Animal Massage Therapy Laws

Alabama

(8) To permit animal massage by a massage therapist under the direction of prescription of a licensed veterinarian, the applicant must graduate from a nationally approved program and complete a minimum of 100 hours of postgraduate training and education in animal anatomy, pathology, and physiology for the type of animal on which the therapist will perform therapeutic massage. July 2018 Alabama Board of Massage

http://www.almtbd.alabama.gov/pdf/2019/Statute_July1.2018.pdf

Alaska

Animal Massage therapy allowed with direct supervision of a veterinarian
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/MAS_Statutes.pdf

Arizona

Allowed because of court case that finds:

For purposes of this Judgment, the practice of animal massage is defined as the manual application of compression, stretch, vibration or mobilization of the organs and tissues beneath the dermis, and any combination of range of motion, directed, assisted, or passive movements of the joints.For purposes of this Judgment, an animal massage practitioner is a person who, within this state, undertakes any of the following for the purposes of animal well-being:A. Provides external manipulation or pressure of soft tissues by use of the hands or body.B. Uses techniques limited to stroking, percussions, compressions, friction, acupressure, Swedish gymnastics or movements, gliding, kneading, range of motion or stretching, and fascial or connective tissue stretching, with or without the aid of superficial heat, cold, water, lubricants, or essential oils.

http://ij.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Signed-Consent-Judgment.pdf

Arkansas

No specific wording in state vet practice act however interpretation was received from the vet board

CALIFORNIA : ALLOWED
No specific wording in state board vet practice act in regards to massage. Please see update on the 2010 bill AB1980

Colorado

12-235-110. Scope of article – exclusions – authority for clinical setting – definitions.
(1) Nothing in this article 235 prohibits or requires a massage therapy license for any of the
following:

(f)(I) The practice of animal massage if the person performing massage on an animal:

(A) Does not prescribe drugs, perform surgery, or diagnose medical conditions;  and

(B) Has earned a degree or certificate in animal massage from a school approved by the private occupational school division of the Colorado department of higher education under article 64 of title 23, an out-of-state school offering an animal massage program with an accreditation recognized by the United States department of education, or a school that is exempt under section 23-64-104 .

(II) As used in this paragraph (f), “animal massage” means a method of treating the body of an animal for remedial or hygienic purposes through techniques that include rubbing, stroking, kneading, or tapping with the hand or an instrument or both, which techniques may be applied with or without the aid of a massage device that mimics the actions possible using human hands.

Connecticut

CONNECTICUT : ALLOWED
Specific Wording in the state board vet practice act

DELAWARE : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
Exemption wording in the vet practice act:
“Supports activities under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian”

FLORIDA : ALLOWED
Law passed in 2006 allowing massage

GEORGIA : ALLOWED
Specific wording in state vet practice act to allow animal massage
This article shall not be construed to prohibit:
(17) A person performing soft tissue animal massage or other forms of soft tissue animal manipulation…”

HAWAII : ALLOWED WITH VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in the state vet practice act however state board interpretation offered guidelines

IDAHO : ALLOWED
Broad wording in state vet practice act however state board interpretation offers guidelines:
Allied health professional participating in procedure within his/her scope of practice and under direct supervision of actively licensed veterinarian

ILLINOIS : PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED: CURRENTLY BEING DISCUSSED
Some specific wording is now offered in the state practice act. Wording includes this list as the practice of veterinary medicine:
Complementary, alternative, or integrative veterinary medical procedures including: Chiropractic, Physical therapy, Animal acupuncture, Animal acutherapy, Animal acupressure, Veterinary homeopathy, Animal psychology, Artificial insemination, Dental, Veterinary nutraceutical therapy, Veterinary phytotherapy

INDIANA : CHECK WITH STATE BOARD: CHANGED
Broad wording in state vet practice now includes:
“Complimentary or alternative therapy” as the practice of veterinary medicine

IOWA : NO RESPONSE FROM VET BOARD: ACUPRESSURE NOT ALLOWED
Broad wording in state vet practice now includes:
“animal physical therapy, veterinary acupuncture and acupressure, animal chiropractic, and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine” as the practice of veterinary medicine

