Masseurs, does it matter if you are licensed or not?

[caramelsub]

I normally don’t hire masseurs. But I was browsing rentmasseur, and it appeared that most or many masseurs are practicing massage therapy without being certified or licensed. For clients, does this matter to you? For masseurs, do you ever worry about getting into trouble with your state board of massage therapy? I know that sexual play is prohibited with most state massage and bodywork therapy licensing boards.

I am just curious about how this all works.

[+ Jamie21]

It depends what you’re offering, how you describe it, and on the laws in the jurisdiction you work in.

I’m on RentMasseur. On there I list as offering  sensual and erotic but not therapeutic. There’s no generally accepted or regulated definition of what sensual or erotic is (this is debated at length in many other posts on here!!! ) but therapeutic is regulated and one needs a license and insurance to practice (at least where I work in the UK) and any sexual activity would invalidate your license and your insurance.

So therapeutic massage is very different from sensual / erotic massage. One does not need a license to offer sensual / erotic massage and because of the sexual elements it is considered sex work. Within certain parameters it’s perfectly legal to do sex work here in UK therefore I don’t have concerns about law enforcement and as long as I’m not advertising therapeutic massage it’s not necessary to have a license. That said I do have formal massage training because I think it’s important to know how to give a good massage and to avoid injury (to myself and my client) and be aware of any contra indicators for massage…things like varicose veins etc. I also have insurance which is now available here for certain kinds of sex workers. 

I think it’s generally understood that masseurs advertising on RentMasseur are offering more than therapeutic massage (just look at the pictures and the inferences in the masseurs description and profile!). They just need to be a bit careful about how they promote it if the jurisdiction they work in is hostile towards sex work. 
 

[TallMuscl37]

On 10/22/2024 at 7:44 PM, caramelsub said:

I normally don’t hire masseurs. But I was browsing rentmasseur, and it appeared that most or many masseurs are practicing massage therapy without being certified or licensed. For clients, does this matter to you? For masseurs, do you ever worry about getting into trouble with your state board of massage therapy? I know that sexual play is prohibited with most state massage and bodywork therapy licensing boards.

I am just curious about how this all works.

I think what you’re referring to, is like working in a registered massage/spa/health club setting open to the general public. If that were the case, there would be a whole lot of rules to follow, licensed/certified or not. No nudity, no thong with the string running down your ass crack even, probably no serving alcohol, “muscle relaxers/VHS cleaning solution” 🤣 or working hours pass a certain time.

Like @Jamie21 stated, “therapy” may be an umbrella term applied to massages: but again, RentMasseur isn’t a massage studio. Its no more liable than the yellow pages 📖 would be for allowing advertisements.

Edited October 24, 2024 by Jarrod_Uncut

[jeezifonly]

Talent. There is no substitute. 

[soloyo215]

I guess it depends on how you word it in your profile. According to the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals website,

Quote

Massage therapists are licensed in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Licensure is required in each state in which a massage therapist practices and must be renewed on a regular basis, with a majority of states requiring continuing education as a requirement for renewal. Massage therapists must practice within the scope of practice defined by these state licensure laws (massage therapy practice acts in most cases). The practice acts, rules and regulations, comprise the law governing massage therapy practice within a state.

Then they list a link to states and their particular regulations. That makes it illegal for anyone who doesn't meet the state requirements to call themselves a Licensed Massage Therapist. Keyword: licensed. Apparently is OK to just call yourself a Massage Therapist.

[TallMuscl37]

One of my background music songs, there’s a remake of this song that’s used for “meditative chill out soundtracks” 🤭 

 

Edited October 25, 2024 by Jarrod_Uncut

[misterhumphries]

On 10/24/2024 at 7:53 PM, soloyo215 said:

....... That makes it illegal for anyone who doesn't meet the state requirements to call themselves a Licensed Massage Therapist. Keyword: licensed. Apparently is OK to just call yourself a Massage Therapist.

You can call yourself whatever you please, it doesn't make it so.

