IAAMB is tracking the laws and legislative activities of each state and helping to make them friendlier to animal massage and bodyworkers.

Also, State Legislative Scopes of Practice in summary/chart format. https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-cavm-exemptions.aspx.

ALABAMA : NOT ALLOWED

Specific wording in the state board vet practice act all animal massage, bodywork, chiropractic work, etc. MUST be done by a licensed veterinarian. http://asbvme.alabama.gov/pdfs/licensee/practice_act_and_administrative_code.pdf

ALASKA : ALLOWED WITH DIRECT VET SUPERVISION

No specific wording in state board vet practice act

ARIZONA : ALLOWED

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

ARKANSAS : NOT ALLOWED; VET ONLY

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 : ALLOWED WITH CERTIFICATION FROM APPROVED SCHOOL

Specific wording in state board vet practice act to be effective January 2010

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

Although animal massage is not prohibited, no person is allowed to use the title “certified animal therapist” or “registered animal therapist” unless they comply with § 63-12-203

§ 63-12-203. Training, supervision, and examination

In order to use the term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist”, a person must:

(1) Complete at least fifty (50) hours of training in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and pathologies in order to gain aptitude in preventing the delay of care to animals;

(2) Complete at least fifty (50) hours of supervised in-class hands-on work, which would include assessment and execution of bodywork skills being studied, benefits of massage, benefits of acupressure, and practice guidelines; and

(3) Take and pass an examination by the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage or a comparable examination that tests the aptitude in the course of training described in subdivisions (1) and (2).

https://www.animallaw.info/statute/tn-veterinary-chapter-12-veterinarians#s201

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.

Disclaimer!

United States Animal Massage: Laws by State

Before registering for a US class or if you are a US resident intending to take a class and use the skills for a business, we request that you read the individual state law pertaining to the state which you intend to work. You may reside in a state and choose to work in a neighboring state which allows you to practice within the parameters of that state law.

While every effort has been made to make sure these are correct, these versions may not be the current law. Court decisions amend them, and a host of other factors come into play when interpreting them. If you read most any practice act, unless it specifically allows massage, most can be interpreted in either direction depending on who is arguing the case.

Again please understand that state laws constantly change and are often left up to interpretation of the current board. International Association of Animal Massage and Bodywork, its owners and employees will not be held accountable for any information listed in this summary. These summaries are merely here as a collection of information and summaries that we have run across in our searches. If you need a thorough review and analysis of your state’s practice act wording and exemptions, we advise you to evaluate the full text of the statute and regulations which can be found on most state government sites, and consult a knowledgeable attorney.