KANSAS : ALLOWED WITH VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in state vet practice act in regards to massage however this particular wording is included in the act:
“Independent contractor under direct or indirect supervision of veterinarian as specified by regulation”

KENTUCKY : GRAY AREA
Broad wording in state vet practice now includes:
“All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine”

LOUISIANA : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
Broad wording in state vet practice now includes:
“All other branches of veterinary medicine”

MAINE : NOT ALLOWED
Specific wording in state vet practice act includes:
“Physical or massage therapy”

MARYLAND : ALLOWED
http://ij.org/case/clemens-v-maryland-state-board-of-veterinary-medical-examiners-et-al/

MASSACHUSETTS : ALLOWED
No specific wording in state vet practice act

MICHIGAN : NO RESPONSE FROM VET BOARD
No specific wording in state vet practice act

MINNESOTA : ALLOWED
No specific wording in state vet practice act

MISSISSIPPI : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
Broad wording in state vet practice act however guidelines were provided by the state board

MISSOURI : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in state vet practice act however the state boards’ interpretation disallowed

MONTANA : ALLOWED
No specific wording in state vet practice act

NEBRASKA : ALLOWED
https://thehorse.com/157371/nebraska-ends-equine-massage-therapist-license-requirement/

NEVADA : NO RESPONSE FROM VET BOARD
No specific wording in state vet practice act in regards to massage however physical therapy is allowed by “certified(?)” physical therapist under direct vet supervision.

NEW HAMPSHIRE : ALLOWED
Specific wording in state vet practice act allowing massage

NEW JERSEY: GRAY AREA
Broad wording in state vet practice act includes the following terms:
“Alternative or complementary veterinary medicine”

NEW MEXICO : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
S pecific wording in the state practice act:
“Chiropractic, physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure and embryo transfer under the direct supervision of licensed veterinarian”

NEW YORK : NOT ALLOWED: VET ONLY OR VET TECH WITH VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in the state practice act however it has been bought to our attention that according the state human massage board, animal massage is allowed to be performed only by vets or vet tech with supervision.

NORTH CAROLINA : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
Broad wording in state vet practice act however guidelines were provided by the state board

NORTH DAKOTA : ALLOWED
Broad wording in state vet practice act however guidelines were provided by the state board

OHIO : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
Broad wording in state vet practice act however guidelines were provided by the state board

OKLAHOMA : ALLOWED WITH VET REFFERAL
S pecific wording in the state practice act:
“Individuals certified in animal massage therapy who acquire liability insurance may engage in animal massage therapy after referral from a licensed veterinarian”

OREGON : ALLOWED WITH VET REFERRAL
S pecific wording in the state practice act:
“Allied health professionals upon referral from a licensed veterinarian”

PENNSYLVANIA : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
S pecific wording in the state practice act:
“Chiropractic, dental, dental hygiene and physical therapy procedures performed upon animals by licensed individuals in conjunction with the practice of veterinary medicine and under the direct supervision of a veterinarian”

PUERTO RICO : ALLOWED
Guidelines were provided by the state board

RHODE ISLAND : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in state vet practice act however interpretation was received from the vet board

SOUTH CAROLINA : VET MAY DELEGATE
Specific wording in the state practice act:
“Veterinarians may delegate the performance of procedures, therapeutic options and alternate therapies, under certain conditions, including acupuncture, manipulation and adjustment, magnetic field therapy, holistic medicine, homeopathy, herbology/naturopathy, massage, and physical therapy”

SOUTH DAKOTA : ALLOWED
No specific wording in state vet practice act

TENNESSEE : ALLOWED-CASE PENDING
Broad wording in state vet practice act includes the following terms included as the practice of veterinary medicine:
“All other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine”
“The State of Tennessee does not have any animal massage laws in place at this time.”

