{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3029.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3029.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3029.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3029.html"}],"law_id":57114,"edition_id":1,"section_id":57114,"structure_id":14971,"section_number":"54.1-3029","catch_line":"Qualifications for a licensed massage therapist","history":"1996, c. 166; 1997, c. 599; 2004, c. 991; 2012, c. 764; 2016, c. 324; 2020, c. 727.","full_text":"A\n\nIn order to be licensed as a massage therapist, the applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant:1\n\nIs at least 18 years old;2\n\nHas successfully completed a massage therapy educational program that required a minimum of 500 hours of training. The massage therapy educational program shall be certified or approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or an agency in another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory that approves educational programs, notwithstanding the provisions of § 23.1-226;3\n\nHas passed the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or an examination deemed acceptable to the Board of Nursing; and4\n\nHas not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.B\n\nThe Board may issue a provisional license to an applicant prior to passing the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards for such time and in such manner as prescribed by the Board. No more than one provisional license shall be issued to any applicant.C\n\nThe Board may license without examination any applicant who is licensed as a massage therapist in another state, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory, or another country, and, in the opinion of the Board, meets the requirements for licensed massage therapists in the Commonwealth.D\n\nAn applicant who completed a massage therapy educational program in a foreign country may apply for licensure as a massage therapist upon submission of evidence, satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant:1\n\nIs at least 18 years old;2\n\nHas successfully completed a massage therapy educational program in a foreign country that is comparable to a massage therapy educational program required for licensure by the Board as demonstrated by submission of evidence of comparability and equivalency provided by an agency that evaluates credentials for persons who have studied outside the United States;3\n\nHas passed a Board-approved English language proficiency examination; and4\n\nHas not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.\n\t\t\t\tThe Board shall issue a license to an applicant who meets the requirements in this subsection upon submission by the applicant of evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has completed an English version of the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or a comparable examination deemed acceptable to the Board.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":209146,"text":"In order to be licensed as a massage therapist, the applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":209147,"text":"Is at least 18 years old;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":209148,"text":"Has successfully completed a massage therapy educational program that required a minimum of 500 hours of training. The massage therapy educational program shall be certified or approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or an agency in another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory that approves educational programs, notwithstanding the provisions of § 23.1-226;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":209149,"text":"Has passed the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or an examination deemed acceptable to the Board of Nursing; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":209150,"text":"Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":209151,"text":"The Board may issue a provisional license to an applicant prior to passing the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards for such time and in such manner as prescribed by the Board. No more than one provisional license shall be issued to any applicant.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":209152,"text":"The Board may license without examination any applicant who is licensed as a massage therapist in another state, the District of Columbia, a United States possession or territory, or another country, and, in the opinion of the Board, meets the requirements for licensed massage therapists in the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"7":{"id":209153,"text":"An applicant who completed a massage therapy educational program in a foreign country may apply for licensure as a massage therapist upon submission of evidence, satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant:","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"D1"},"8":{"id":209154,"text":"Is at least 18 years old;","type":"section","prefixes":["D","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"D1","prefix_anchor":"D1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"D2"},"9":{"id":209155,"text":"Has successfully completed a massage therapy educational program in a foreign country that is comparable to a massage therapy educational program required for licensure by the Board as demonstrated by submission of evidence of comparability and equivalency provided by an agency that evaluates credentials for persons who have studied outside the United States;","type":"section","prefixes":["D","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"D2","prefix_anchor":"D2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D1","next_prefix":"D3"},"10":{"id":209156,"text":"Has passed a Board-approved English language proficiency examination; and","type":"section","prefixes":["D","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"D3","prefix_anchor":"D3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D2","next_prefix":"D4"},"11":{"id":209157,"text":"Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.\n\t\t\t\tThe Board shall issue a license to an applicant who meets the requirements in this subsection upon submission by the applicant of evidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has completed an English version of the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or a comparable examination deemed acceptable to the Board.","type":"section","prefixes":["D","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"D4","prefix_anchor":"D4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"D3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14971,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure of Massage Therapists","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13068,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:11","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:11","permalink":{"id":242865,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14971,"identifier":"5","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5","url":"\/54.1\/III\/30\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13068,"edition_id":1,"name":"Nursing","identifier":"30","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:13","permalink":{"id":242687,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13068,"identifier":"30","token":"54.1\/III\/30","url":"\/54.1\/III\/30\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":57114,"structure_id":14971,"section_number":"54.1-3029","catch_line":"Qualifications for a licensed massage therapist","url":"\/54.1-3029\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5\/54.1-3029","metadata":false},{"id":79015,"structure_id":14971,"section_number":"54.1-3029.1","catch_line":"Advisory Board on Massage Therapy","url":"\/54.1-3029.