Ohio Becomes the First State to Adopt the Revised Massage Therapy Compact

https://www.amtamassage.org/about/news/ohio-enacts-revised-compact/

The passage of SB 276 marks a significant milestone for the massage therapy profession in Ohio by establishing continuing education (CE) as a requirement for license renewal and revising the interstate compact. The CE provision was essential not only to strengthen professional competency and public protection, but also because mandatory continuing education is a prerequisite for a state's participation in the Massage Therapy Interstate Compact. By adopting this requirement, Ohio has positioned itself to be eligible for compact membership, expanding future opportunities for licensure portability and workforce mobility.

Under SB 276, the Ohio Medical Board will develop administrative rules establishing the continuing education framework. Through the state's formal rulemaking process, the Board will determine the number of CE hours required for each license renewal cycle, identify the subjects and educational content that will satisfy the requirement, and establish any additional standards necessary for implementation. This process will include stakeholder input and public review before the rules are finalized. AMTA will keep our membership informed as we move along the rule-making process

Requiring continuing education benefits both practitioners and the public by ensuring massage therapists remain current on evidence-informed practice, patient safety, professional ethics, and changes to state laws and regulations. Ongoing education provides opportunities to strengthen clinical skills, expand professional knowledge, and adapt to emerging best practices throughout a therapist's career.

By making continuing education a condition of license renewal and establishing a comprehensive rulemaking process to implement these requirements, Ohio has taken an important step toward enhancing public protection, promoting professional accountability, and further recognizing massage therapy as an integral component of the healthcare system.