TEXAS : UNDER GENERAL, OR DIRECT, VETERINARY SUPERVISION

Texas Administrative Code
TITLE 22 EXAMINING BOARDS
PART 24 TEXAS BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICAL EXAMINERS
CHAPTER 573 RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
SUBCHAPTER B SUPERVISION OF PERSONNEL
RULE §573.14 Alternate Therapies–Chiropractic and Other Forms of Musculoskeletal Manipulation
________________________________________
(a) Definition. For the purpose of this rule, animal chiropractic and other forms of musculoskeletal manipulation (MSM) are systems of therapeutic application of mechanical forces applied manually through the hands or any mechanical device to treat and/or alleviate impaired or altered function of related components of the musculoskeletal system of nonhuman animals. Animal chiropractic and other forms of MSM in nonhuman animals are considered to be alternate therapies in the practice of veterinary medicine.
(b) Treatment using animal chiropractic and other forms of MSM. Animal chiropractic and other forms of MSM may only be performed by the following.
(1) A licensed veterinarian. Animal chiropractic and MSM may be performed by a licensed veterinarian under the following conditions:
(A) a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship has been established as defined in the Act;
(B) an examination has been made by the licensee to determine that animal chiropractic/MSM will not likely be harmful to the patient; and
(C) the licensee obtains as a part of the patient’s permanent record a signed acknowledgment by the owner or other caretaker of the patient that animal chiropractic or MSM is considered by Texas law to be an alternate therapy.
(2) A non-veterinarian employee or an independent contractor. A non-veterinarian employee or an independent contractor may perform these procedures on an animal under the direct or general supervision of the veterinarian if the conditions in paragraph (1)(A) – (C) of this subsection have been met.
(3) An individual to whom the exceptions of the Act, §801.004, apply.
(c) Responsibility. Whether the animal chiropractic/MSM is performed by a veterinarian or a non-veterinarian employee or an independent contractor working under the supervision of a licensee, the Board will hold the veterinarian to a level of professional judgment as would be exercised by the average Texas veterinarian who performs or recommends chiropractic/MSM treatments in his/her practice.

UTAH : ALLOWED WITH REFERRAL
Specific wording in the state practice act:
“Certified massage therapist with veterinary referral”

VERMONT : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in state vet practice act however, the state board interpretation offered guidelines

VIRGIN ISLANDS : ALLOWED

VIRGINIA : ALLOWED WITH VET DELEGATION
Specific wording in state vet practice act.

WASHINGTON : ALLOWED; NEW LAW IN LIMBO WITH FISCAL ASSIGNMENT
Specific wording in state vet practice act
Act will read as allowed by certified animal massage therapists once fees have been approved by legislature. Until then the old guidelines (see below) still apply

WEST VIRGINIA : NO RESPONSE FROM VET BOARD

WISCONSIN : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION
No specific wording in state vet practice act however, the state board interpretation offered guidelines

WYOMING : NO RESPONSE FROM VET BOARD

Thank you, Equinology INC® and Caninology®  for providing this information

IAAMB tracks the laws and legislative activities of each state and works with members to make them friendlier to animal massage and bodyworkers.

South Carolina:  http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/massagetherapy/index.asp?file=interpretations_of_the_massage_p.htm

Scope of Practice

Animal Massage (including Equine Massage) is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Veterinary Medicine and not within the scope of practice of massage/bodywork therapy as defined in this chapter although animal massage can be preformed by anyone who has obtained authorization from the animals veterinarian.

Washington State :

Chapter 246-940 WAC

CERTIFIED ANIMAL MASSAGE THERAPIST

246-940-020
Certification requirements.

To qualify for certification, a candidate must:
(1) Successfully complete a three hundred hour training program approved by the secretary, that includes instruction in general animal massage techniques, kinesiology, anatomy, physiology, behavior, first-aid care and handling techniques:
(a) To practice animal massage on large animals, the three hundred hours of instruction must be related to the performance of animal massage on large animals;
(b) To practice animal massage on small animals, the three hundred hours of instruction must be related to the performance of animal massage on small animals;
(c) For certification in both small animal massage and large animal massage, the candidate must complete the training described in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(2) Successfully complete a qualifying examination approved by the secretary:
(a) To practice animal massage on large animals, successfully complete the National Certification Examination for Equine Massage administered by the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage;
(b) To practice animal massage on small animals, successfully complete the National Certification Examination for Canine Massage administered by the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage.
(c) Candidates seeking certification in both small animal massage and large animal massage must meet all requirements in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
(3) Successfully complete the Washington state animal massage jurisprudence examination; and
(4) Complete four clock hours of AIDS education as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 8.