Content by: Holleigh Alexander-Ramsey | Founder & President, Rocky Mountain Spa & Wellness Association
In a time when healthcare and wellness industries are prioritizing access, flexibility, and accountability, the field of massage therapy has a timely opportunity to evolve in a big way. Enter the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact)—a legislative initiative designed to allow licensed massage therapists to practice across participating states without the need to obtain additional licenses.
This forward-thinking compact isn’t just a logistical solution—it’s a long-overdue step toward professional growth, workforce sustainability, and broader recognition of massage therapy as a respected and essential part of integrative wellness care.
Breaking Down the Compact
The IMpact creates a shared licensing agreement between states, similar to compacts already in place for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Therapists who meet the standardized eligibility criteria can obtain a “multistate license” to practice in any member state, rather than applying for a separate license in each location.
For massage therapists, this means less red tape, more mobility, and greater career flexibility.
Professional Mobility with Purpose
Therapists are people too—they move, they travel, they follow opportunity. Under the current state-by-state system, even highly qualified therapists are often slowed down by lengthy application processes, duplicate education verifications, and fees that add up quickly.
The Compact is a powerful solution for:
Therapists working near state borders
Professionals who travel for events, retreats, or temporary assignments
Military spouses and therapists who relocate frequently
Employers operating spas or wellness centers across multiple states
By making it easier for therapists to go where they’re needed, the Compact helps address staffing shortages while empowering professionals to take control of their careers.
Strengthening the Workforce
As the wellness industry continues to grow, so does the demand for licensed, skilled massage therapists. At the same time, many employers are grappling with how to recruit and retain talent—especially across state lines. The Compact addresses this head-on by creating a more flexible and accessible pool of practitioners.
For employers, this means:
Streamlined hiring and onboarding processes
Faster access to qualified therapists
Greater operational agility during seasonal shifts or special events
In short, the Compact doesn’t just support individual therapists—it strengthens the entire infrastructure of the massage therapy workforce.
Ensuring High Standards and Public Safety
One of the most compelling aspects of the Compact is its commitment to raising, not lowering, standards. Member states must agree to consistent eligibility criteria, including minimum education requirements and mandatory FBI background checks. Additionally, any disciplinary actions taken in one state are shared across all participating states—closing gaps that may have allowed unethical behavior to go unnoticed in the past.
This level of transparency and accountability enhances public trust, ensures client safety, and protects the credibility of the profession at large.
A Step Toward Greater Recognition
Massage therapy has long been an underutilized and underrecognized branch of the wellness and healthcare landscape. But that’s changing. As the industry continues to demonstrate its value in areas such as pain management, stress reduction, and holistic wellness, legitimacy and consistency become key.
By aligning massage therapy with other health professions through the Compact model, we’re sending a clear message:
This is a regulated, respected, and essential profession worthy of integration, investment, and advancement.
With stronger multi-state standards, massage therapists can more easily contribute to integrative care models, access new reimbursement pathways, and gain inclusion in broader health policy discussions.
The Time to Act Is Now
The Interstate Massage Compact represents a major step forward—and it’s gaining momentum. For this initiative to succeed, it requires support from therapists, educators, employers, and advocates across the country. Encouraging your state to join the Compact not only benefits your own professional practice, but it contributes to the growth, sustainability, and recognition of massage therapy nationwide.
Now is the time to move beyond fragmented regulations and toward a future of unity, access, and excellence.
For more information about the Interstate Massage Compact, including current member states and how to get involved, visit massagecompact.org.
