AB588,4,117 15.405 (6r) Massage therapy and bodywork council therapy examining board.
8(a) There is created a massage therapy and bodywork council therapy examining
9board
in the department of regulation and licensing, serving the department in an
10advisory capacity
. The council examining board shall consist of the following 7
11members, appointed for 4-year terms, who are:
AB588,4,20 121. Six massage therapists or bodyworkers certified bodywork therapists
13licensed
under ch. 460 and who have engaged in the practice of massage therapy or
14bodywork therapy for at least 2 years preceding appointment. One member
15appointed under this subdivision shall be a representative of a massage therapy or
16bodywork therapy school approved by the educational approval board under s. 38.50.
17One member appointed under this subdivision shall be a representative of a massage
18therapy or bodywork therapy program offered by a technical college in this state. No
19other members appointed under this subdivision shall be directly or indirectly
20affiliated with a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school or program.
AB588,4,2321 (b) (intro.) In appointing members under par. (a), the governor shall ensure, to
22the maximum extent practicable, that the membership of the council examining
23board
is diverse, based on all of the following factors:
AB588,4,2524 2. Affiliation and nonaffiliation with a professional association for the practice
25of massage therapy or bodywork therapy.
AB588,5,2
13. Professional associations with which massage therapists or bodyworkers
2bodywork therapists in this state are affiliated.
AB588, s. 4 3Section 4. 146.81 (1) (hp) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,5,54 146.81 (1) (hp) A massage therapist or bodyworker certified bodywork
5therapist licensed
under ch. 460.
AB588, s. 5 6Section 5. 146.997 (1) (d) 13. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,5,87 146.997 (1) (d) 13. A massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist
8issued a certificate licensed under ch. 460.
AB588, s. 6 9Section 6. 180.1901 (1m) (ag) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,5,1110 180.1901 (1m) (ag) The department of regulation and licensing massage
11therapy and bodywork therapy examining board
under ch. 460.
AB588, s. 7 12Section 7. 252.15 (1) (ar) 1. of the statutes, as affected by 2009 Wisconsin Act
1328
, is amended to read:
AB588,5,1614 252.15 (1) (ar) 1. A person or entity that is specified in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hm)
15and (i) to
(p), but does not include a massage therapist or bodyworker issued a
16certificate under ch. 460
.
AB588, s. 8 17Section 8. 440.03 (13) (b) 38. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,5,1818 440.03 (13) (b) 38. Massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist.
AB588, s. 9 19Section 9. 440.08 (2) (a) 46r. of the statutes, as affected by 2007 Wisconsin Act
2020
, is amended to read:
AB588,5,2221 440.08 (2) (a) 46r. Massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist:
22March 1 of each odd-numbered year.
AB588, s. 10 23Section 10. Chapter 460 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,5,2424 CHAPTER 460
AB588,6,2
1Massage therapy and
2 bodywork therapy
AB588, s. 11 3Section 11. 460.01 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 460.01 (2m) and amended
4to read:
AB588,6,65 460.01 (2m) "Certificate License holder" means a person granted a certificate
6license under this chapter.
AB588, s. 12 7Section 12. 460.01 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB588,6,88 460.01 (1g) "Adjunctive therapy" means any of the following:
AB588,6,99 (a) The use of a device that simulates or enhances a manual action.
AB588,6,1110 (b) The application of water, lubricants, or other nonprescription topical agents
11to the skin.
AB588,6,1312 (c) The application of heat or cold to the skin in the absence of an
13electromagnetic device.
AB588, s. 13 14Section 13. 460.01 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 460.01 (1r) and amended
15to read:
AB588,6,1716 460.01 (1r) "Council Examining Board" means the massage therapy and
17bodywork council therapy examining board.
AB588, s. 14 18Section 14. 460.01 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,6,2219 460.01 (3) "Manual action" includes holding, positioning, rocking, kneading,
20compressing, decompressing, gliding, or percussing the soft tissue of the human body
21or applying a passive range of motion to the human body without joint mobilization
22or manipulation
.
AB588, s. 15 23Section 15. 460.01 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,7,724 460.01 (4) "Massage therapy" or "bodywork therapy" means the science and
25healing art that uses manual actions and adjunctive therapies to palpate and

1manipulate the soft tissue of the human body, in order to improve circulation, reduce
2tension, relieve soft tissue pain, or increase flexibility, and. "Massage therapy" or
3"bodywork therapy"
includes determining whether massage therapy or bodywork is
4manual actions and adjunctive therapies are appropriate or contraindicated, or
5whether a referral to another health care practitioner is appropriate. "Massage
6therapy" or "bodywork therapy" does not include making a medical, physical therapy,
7or chiropractic diagnosis.
