Reflexology & Licensing

Maine Council of Reflexologists

Resources - Information on Licensing and Registration of Reflexology

Regarding Licensure - Reflexology As A Profession (RAA), Wither Reflexology by David Cook (RAA), and Legislative Laws Across The USA (RAA)

Report on the Discussion on Licensing/Registration of the Reflexology Profession

From the September 2009 MCR Meeting

Pros

Cons

Reflexologists would be recognized as professionals

Add costs to practicing reflexology with town and state fees

Licensure would set educational standards for reflexologists

Tie into ineffective bureaucracy

Insurance coverage for reflexology sessions performed by licensed reflexologists and prescribed by a physician for certain conditions.

Impractical to license reflexologist because government agencies do not know enough about the profession

Enables the medical community and the general public to identify professional reflexologists with set standards of training

Financially prohibitive for some reflexologists who would have to pay for training, exam and licensure fees.

Without a state licensing law we have no control over who practices reflexology

With a state licensing law we have no control over how the profession is regulated

Accountability and Credibility

Why do we need regulation at all? MCR can oversee standards of practice. MCR has set an educational standard to be a certified reflexologist. We can police ourselves. It’s not up to the state to regulate reflexology because agencies tend to be bureaucratic and lack the necessary knowledge.

As it stands now in the State of Maine, anyone can advertise reflexology services even with a 2 hour course as is often the case in many spas. Massage therapists who have not focused on reflexology in their practice and have received only minimal training can claim they give professional reflexology treatments. Without a license or registration which has the backing of state law we cannot prevent anyone from practicing reflexology even if they do not meet our standards. The unregulated practice could give the wrong impression about reflexology especially if they receive sessions from untrained reflexologists. The public need to ask about credentials of the reflexology practitioner. But generally the public does not understand the difference between foot massage and reflexology.

More Information Needed

Most of the members needed more information to understand what is involved in licensing or registration of reflexology.

The following questions were raised:

What is the procedure for granting a license for reflexologists who have been practicing for many years? Is there a grandfather clause?
How many reflexologists do you need to activate legislation?
Who makes up the wording of the bill?
How did states with laws that regulate reflexology come up with the standards?
What is regulated?
What was the reason for licensure/registration?
How is it reinforced?
How does licensure solve the public concern that clients are harmed by untrained or unlicensed reflexologist?
Why did New Hampshire, Tennessee, and North Dakota pursue regulating Reflexology in their state? Why is New York Reflexology Association perusing licensing Reflexology in their state?
How do state agencies know how to regulate reflexology?
Which state agencies are assigned to regulating reflexology?
What is the cost of license fees?