Massage Therapy and Asian Bodywork Therapy Registration
Rules related to standards of practice and professional code of ethics.
Revisor's ID: #5020
In 2026, the Minnesota Legislature passed a new optional registry for massage therapy and Asian bodywork therapy, which will start on January 1, 2028. The Legislature also directed the Department of Health to make rules to support the registry.
Goals
Working with stakeholders, including practitioners, clients, municipalities, and others, MDH will create rules to establish:
- A standard of practice
- A professional code of ethics
- Any additional rules necessary to implement and enforce the registry.
Request for Comments
The official Request for Comments was published in the State Register on August 17, 2026, and can also be found here:
Public Comments
If you would like to submit a comment, idea, or concern about a code of ethics and standard of conduct for massage and Asian bodywork therapists, you can submit them on the CAH eComment portal. You will have until October 16, 2026, at 4:00 PM to leave a comment. You will also have another formal opportunity to leave a comment when MDH publishes its Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules in the late fall of 2027.
You can also email celeste.marin@state.mn.us to leave a comment or ask a question about the rulemaking process at any time during the rulemaking process.
Advisory Committee
MDH will create a rulemaking advisory committee of stakeholders to discuss the proposed rules and give feedback. MDH will select approximately 15 members for this committee, and is looking for:
- Massage and/or Asian bodywork therapist practitioners
- Massage and/or Asian bodywork instructors
- Massage and/or Asian bodywork clients
- Municipalities that currently license massage therapists in their jurisdiction.
If you are interested in participating in this advisory committee, please fill out this form:
Please note: This rulemaking advisory committee is separate from the Advisory Council that is in statute. You can apply for that council through the Secretary of State’s website as soon as the application is live to the public.
Rulemaking Updates
If you would like to receive updates about the progress of this rulemaking project, you can sign up for GovDelivery emails.
Proposed Timeline
- August 17, 2026: Request for comments published in the State Register.
- October 16, 2026: Initial comment period and applications for the advisory committee are closed.
- Fall 2026 to Spring 2027: Advisory committee will meet and MDH will draft proposed rules and the Statement of Need and Reasonableness.
- December 2027: The Notice of Intent to Adopt Rules will be published in the State Register.
- Spring 2028: Possible hearing or submission of rules to the Court of Administrative Hearings.
