will post the question of “what good is massage regulation really doing?†They often throw up points like “prostitution still exists,†and of course it does and it always will. Other complaints are about how much money the state revenue department, or the licensing board, or the Federation, or the testing company is making.Then we’ve got the complaints about taking CE to satisfy the law, and how that’s just a money-making racket. As a CE provider, believe me when I say I’m not getting rich off of it, and very few are. But back to the question, what is the point?
The point of licensing in any profession is basically quality assurance for the public, for their own safety and protection. To get a license, you’re supposed to have x number of hours of education. You’re supposed to pass an exam proving entry-level knowledge . In most places, you’re supposed to get the continuing education in order to keep it. You’re supposed to agree to abide by a code of ethics and uphold standards of professional behavior. You’re supposed to first do no harm. You’re supposed to act in the best interests of the client.
There are now only a couple of states that are the last holdouts with no regulations in the works or already in effect…anyone may call themselves a massage therapist or any other derivative indicating massage, whether they actually know anything or not. READ MORE…