California Massage Licensing

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California massage licensing is a mess to say the least. California does not have any state licensing or state certification of massage therapists and each city handles licensing separately.

The amount of schooling that you need varies from 100 hours to 500 or more.

There have been some recent attempts at state licensing that are quite controversial and involved.

Here is a list of places to contact regarding massage licensing in California

and some other resources for trying to figure it all out.

California Alliance of
Massage & Bodywork Schools

California Health Freedom Coalition

Please let me know any information you may have on licensing

I am looking for help in gathering the information on massage laws in your state so that people considering a career in massage can make more informed decisions about their careers and also to help massage therapists further define the profession.
Be sure to see the help box for more specifics.

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San Diego, California 
The city of San Diego decided to "reform" the massage laws to combat prostitution. During the hearing I witness 2 council members sleeping while another ...

California Massage Schools and Massage Legislation  
California Massage Schools and Massage Legislation

The approval and monitoring of California's massage schools is a function of the Bureau for Private ...

California massage practice  Not rated yet
California massage practice

In California, the practice of massage is not regulated by the state, but may be so locally by the county or city, if ...

Santa Barbara, CA  Not rated yet
SB City- expensive, complicated licensing.
Good market, but +400 licensed therapists in small city.

SB County- 1 page and $25/ yr
Goleta- 1 page and ...

Berkeley & Albany CA Massage Licensing  Not rated yet
I practiced there ~6 years ago. I was very thankful that there was no licensing there so students could learn how to build a massage practice and deal ...