Did You Know: RCW 35A.82.025 Authority to Regulate Massage Therapists

RCW 35A.82.02 https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?Cite=35A.82.025#:~:text=RCW%2035A.,to%20regulate%20massage%20therapists%E2%80%94Limitations.#:~:text=RCW%2035A.,to%20regulate%20massage%20therapists%E2%80%94Limitations. is a very little known law to many massage therapists as well as city officials.

In a nutshell, this RCW says two things that some cities in Washington are likely violating. It states that “a city may charge a licensing or operating fee but the fee that they charge a licensed massage therapist shall not be greater than the fee charged to similar healthcare providers (like a physical therapist) in the same city”.

It also states that a licensed massage therapist is not to be subjected to additional licensing requirements not currently imposed on similar healthcare providers (like physical therapists). 

The WSMTA Government Relation Program would like you to take a look at the municipal ordinances/codes related to massage where you practice. Generally this can be found online, though sometimes it takes some persistence to find them. Your best bet is to search by typing in the name of your city/town and the words “municipal codes”. Once in the location of your codes search “massage” (not massage therapy). If your search doesn’t turn up anything, there may not be any codes that are specific to massage in your area. On the other hand if you find violations of this RCW in your codes let us know about it (mailto:gr@mywsmta.org), we would like to create some data on this issue, and then contact your local municipality and bring this to their attention. 

Thank you!

WSMTA Government Relation Program

Program Director, Robbin Blake

Marybeth Berney

Stephanie Dickey