North Dakota Massage Licensing

North Dakota Massage licensing is regulated by the North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy. There are currently (11/09) 623 massage therapists. They require 750 hours of training and require taking the NCBTMB exam as well as a practical exam.

They define massage as:

"Massage" means the scientific and systematic manipulation of the soft tissues ofthe human body through any manual or mechanical means, using western andeastern modalities, including superficial hot and cold applications, hydrotherapy,reflexology, shiatsu, acupressure, and the use of salts or lubricants for the purposeof promoting, maintaining, and restoring the health and well-being of the client. Theterm includes assessment, effleurage (stroking or gliding), petrissage (kneading),tapotement (percussion), compression, vibration, friction, and active or passiverange of motion and stretching either by hand, forearm, elbow, knee, foot, or withmechanical appliances for the purpose of body massage. Except as provided in thischapter, "massage" does not include diagnosis or other services that require alicense to practice medicine or surgery, osteopathic medicine, chiropractic,occupational therapy, physical therapy, or podiatry and does not include serviceprovided by professionals who act under their state-issued professional license,certification, or registration.

The educational requirements are as follows (from their website under laws):

Required curriculum.1. The supervised classroom instruction received by an applicant mustsatisfy the following curriculum requirements:a. At least one hundred fty hours of anatomy, physiology, andneurology, including sixty hours of anatomy, sixty hours ofphysiology, and thirty hours of neurology.b. At least forty-ve hours of pathology.c. At least ninety hours of kinesiology, including origin, insertion,action, and innervation.d. At least, but not more than, ten hours of rst aid, hygiene, andCPR. At the time of graduation, the applicant must hold a validcurrent CPR card certied by a nationally recognized organizationto provide rst aid and CPR instruction.e. At least thirty hours of business practices and thirty hours ofprofessional ethics.

(Information subject to change. Please check with the North Dakota Massage Licensing Board for the latest requirements.)

The Massage Career Guide can help you learn more about a career in massage and help you to find the massage school that is best for you.