AB588, s. 16 8Section 16. 460.02 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,7,18 9460.02 Certificate License required. Except as provided in s. 460.03, no
10person may provide massage therapy or bodywork therapy, designate himself or
11herself as a massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist, or use or assume
12the title "massage therapist and bodyworker bodywork therapist" or "massage
13therapist" or "bodyworker bodywork therapist" or any title that includes "massage
14therapist"," "bodywork therapist," or "bodyworker," or append to the person's name
15the letters "M.T.," "R.M.T.," "L.M.T.," "C.M.T.," "B.W," "B.T.," "B.W.," "L.B.W.,"
16"R.B.W.,"
or "C.B.W.," or use any other title or designation that represents or may
17tend to represent that he or she is certified licensed under this chapter, unless the
18person is certified licensed under this chapter.
AB588, s. 17 19Section 17. 460.03 of the statutes is renumbered 460.03 (1m) and amended
20to read:
AB588,7,2221 460.03 (1m) A certificate license under this chapter is not required for any of
22the following:
AB588,8,423 (a) A person holding a license, permit, registration, or certification granted by
24this state or the federal government who engages in a practice of massage therapy
25or bodywork therapy within the scope of his or her license, permit, registration, or

1certification and who does not imply that he or she is certified licensed under this
2chapter. A person who is exempt from licensure under this subsection may use the
3terms "bodywork," "bodyworker," and "bodywork therapy" to identify his or her
4practice.
AB588,8,95 (b) A person who is authorized to practice massage therapy or bodywork
6therapy in another state or country and is providing a consultation to or
7demonstration with a certificate license holder. A person who is exempt from
8licensure under this subsection may use the terms "bodywork," "bodyworker," and
9"bodywork therapy" to identify his or her practice.
AB588, s. 18 10Section 18. 460.03 (1m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB588,8,1311 460.03 (1m) (c) A person who manipulates only the soft tissues of the hands,
12feet, or ears of the human body, provided that the services are not represented or
13implied to be massage therapy or bodywork therapy.
AB588, s. 19 14Section 19. 460.03 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB588,8,1615 460.03 (2m) (a) A person who does any of the following and who satisfies the
16requirements of par. (b):
AB588,8,1917 1. Uses touch, words, and directed movement to deepen a client's awareness
18of his or her existing patterns of movement and to suggest to the client new patterns
19of movement.
AB588,8,2020 2. Uses touch to affect the energy systems of the human body.
AB588,8,2221 3. Uses touch and education to effect change in the structure of the body while
22engaged in the practice of structural integration.
AB588,9,523 (b) The person is recognized by or meets the established standards of either a
24professional organization or credentialing association that recognizes a person in a
25practice after that person demonstrates an adequate level of training and

1competency and adherence to ethical standards. In this paragraph, "practice"
2includes Rolfing Structural Integration, the Rolf Method of Structural Integration,
3the Rolf Institute's Rolf Movement Integration, Hellerwork, the Feldenkrais
4Method, the Trager Approach, body-mind centering, polarity, polarity therapy,
5polarity bodywork therapy, and reiki.
AB588,9,86 (c) A person who is exempt from licensure under this subsection may use the
7terms "bodywork," "bodyworker," and "bodywork therapy" to identify his or her
8practice.
AB588, s. 20 9Section 20. 460.04 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,9,10 10460.04 (title) Duties of department examining board.
AB588, s. 21 11Section 21. 460.04 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 460.05 (4) and amended
12to read:
AB588,9,1413 460.05 (4) The department shall examining board may assign a unique
14certificate license number to each person certified licensed under this chapter.
AB588, s. 22 15Section 22. 460.04 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB588,9,1716 460.04 (1m) The examining board shall prepare an examination on state laws
17and administrative rules governing massage therapy and bodywork therapy.
AB588, s. 23 18Section 23. 460.04 (2) (intro.), (a), (b) and (e) of the statutes are amended to
19read:
AB588,9,2120 460.04 (2) (intro.) The department examining board shall promulgate rules
21that establish all of the following:
AB588,9,2522 (a) Standards that govern the professional conduct of certificate license holders
23in practicing massage therapy or bodywork therapy. The standards shall prohibit
24a certificate license holder from having sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a
25client.
AB588,10,4
1(b) Criteria for approving a training program for purposes of s. 460.05 (1) (e)
21. Rules promulgated under this paragraph shall require the training program to
3meet the requirements under s. 460.095 and to consist of at least 600 classroom
4hours.