As an LMT I can tell you draping is a requirement. The only part of the body that should be exposed is the one being worked upon. However, I have had male clients in my mobile practice who get on my table ATOP the cover sheet or blanket. I go with it, mindful that I am bending a convention of professional massage therapy. I just pretend the groin area is not there. Erections do happen but it's a no-go zone. I remember when I was confronted by a big FAT hard on.. It took all my willpower not to lean in and have a suck. Memories!

But to answer the thread's question, licensure probably doesn't matter to "masseurs" as they may lack the techniques, the  knowledge of human anatomy, and ethical restrictions that licensure guarantees and imposes. It's a buyer's market. The clients know whom to seek for whatever body work they desire.

Edited October 26, 2024 by misterhumphries

[Beancounter]

I was a licensed massage therapist in Texas several years ago and draping was not required.  The client was free to choose if he wanted draping. Unless they’ve changed the law in Texas the LMT and client can agree to what draping the client wants.  Of course, the therapist must be clothed.  
 

I will research Texas law again to make sure and report back. 
 

Reporting back….Texas law requires clients to be draped when receiving a massage in a licensed massaged establishment (think Massage Envy types of businesses).  A LMT who conducts business as a sole proprietor is exempted from draping requirements.   

Edited October 26, 2024 by Beancounter
Further information

[Simon Suraci]

In theory, yes. In practice, no. 

There are many great reasons to be licensed in your jurisdiction. At a basic level, you have education and training qualifying you to practice massage professionally. That means you learned how to manually manipulate muscle tissue, fascia, and have a basic understanding of anatomy. I find value in education and training, but at the end of the day, you develop good skills, or you don’t. Book knowledge helps, but it can’t bestow skill. Practice hours only go so far.

Real clients paying real money are where the rubber meets the road. A license doesn’t guarantee the masseur you’re seeing has the skills or experience to deliver an excellent service. Plenty of unlicensed guys do an amazing job, and plenty of licensed guys are so-so, if not downright bad. And of course the opposite is true too. That’s why clients need to do their research. 

It takes practical experience to succeed. You can get that through official means, or unofficial ones. I am still learning new things and brushing up on old things years into my career, and it’s not through schooling. It’s through trading massages, tips from my chiropractor, YouTube, and other free online resources. All of this knowledge, whether I learn it at a massage school or on my own, is only as useful as the level to which I apply it in my craft.

If having a valid license is important to a masseur for business, practical, or personal reasons, then it behooves him to protect and maintain that license by only providing therapeutic massage services conforming to his state and local requirements, like always using draping, never touching genitals, following cleaning and safety procedures, among other things. Some local jurisdictions, like mine, require massage therapists to be registered with law enforcement. That’s actually a negative, since it puts a target on your back!

A license you do not have is a license you cannot lose. Any consequences you may face like charges of prostitution apply whether you have a valid state license or not. We all assume some level of risk in this business, whether licensed, or unlicensed. Doing anything beyond therapeutic massage puts you at risk of losing a license, if you have one. 

[soloyo215]

17 hours ago, misterhumphries said:

You can call yourself whatever you please, it doesn't make it so.

As an LMT I can tell you draping is a requirement. The only part of the body that should be exposed is the one being worked upon. However, I have had male clients in my mobile practice who get on my table ATOP the cover sheet or blanket. I go with it, mindful that I am bending a convention of professional massage therapy. I just pretend the groin area is not there. Erections do happen but it's a no-go zone. I remember when I was confronted by a big FAT hard on.. It took all my willpower not to lean in and have a suck. Memories!

But to answer the thread's question, licensure probably doesn't matter to "masseurs" as they may lack the techniques, the  knowledge of human anatomy, and ethical restrictions that licensure guarantees and imposes. It's a buyer's market. The clients know whom to seek for whatever body work they desire.

Interesting, and I agree, but that's not the subject of my post. Yes, you can call yourself anything you want. I was talking about the legal aspects of the profession and the state requirements.

I can perceive a little frustration, and have known some licensed massage therapists that express their frustration with so many unlicensed people who don't know what they are doing and are using that profession as cover for escorting. Has to be tough.

I don't believe all clients are educated enough to make a good selection. I wasn't, and I'm not alone in that. What I see is that many licensed therapists work at medical offices that offer massage as part of physical therapy, those that are covered by insurance.

