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Should We Keep the Title ‘Massage Therapist’? Rethinking Professional Designations for Clinical Massage Therapy in California

As we push forward with our Change.org petition, one critical question has emerged:
Should we continue using the title "massage therapist" for this work, or is it time for a shift?

The Problem with the Current Terminology

The term “massage therapist” is broad and vague. It includes everyone from relaxation-based spa practitioners to those providing manual therapy for chronic pain, injury recovery, and rehabilitation. This ambiguity has led to:

❌ A lack of recognition in medical settings
❌ Insurance and workers’ compensation barriers
❌ Persistent sexual harassment of practitioners and inappropriate requests

Would a title shift help the public, healthcare professionals, and insurers better understand our work?

International Models: A More Precise Approach

Many countries have tiered designations to distinguish between relaxation massage and medically integrated manual therapy:

🇦🇺 Australia & New Zealand

Relaxation Massage Therapist – Entry-level, non-medical massage.
Remedial Massage Therapist (or Myotherapist) – Clinical manual therapy, rehabilitation, and injury management.
Physiotherapist – Similar to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) in the U.S.

🇨🇦 Canada

Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) – Requires 2200+ hours of training, with a clinical and rehabilitative focus.
Physiotherapist – Separate profession with prescriptive authority.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Massage Therapist – General, non-medical term.
Soft Tissue Therapist – Clinical role, often working alongside physiotherapists.
Physiotherapist – Advanced rehabilitation professional.

In these countries, clinical manual therapy is clearly distinguished from relaxation massage—giving practitioners the recognition they deserve.

Why California Needs a Clinical Physiotherapy-Level License

In the U.S., physical therapists (PTs) have successfully restricted hands-on care to their profession, despite clinical massage therapists often having more specialized soft tissue training in specific areas. California now has an opportunity to create a mid-level designation—similar to remedial massage therapy or clinical physiotherapy—to bridge the gap between relaxation massage and physical therapy.

This new license would:

✅ Enable direct insurance and workers’ compensation billing
✅ Open doors for hospital-based and collaborative care roles
✅ Clarify medical legitimacy, reducing inappropriate requests and sexual harassment

Time to Rethink Our Title?

Would the public and medical field better understand our work if we shifted to Clinical Manual Therapist, Myotherapist, or Physiotherapist?

Would this reduce sexual harassment and inappropriate requests, since the term "massage" often carries cultural baggage and confusion?

We must redefine our profession if we want real progress. Your voice matters—tell us what you think!

 
📢 CALL TO ACTION: Stand Up for Clinical Massage Therapy! 📢

✅ Sign & Share the Petition Today
✅ Comment below—should we change our professional title?
✅ Help us spread the word—tag colleagues and allies!

Together, we can build a future where clinical massage therapy is recognized, protected, and respected. Let’s make this happen! 🚀