AB588,10,95 (e) A requirement that an applicant for a certificate license under this chapter
6submit evidence satisfactory to the department examining board that the applicant
7has current proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator achieved
8through instruction provided by an individual, organization, or institution of higher
9education approved under s. 46.03 (38) to provide such instruction.
AB588, s. 24 10Section 24. 460.04 (2) (f) of the statutes is created to read:
AB588,10,1611 460.04 (2) (f) Requirements to be satisfied by a person seeking a temporary
12license under s. 460.08. The rules promulgated under this subsection shall require
13the person to be a graduate of a massage therapy or bodywork therapy school or
14program and may require the holder of a temporary license to make disclosures to
15clients and to practice under the supervision of a massage therapist or bodywork
16therapist licensed under this chapter.
AB588, s. 25 17Section 25. 460.04 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB588,10,2018 460.04 (2) (g) A requirement that an applicant for a license under this chapter
19pass an examination on state laws and administrative rules governing massage
20therapy and bodywork therapy.
AB588, s. 26 21Section 26. 460.04 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
AB588, s. 27 22Section 27. 460.04 (4) of the statutes is repealed.
AB588, s. 28 23Section 28. 460.05 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,10,25 24460.05 (title) Certification Licensure of massage therapists or
25bodyworkers and bodywork therapists .
AB588, s. 29
1Section 29. 460.05 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,11,42 460.05 (1) (intro.) The department examining board shall grant a certificate
3license as a massage therapist or bodyworker bodywork therapist to a person who
4satisfies all of the following:
AB588, s. 30 5Section 30. 460.05 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,11,86 460.05 (1) (c) The person submits an application for the certificate license to
7the department examining board on a form provided by the department examining
8board
.
AB588, s. 31 9Section 31. 460.05 (1) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,11,1210 460.05 (1) (e) Except as provided in sub. (2), the person submits evidence
11satisfactory to the department examining board that he or she has done all of the
12following:
AB588,11,1613 1. Graduated from a school of massage therapy or bodywork therapy approved
14by the educational approval board under s. 38.50 that meets the requirements under
15s. 460.095
or completed a training program approved by the department examining
16board
under the rules promulgated under s. 460.04 (2) (b).
AB588,11,2017 2. Completed at least 6 classroom hours in the laws of this state and rules of
18the department examining board relating to the practice of massage therapy or
19bodywork therapy in a course of instruction approved by the department examining
20board
.
AB588, s. 32 21Section 32. 460.05 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,11,2522 460.05 (1) (g) The person submits evidence satisfactory to the department
23examining board that he or she has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage
24in an amount that is not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 for all
25occurrences in one year.
AB588, s. 33
1Section 33. 460.05 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,12,52 460.05 (2) The department examining board may waive a requirement
3specified in sub. (1) (e) if a person establishes, to the satisfaction of the department
4examining board, that he or she has education, training, or other experience that is
5substantially equivalent to the requirement.
AB588, s. 34 6Section 34. 460.05 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
AB588, s. 35 7Section 35. 460.06 of the statutes is renumbered 460.06 (intro.) and amended
8to read:
AB588,12,11 9460.06 Examinations. (intro.) The department examining board may not
10grant a certificate license under this chapter unless the applicant passes achieves a
11passing grade on
the national certification following examinations:
AB588,12,19 12(1) A nationally administered, entry-level competency examination for
13therapeutic massage and bodywork therapy that is offered by the National
14Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or an examination
15relating to the practice of massage therapy or bodywork that is administered by a
16national board that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying
17Agencie
s meets generally accepted psychometric principles and standards or a
18substantially equivalent examination approved by the department examining
19board
.
AB588,12,22 20(2) The department shall promulgate rules that also require an applicant to
21pass an examination on state laws and administrative rules governing massage
22therapy or and bodywork therapy required under s. 460.04 (2) (g).
AB588, s. 36 23Section 36. 460.07 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,13,224 460.07 (1) Each person who is certified licensed under this chapter shall
25conspicuously display the certificate license in the place of business where he or she

1practices massage therapy or bodywork therapy so that the certificate license can
2easily be seen and read.
AB588, s. 37 3Section 37. 460.07 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB588,13,74 460.07 (2) (intro.) The renewal dates for certificates granted under this chapter
5are specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a).
Renewal applications shall be submitted to the
6department on a form provided by the department on or before the applicable
7renewal date specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a)
and shall include all of the following:
AB588, s. 38 8Section 38. 460.07 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
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