§ 63-18-101. Short Title
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Massage Licensure Act of 1995.”
§ 63-18-102. Chapter Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: “Board” means the massage licensure board; “Compensation” means the payment, loan, advance, donation, contribution, deposit or gift of money or anything of value; “Massage/bodywork/somatic” means the manipulation of the soft tissues of the body with the intention of positively affecting the health and well being […]
§ 63-18-103. Tennessee Massage Licensure Board
There is hereby created the Tennessee massage licensure board. The board shall be composed of seven (7) members who are residents of the state. Except for the two (2) citizen members, each member shall have at least five (5) years current experience in the practice of massage. Persons with a conflict of interest are ineligible […]
§ 63-18-104. License Required
Persons or massage establishments engaged in massage for compensation shall be licensed by the massage licensure board. Any person or establishment who advertises or engages in massage for compensation without a current valid license from the massage licensure board commits a Class B misdemeanor. It is unlawful to use the word “massage” or any other […]
§ 63-18-105. License Requirements — Issuance
The board shall establish procedures and criteria for the issuance of licenses to persons and establishments engaged in massage for compensation. No person or establishment shall be issued a license until the applicant and each person engaged in massage at such massage establishment has provided evidence satisfactory to the board that: The applicant is eighteen […]
§ 63-18-106. Investigation — Inspection — Revocation of License
In order to effectuate this chapter, the board or its authorized representative is empowered to conduct an investigation of persons engaged in massage or massage establishments and to inspect the license of practitioners and establishments for compliance. The refusal of a practitioner or establishment to permit inspections shall be grounds for revocation, suspension or refusal […]
§ 63-18-107. Enjoining Violation
The board has the power and authority to enter into any court of this state having proper jurisdiction to seek an injunction against any person or massage establishment not in compliance with this chapter and is further empowered to enter into any such court to enforce this chapter in order to ensure compliance with such […]
§ 63-18-108. Grounds for Denial, Revocation, or Suspension of License or Other Discipline
The board is authorized to deny, restrict or condition any application for licensure or revoke, suspend or otherwise discipline the license of a massage therapist or an establishment, if the applicant, licensee or holder of an establishment license upon proof: Is guilty of fraud in the practice of massage or fraud or deceit in the […]
§ 63-18-109. Accusation — Hearing
Charges relative to a violation of this chapter may be presented by any person, or the board may, on its own motion, direct the chair of the board to present charges. An accusation may be filed with the chair of the board, charging any licensed massage therapist with any of the offenses enumerated in § […]
§ 63-18-110. Exemptions
Any person granted an exemption under this chapter is effective only to the extent that the bona fide practice of the profession or business that is licensed, certified or registered under the laws of this state overlaps into the field comprehended by this chapter, and exemptions under this chapter are only for those activities that […]
§ 63-18-111. Authorization to Promulgate Rules, Regulations and Fees
The board is hereby authorized to promulgate, in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement this chapter. The board may adopt reasonable rules and regulations regarding personal cleanliness of massage therapists and the sanitary condition of towels, linens, creams, lotions, […]
§ 63-18-112. Reciprocity
The board may, at its discretion, grant licensure to any person who is licensed or registered in another state or country with standards as stringent as those required by this chapter.
§ 63-18-113. Tax
Notwithstanding law to the contrary, the act of a duly licensed massage therapist in performing a massage shall be deemed to be medically therapeutic in nature and shall not be subject to the collection of any form of state or local taxation regulations not also imposed on other medically therapeutic activities. Additionally, a massage performed […]
§ 63-18-114. Massage Therapists Are Not Primary Care Providers
No person licensed by the massage licensure board shall ever be referred to as a primary care provider nor be permitted to use such designation.
§ 63-18-115. Powers and Duties of the Board
In addition to the powers and duties granted to or imposed upon it by other provisions of this chapter, the board shall have the following powers and duties: Prescribe the minimum curricular and minimum standards for schools of massage therapy and for courses of training that prepare individuals for licensure under this chapter; Approve such […]
§ 63-18-116. Authority to Issue License — Qualifications — Rules and Regulations
The board is authorized to issue a license to practice massage therapy to an applicant who: Meets the qualifications set forth in § 63-18-105(b)(1) and (2); and Has been certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork for the five-year period immediately preceding application for licensure and can submit documentation satisfactory to […]