Licensed Massage Therapists can be verified on the Florida Medical Quality Assurance Search Services
Your massage therapist in Florida will also have their massage licensing hanging on the wall of their office with a passport sized photo attached to it. The license number will also be included on any and all advertisements. (480.043 Massage establishments; requisites; licensure; inspection; human trafficking awareness training and policies.) Your massage therapist will educate you on the benefits and risks of massage sessions and provide information so that you can make an informed decision on your care. They will also inform you of their edcuation, experience and credentials.
Massage Establishment Licenses are required. They are also required to carry Liability insurance.
In Florida, Massage therapy means ” means the manipulation of the soft tissues of the human body with the hand, foot, knee, arm, or elbow, regardless of whether such manipulation is aided by hydrotherapy, including colonic irrigation, or thermal therapy; any electrical or mechanical device; or the application to the human body of a chemical or herbal preparation.” CHAPTER 480 MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE
Massage therapists will assess your health and will use your health information to determine the best session for you. As a client, you will be draped to cover private parts unless you give written specific informed consent to work on a private area that may be required.
Though Florida’s Board of Massage therapy only deals with cases involving licensed massage therapists, FLDOH has a unit devoted to unlicensed activity. The Unlicensed Activity Unit has a dedicated hotline for consumers to report this type of violation and works with law enforcement to prosecute individuals practicing without a license. FLDOH’s Investigative Services Unit consists of a team of 18 investigators across 11 field offices that conduct their own investigations into allegations of unlicensed activity and prostitution who often work closely with law enforcement.29 Issues involving human trafficking, however, are left to law enforcement and homeland security.
Learn how to report suspicious activity.
There is no way to tell beyond a doubt whether or not a business is a legitimate massage business or a brothel but there are some tell-tale signs to look out for. We have to start reporting these to the autorities so they know there is a problem even though most are not equiped or able to deal with simple reports of suspision.
Learn the signs and how to report suspicious activity in your community.
https://floridasmassagetherapy.gov/
Mailing Address:
Department of Health
Board of Massage Therapy
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3257
