Massage Therapy License in Alabama?

I will be moving to Huntsville in May and need to transfer my license from VA to AL. I have looked over the requirements for an AL license, but I cannot find anything on transferring from another state. The main issue is that the required education hours for VA are 500 (which is what I have) while AL is 650. I need to know if AL still requires the extra education hours even though I’ve been licensed and practicing in VA for three years. I’ve emailed the board in AL and no response. Anyone help??

State boards are notorious for not responding in a timely manner.

From what I can see, you will need to enroll in a school in Alabama to add at least the 150 hours you need for accreditation under Alabama state law. You may find that a school will accept all of your existing hours but it is not likely. You need to be commuicating with those schools as soon as possible:

http://www.massage-exam.com/alabama-massage.php

Your question(s) should be answered here:

http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/massage.html#moving%20to%20a%20state%20where%20I’m%20not%20licensed%20in%20massage

It is also possible that you can get a 6 month temporary permit through the school or the instructor after you have completed the courses required in Alabama so that you can practice until you pass the state boards.

You already know that you will need 16 hours of CE credits every 2 years, so the contact is not in vain,.

You can, of course, practice on family but not on clients who are not family under the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy 532-X-1 Administrative Code.

http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mass/1mass.htm

Alabama no longer grandfathers licenses as of 6/01/1998 – that would apply to your Virginia license:

http://www.massageregister.com/StateRequirements.asp

You will also find a phone number at this site – try calling and asking or contact the party below:
Alabama Board of Massage Therapy
Randy Barrows, Executive Assistant
610 S. McDonough Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
334-269-9990
334-263-6115 (fax)
randy@warrenandco.com

What is interesting is that Virginia is a COMTA state but Alabama is not.

http://www.naturalhealers.com/comtaacc.shtml

I don’t know if you are licensed through the certification of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) or Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) but if you are, you might find that your license will be accepted by Alabama – Unfortunately there are only 16 states which accept that testing and Alabama is not one of them.

http://www.ncbtmb.org/about_required_states.php

http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/massage.html#moving%20to%20a%20state%20where%20I’m%20not%20licensed%20in%20massage

I’m sorry to be the bearer of such frustrating news. Your best bet is to see what you can work out with the school in Huntsville.

You already know this:
“Different states have different requirements to become licensed in massage therapy. There are two types of certification tests offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) :

•National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB)
•National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM)
State boards listed indicate what type of exam they require to practice. In these states, anyone who has passed the appropriate exam in one state can apply for licensing in another state without re-taking the test. In states that do not use the NCE, anyone applying for licensing must either take that state’s test or apply for reciprocity, which is usually on a case-by-case basis. Reciprocity refers to the exchange, recognition or enforcement of licenses, privileges or obligations between states of the US or between nations.”

Make the call to be sure – they may accept your three years on a case by case basis rather than indicating that they will not accept your 500 hours. Be ready to fax your information. As a matter of fact, you might want to send the fax first to a specific person such as the Executive assistant listed above.

Best Wishes

Brittany Point Apartments For Rent – Huntsville, AL