[simongayx]

I have noticed that some providers on rent masseur are listed as a "certified masseur."    I have always assumed that this is NOT  the same as being an LMT, but what does it mean (if anything)?   Or is it that some providers are licensed but do not want to advertise as such because of the fears described above?   And how diligently do Rentmasseur check credentials (if at all)?  Can anybody clarify?   

[+ Jamie21]

RentMasseur gives you the opportunity to upload a certificate and then they mark you as certified. They say they check the certificate but I wonder how diligent that is. It’s because in certain locations you can’t advertise offering massage without being certified.

However, I’ve never seen a licensed massage therapist who offers therapeutic massage only (who stays clothed and doesn’t touch genitals) and who drapes etc offer their services on RentMasseur. If they do then they’re advertising in the wrong place: look at the semi clothed public pictures (and the explicit private ones!), the descriptions and the inclusion of sensual/tantric massages…If you want a massage therapist who won’t do anything sexual don’t look on RentMasseur! 

[Saabster]

10 hours ago, simongayx said:

I have noticed that some providers on rent masseur are listed as a "certified masseur."    I have always assumed that this is NOT  the same as being an LMT, but what does it mean (if anything)?   Or is it that some providers are licensed but do not want to advertise as such because of the fears described above?   And how diligently do Rentmasseur check credentials (if at all)?  Can anybody clarify?   

Many providers say they are certified or LMT, CMT, or RMT (I guess depending on which term is most common where they are from). I take all of that with a big grain of salt. I assume none of them are formally certified. Some indeed have learned how to give great massages. Others, not so much. That's why it's great to have this forum.

[Thelatin]

Most of them I hire are also semi professional soccer players - I’m unsure as to the truthfulness of those claims  

 

[SthJrsy]

On 10/22/2024 at 10:44 PM, caramelsub said:

I normally don’t hire masseurs. But I was browsing rentmasseur, and it appeared that most or many masseurs are practicing massage therapy without being certified or licensed. For clients, does this matter to you? For masseurs, do you ever worry about getting into trouble with your state board of massage therapy? I know that sexual play is prohibited with most state massage and bodywork therapy licensing boards.

I am just curious about how this all works.

I am licensed and because of that promote through massuerfinder. This also makes what I offer very hard to get into detail about because my license is on the line. My best clients book for a massage and enjoy the experience without asking too many questions prior. This isnt ideal for some clients but it is what it is.....

[Whippoorwill]

This being the US, every state is free to set up whatever "licensing" protocol they desire. There are generally two kinds of regulations..."practice" which regulates what you actually do, and "title" which regulates what you call yourself. This also being the US, management of such affairs is typically devolved from the states to private industry groups. For instance, in California where I live, architecture is governed by a "practice law" (engaging in the practice of architecture) and a "title law" (calling yourself an architect). They are both under the purview of the California Architects Board, which is a private association authorized by the state to handle these matters. Likewise, masseurs are under the California Massage Therapy Council. This is a private nonprofit that certifies massage training programs and massage professionals. Unlike architecture, masseur certification is voluntary and not required by state law, although local jurisdictions may require certification. The CMTC requires 500 hours massage study in an institution they approve, including anatomy, physiology, etc. in order to be "Certified". The testing requirement has recently been relaxed. They do have ethics requirements, including sexual advertising or services. 

That being said, for many years I had a masseur certified by the CMTC who advertised with enticing photos on Rentmasseur, was very competent and talented in both therapeutic and erotic massage, went through periodic additional trainings, and proudly hung his Certificate, and the diploma from the massage school from which he graduated, in his massage studio. I would guess that enforcement of ethics requirements is strictly on a complaint basis, and I surely wasn't going to complain! In California, at least, the enforcement emphasis appears to be on sex trafficking of females. 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 10/22/2024 at 7:44 PM, caramelsub said:

For clients, does this matter to you?

I use the information of a license as a tie breaker.  If I'm deciding between two similar masseurs in the same city with similar reviews or lack thereof and similar prices, I'm going to choose the masseur with the license.

Edited July 17 by Vegas_Millennial
Grammar