Agenda Item #________
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
Agenda Report #_________
TO: Mayor and Council Members
SUBJECT: Massage Therapy Licensing
INITIATED BY: Finance Department
Recommendation: To adopt an ordinance to amend Chapter 13A of the Columbus
Code of Ordinances regarding licensure of massage therapists. The amendment
would add additional accepted accrediting organizations or its successors,
accreditation by the Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS) and
Accrediting Council For Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
Background: The code governing licensure of massage therapists originally was
enacted in 1962 to stem problems with prostitution that at the time involved
the massage industry in Columbus. The industry has evolved from a shady
endeavor to a health-oriented business in Columbus, as well as nationwide. In
March 2003, Ordinance No.03-18 was adopted to add three (3) additional accepted
accrediting organizations (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and
Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), Accrediting Council for Continuing Education &
Training (ACCET) and Integrative Massage & Somatic Therapies Accreditation
(IMSTAC)).
Analysis: The Finance Department recommends that additional accrediting
agencies be added to allow more applicants for massage therapy to qualify and
to promote properly trained, certified and professional massage practitioners.
The list includes:
? Southern Association Of Colleges And Schools (SACS). This regional
accrediting organization is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and
accredits more than 12,000 public and private educational institutions in 11
states of the Southeastern U.S. and in Latin America.
? Accrediting Council For Independent Colleges and School (ACICS). This
national accrediting organization is recognized by the U.S. Department of
Education and accredits over 600 institutions in the United States and abroad.
Financial Considerations: The proposed Ordinance requires no additional City
funding.
Legal Considerations: State law governing local occupation tax systems
designates certain professions, which may not be regulated by localities and
must be given certain considerations in local occupation tax ordinances.
Physiotherapists are one such profession. Physiotherapy is the science of
treating disability, injury, and disease by external physical means, such as
electricity, heat, light, massage, exercise, etc. However, massage therapists
have not traditionally been considered to be physiotherapists for purposes of
occupation licensure, regulation or taxation, either in Columbus or elsewhere
throughout the state.
Recommendations / Actions: Adopt an ordinance to amend Chapter 13A of the
Columbus Code concerning licensure of massage therapists. The amendment would
add two (2) additional accepted accrediting organizations, Southern Association
of Colleges And Schools (SACS) and Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges
and Schools (ACICS).
Attachments
No attachments for this document.