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Upcoming Events


Massage Therapy Licensing Program
What's New - For the Program

 DSHS Rules changes posted

HB 2644 requires a 500 hour training program for massage therapists.
It is required for persons applying for licensure who have never
enrolled in massage school prior to September 1, 2007.
This curriculum is designed for persons
who will apply for the current massage therapy license
and is not designed to be inclusive of alternative, non-massage modalities.
Here is the actual website with the documents released: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/massage/mt_rules.shtm
There were two documents released by the department, plus the new rules for review. The first document, the proposed preamble, is a list of the proposed changes to the rules, of which these are included:
New §140.338 sets out updated standards for the massage school curriculum and internship. New language sets forth standards for the department to approve and for a school to offer up to twice the minimum 500 hours of instruction required for licensure provided a student is given notice that the program exceeds the minimum number of hours required for licensure and is offered a choice of a minimum 500 hour or a longer program; allows a student to begin internship after completing a minimum of 250 hours of internship, including at least 100 hours of massage therapy; limits the internship to a maximum of 120 hours; and emphasizes that a school may not require or allow a student to complete instruction hours for compensation.
New §140.349 requires a massage school to establish and adhere to a grievance policy. New language is added to forbid a massage school from retaliating against a student who files a complaint with the department.
New §140.342 concerns massage school tuition and fees. New language emphasizes that a massage school may not allow a student to engage in the unlicensed practice of massage in order to pay for school expenses.
The second document is DSHS's response to the stakeholders concerns. We feel that all therapists should read the complete second document, called Information Regarding the Massage Therapy Licensing Program Proposed Rules: Major Issues, Stakeholder Recommendations, DSHS Responses, and Modifications to Proposed Rules for Presentation at the July 2008 State Health Services Council Meeting. TAMT members are out there doing their best for all Texas massage therapists.
The Massage Therapy Licensing Program proposed rules were presented to the State Health Services Council at their July meeting.

What was our 2008 TAMT Convention About?

Debunking the Myths—Cancer and Massage

Keynote speaker — Martha Menard, PhD

The Texas Association of Massage Therapists announces its
7th Annual Convention, Exhibition and Banquet
April 12th & 13th, 2008
Sponsored by the University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center's Integrative Medicine Program.
Limited registration for convention and banquet.

Texas LMTs could earn up to 12 CE credits.

Driving directions between the hotel and the MD Anderson Cancer Center
Starting at :8686 Kirby Dr Houston, TX 77054
  1. Head south on Kirby Dr - 39 ft
  2. Make a U-turn - 1.0 mi
  3. Turn right at Main St - 0.2 mi
  4. Turn right at S Braeswood Blvd - 1.4 mi
  5. Turn left at Holcombe Blvd - 0.1 mi
Arrive at: 1515 Holcombe Blvd Houston, TX 77030
Or print a map! Choose from two sites:

The goal of this convention was to demonstrate and discuss how massage,
as an integrative health care modality, could play a role in the wellness treatment
of a cancer patient and his/her family and friends. The massage profession
had the great privilege and opportunity to partner with
MD Anderson's Integrative Medicine Program's wealth of knowledge,
as most workshops and lectures were facilitated by MD Anderson's faculty.

Start your day with: Tai Chi and/or Yoga
Banquet Saturday Night 7:30-9:30 at the Crowne Plaza Houston Reliant Park
Limited registration and seating. Plan ahead.


A Program Sample
Massage for Cancer Patients and their family
" Chemobrain" - Is It Real? (Pathology and Pharmacology)
Cancer a Pathology
Tibetan Meditation
Music – How music can affect clients and therapists during a massage
Cancer Research and Massage
Massage Law Changes & How it affects Texas Massage Therapists — The 80th Legislative session brought about changes to the profession with an increase to a minimum of 500 hours required for a massage therapist in Texas and tighter restrictions on establishments and bodyworkers once considered outside of the massage domain. How will this impact the existing therapists? We will discuss these changes and provide appropriate information to the therapist so they can maintain their practice within the law.
Martha Menard, PhD Banquet Keynote Speaker – Martha Menard, PhD

Martha Brown Menard, PhD, CMT, has been a massage therapist in private practice since 1982. She completed her PhD in research methodology at the University of Virginia (UVA) in 1995, and designed one of the first randomized controlled trials of massage therapy for surgical patients. Dr. Menard currently serves as director of research for the Potomac Massage Training institute in Washington, DC, where she received a 2007 community-based grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure to start a massage therapy clinic for low-income breast cancer patients. She is the author of Making Sense of Research, a guide to research literacy for complementary practitioners, and co-authors a regular column on massage research for the Massage Therapy Journal. Dr. Menard was recently appointed to the faculty of the UVA School of Medicine, where she hopes to conduct more research on the applications of massage for people with cancer.