Arkansas Introduces SB 168 to Establish a State Exam for Licensure of Massage Therapists

On January 30, Arkansas Senate Bill 168 (SB 168) was introduced, with a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, at 10 a.m. in the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor.

SB 168 proposes the creation of a state-specific examination for massage therapy licensure, to be administered by the Department of Health. However, the bill does not specify that the exam must be psychometrically valid, nor does it allow for a computer-adaptive format. Additionally, an Arkansas-specific exam could make it harder to transfer your license to other states, potentially limiting portability.

AMTA is actively seeking clarification on several aspects of the bill and the proposed exam. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Government Relations Team.