An individual shall be licensed by the Board in order to practice massage therapy, and shall be registered by the Board in order to practice massage therapy in a setting that is not a health care setting, except for the following:

1. A. A student enrolled in an approved education program as determined by the Board while performing massage therapy in the program;

2. B. An individual who:

   1. (1) Practices massage therapy in a recognized jurisdiction with an active license or registration in good standing;
   2. (2) Is seeking to practice in Maryland exclusively with a visiting organization for not more than 7 consecutive days and not to exceed 30 days per calendar year; and
   3. (3) Submits a timely request for approval to participate in an event by application at least 10 days prior to the event in accordance with Board procedures;
3. C. A family member performing massage therapy on another family member;
4. D. An athletic trainer while functioning in the scope of the athletic trainer's professional capacity;
5. E. An individual employed by the federal government to practice massage therapy while practicing within the scope of the individual's employment; or

6. F. A licensed cosmetologist or esthetician who:

   1. (1) Operates a beauty salon;
   2. (2) Has obtained a permit from the State Board of Cosmetology as required under Business Occupations and Professions Article, §5-501, Annotated Code of Maryland; and

   3. (3) Limits their practice to:

      1. (a) Being within the scope of a license issued by the State Board of Cosmetology; and
      2. (b) The application and removal of skin products, not including massage therapy.

Authority: General Provisions Article, §4-333(c); Health Occupations Article, §§6-101, 6-102, 6-201—6-206, 6-301—6-306, and 6-504;
Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulations .01 and .02 adopted effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446)

Regulations .01, .05, and .07 recodified from COMAR 10.43.17 to be Regulations .03, .07, and .09 effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446)

Regulations .02—.04, .06, and .08—.10, amended and recodified from COMAR 10.43.17 to be Regulations .04—.06, .08, and .10—.12 effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446)

Regulation .04B amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .05B amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .06 amended effective December 31, 2018 (45:26 Md. R. 1247); December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .06F amended effective August 18, 2025 (52:16 Md. R. 847)

Regulation .07 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .07A amended effective December 31, 2018 (45:26 Md. R. 1247)

Regulation .08 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .09 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .10 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulations .11 and .12 recodified from COMAR 10.43.17 to be Regulations .13 and .14 effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446)

Regulation .11 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .12 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .13 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .14 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .15 adopted effective April 9, 2018 (45:7 Md. R. 345)

Regulation .15 amended effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)

Regulation .16 adopted effective December 31, 2018 (45:26 Md. R. 1247)

Regulation .16 repealed effective December 25, 2023 (50:25 Md. R. 1088)