Created by Marybeth Berney, LMT and Robbin Blake, LMT

Are You Aware of RCW 18.108.045 Display of license or certification--Availability of photo identification? This RCW states:

• (1) A massage therapist licensed under this chapter or a reflexologist certified under this chapter must conspicuously display his or her credential in his or her principal place of business. If the licensed massage therapist or certified reflexologist does not have a principal place of business or conducts business in any other location, he or she must have a copy of his or her credential available for inspection while performing services within his or her authorized scope of practice.
• (2) A massage therapist licensed under this chapter or a reflexologist certified under this chapter must have government-issued photo identification on his or her person or have it be available for inspection by city, county, or state law enforcement or department personnel at all times he or she practices massage therapy or reflexology. The name of the massage therapist or reflexologist on the government-issued photo identification must match the name on the massage therapy license or reflexology certification.

To read the RCW, click on the this link: RCW 18.108.045 Display of license or certification

You also need to be aware of and follow any local regulations that you might be subject to. In the last few years many Washington cities have/are updating their ordinances. Many of these ordinances specifically define what “conspicuously display” means. For example:

• "Conspicuously display" shall mean the display of licenses and certificates in a manner that can be viewed and read by a person immediately upon entry into the initial common area of massage business or reflexology business without having to request to see the license or certification.
• In situations where a massage business or reflexology business is a mobile service which travels to where the massage therapy service or reflexology service will be conducted, conspicuously display shall mean the display of licenses and certificates in a manner that can be viewed and read by a person immediately upon approaching the massage table, massage chair or furniture used to do massage therapy or reflexology.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to us at gr@mywsmta.org.