The Alaska Board of Massage Therapy oversees the licensing of massage therapists in AK where massage is a professional therapeutic health service.
Massage therapists in AK go to massage school and pass a course of study of at least 625 hours of in-class supervised instruction and clinical work from an approved massage school. After graduating from massage school, they take an exam and pass an exam from a nationally recognized competency examination. They then can apply for a license with the Alaska Board of massage which includes a process of being fingerprinted for criminal history record check. You can check to see if the therapist you have chosen is licensed on the Alaska Board of Massage Website. Sec. 08.61.030. Qualifications for massage license in Alaska
When looking for a Massage therapist in Alaska know that the laws in Alaska say that Massage therapists may call themselves : massage, massage practitioner, massage therapist, massage therapy, therapeutic massage, massage technician, massage technology, massagist, masseur, masseuse, myotherapist, myotherapy, or another term describing a traditional European or contemporary western massage method, or a derivation of a term that implies a massage technique or method.
Exempt from Massage licensing
Some types of practitioners are exempt from having to go to massage school and can practice without a massage license. People practicing something called Structural Integration who are recognized by the International Association of Structural Integrators are allowed to practice without a massage license. Structural Integration is a process of 10-11 sessions with specific goals that requires specific training. The IASI approves 16 different training programs and requires that a certification test be taken through the Certification Board for Structural Integration (CBSI). The minimum training requirements are 500 hours of instruction in Structural Integration Theory, 230 hours in general bodywork, ethics, business practices and 100 hours of anatomy, physiology and kinesiolgy.
People who perform traditional Native American Healing, and people who are only massaging the hands, feet and ears (Reflexology) and who do not call themselves a massage therapist are exempt from massage licensing.
What to expect from your massage in Alaska.
Massage therapists in AK follow a strict Code of Ethics and follow Standards of Practice, and Establishment Standards of Operation must be on the premises and made available to the public on request. They must display within full public view, current massage licenses of all employed
massage therapists. The sessions you have with a massage therapist will be kept on record for 5 years with appropriate care of private information. Prices must be displayed and discussed before each session so there are no surpises.
Alaska does not allow MT to take CE classes in Breast Massage or animal massage which I am assuming it means these things are not allowed in AK.
Unlicensed Practice
Sec. 08.61.070. Practice of massage therapy without license prohibited. (a) A person may not practice massage therapy or represent that the person is a massage therapist unless the person holds a valid license under this chapter. In this subsection, a person represents that the person is a massage therapist when the person adopts or uses a title or description of services that incorporates one or more of the following terms or designations: massage, massage practitioner, massage therapist, massage therapy, therapeutic massage, massage technician, massage technology, massagist, masseur, masseuse, myotherapist, myotherapy, or another term describing a traditional European or contemporary western massage method, or a derivation of a term that implies a massage technique or method.
(b) A person who knowingly violates (a) of this section is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
How do you know if it is a sex worker/prostitute or a real massage therapist or if there is it human trafficking involved?
It is impossible to know for sure but there are many tell tale signs that make a business look suspicious. Reporting suspicious looking places is necessary to start untangling massage from sex work. The law enforcement agencies in your area are responsible for investigating these places. The Board of massage is only responsible for investigating licensed massage therapists who are doing wrong.
Massage Therapists in AK
Code of Ethics (PDF) Outlines draping requirements and sexual misconduct.
American Massage Therapy Association AK Chapter : https://ak.wp.amtamassage.org/
AMTA AK Facebook page -https://www.facebook.com/alaskaamta/
AK Board of Massage Therapists
Phone: (907) 465-2550
Email: BoardofMassageTherapists@Alaska.Gov
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