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5\/54.1-3029.1","metadata":false},{"id":62878,"structure_id":14971,"section_number":"54.1-3029.2","catch_line":"(Effective pursuant to Article 12) Interstate Massage Compact","url":"\/54.1-3029.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5\/54.1-3029.2","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":79015,"structure_id":14971,"section_number":"54.1-3029.1","catch_line":"Advisory Board on Massage Therapy","url":"\/54.1-3029.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5\/54.1-3029.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3029\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 166<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1997, chapter 599<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 991<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 764<\/a>; in 2016, chapter 324<\/a>; in 2020, chapter 727<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79015,"section_number":"54.1-3029.1","catch_line":"Advisory Board on Massage Therapy","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3029.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":74161,"section_number":"23.1-226","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-226\/"}],"permalink":{"id":242867,"object_type":"law","relational_id":57114,"identifier":"54.1-3029","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5\/54.1-3029","url":"\/54.1-3029\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3029\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/5\/54.1-3029","dublin_core":{"Title":"Qualifications for a licensed massage therapist","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3029","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In order<\/span> to be licensed as a massage therapist<\/span>, the applicant shall furnish evidence<\/span> satisfactory to the Board<\/span> that the applicant: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Is at least 18 years old; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Has successfully completed a massage therapy<\/span> educational program that required a minimum of 500 hours of training. The massage therapy<\/span> educational program shall be certified or approved by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or an agency in another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory that approves educational programs, notwithstanding the provisions of § 23.1-226<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Has passed the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy<\/span> Boards<\/span> or an examination deemed acceptable to the Board<\/span> of Nursing; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Board<\/span> may issue<\/span> a provisional license to an applicant prior to passing the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy<\/span> Boards<\/span> for such time and in such manner as prescribed by the Board<\/span>. No more than one provisional license shall be issued to any applicant. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Board<\/span> may license without examination any applicant who is licensed as a massage therapist<\/span> in another state, the District of Columbia, a United States possession<\/span> or territory, or another country, and, in the opinion<\/span> of the Board<\/span>, meets the requirements for licensed massage therapists<\/span> in the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> An applicant who completed a massage therapy<\/span> educational program in a foreign country may apply for licensure as a massage therapist<\/span> upon submission of evidence<\/span>, satisfactory to the Board<\/span>, that the applicant: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Is at least 18 years old; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Has successfully completed a massage therapy<\/span> educational program in a foreign country that is comparable to a massage therapy<\/span> educational program required for licensure by the Board<\/span> as demonstrated by submission of evidence<\/span> of comparability and equivalency provided by an agency that evaluates credentials for persons who have studied outside the United States; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Has passed a Board<\/span>-approved English language proficiency examination; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.\n\t\t\t\tThe Board<\/span> shall issue<\/span> a license to an applicant who meets the requirements in this subsection upon submission by the applicant of evidence<\/span> satisfactory to the Board<\/span> that the applicant has completed an English version of the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy<\/span> Boards<\/span> or a comparable examination deemed acceptable to the Board<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nQUALIFICATIONS FOR A LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST (\u00a7 54.1-3029)\n\nA. In order to be licensed as a massage therapist, the applicant shall furnish\nevidence satisfactory to the Board that the applicant:\n\n 1. Is at least 18 years old;\n\n 2. Has successfully completed a massage therapy educational program that\n required a minimum of 500 hours of training. The massage therapy educational\n program shall be certified or approved by the State Council of Higher\n Education for Virginia or an agency in another state, the District of\n Columbia, or a United States territory that approves educational programs,\n notwithstanding the provisions of § 23.1-226;\n\n 3. Has passed the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage\n Therapy Boards or an examination deemed acceptable to the Board of Nursing;\n and\n\n 4. Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for\n disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.\n\nB. The Board may issue a provisional license to an applicant prior to passing\nthe Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards for\nsuch time and in such manner as prescribed by the Board. No more than one\nprovisional license shall be issued to any applicant.\n\nC. The Board may license without examination any applicant who is licensed as a\nmassage therapist in another state, the District of Columbia, a United States\npossession or territory, or another country, and, in the opinion of the Board,\nmeets the requirements for licensed massage therapists in the Commonwealth.\n\nD. An applicant who completed a massage therapy educational program in a foreign\ncountry may apply for licensure as a massage therapist upon submission of\nevidence, satisfactory to the Board, that the applicant:\n\n 1. Is at least 18 years old;\n\n 2. Has successfully completed a massage therapy educational program in a\n foreign country that is comparable to a massage therapy educational program\n required for licensure by the Board as demonstrated by submission of evidence\n of comparability and equivalency provided by an agency that evaluates\n credentials for persons who have studied outside the United States;\n\n 3. Has passed a Board-approved English language proficiency examination; and\n\n 4. Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for\n disciplinary action or denial of licensure as set forth in this chapter.\n \t\t\t\tThe Board shall issue a license to an applicant who meets the requirements\n in this subsection upon submission by the applicant of evidence satisfactory\n to the Board that the applicant has completed an English version of the\n Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or a\n comparable examination deemed acceptable to the Board.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, c. 166; 1997, c. 599; 2004, c. 991; 2012, c. 764; 2016, c. 324;\n2020, c. 727.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}