21 NCAC 30 .0203. EXEMPTIONS FROM LICENSURE

(a)  Persons who are utilizing certain therapeutic techniques may claim exemption from licensure pursuant to G.S. 90-624 (6) or (7) only by meeting one of the following criteria:

(1)           Such persons are practicing techniques that are defined by national organizations that meet the criteria for exemption set forth in either G.S. 90-624 (6) or (7); or

(2)           Such persons are practicing techniques that do not involve any contact with the body of the client; or

(3)           Such persons are practicing techniques that involve resting the hands on the surface of the client's body without delivering pressure to or manipulation of the soft tissues.

(b)  Persons who are utilizing exempt techniques along with techniques that are not exempt and constitute the practice of massage or bodywork therapy, as defined in G.S. 90-622(3), are not considered to be exempt and will be required to be licensed.

(c)  Pursuant to G.S. 90-623, such exempted practitioners may not hold themselves out to be a massage and bodywork therapist; they may not utilize or promote themselves or their services using such terms as "massage, massage therapy, bodywork, bodywork therapy," or any other derivative term that implies a soft tissue technique or method.

(d)  Services such as herbal body wraps, skin exfoliating treatments or the topical application of products to the skin for beautification purposes are not considered to be the practice of massage and bodywork therapy, as long as such services do not involve direct manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. Those who are utilizing such techniques along with techniques that are not exempt and constitute the practice of massage or bodywork therapy are not considered exempt and will be required to be licensed.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-624; 90-626;

Temporary Adoption Eff. February 15, 2000;

Eff. April 1, 2001;

Amended Eff. September 2, 2005.