PRACTICE OF MASSAGE THERAPY IN COSMETOLOGY OR ESTHETICIAN SALONS

1. (a) A massage therapist licensed under the Massage Therapy Law (63 P.S. § § 627.1—627.50) is permitted to practice massage therapy within the approved premises of a licensed cosmetology salon or a licensed esthetician salon if all of the following conditions are met:

   1. (1) The massage therapy licensee is the owner of or employed by the salon and is not an independent contractor.

   2. (2) The massage therapist practices in accordance with this section, Chapter 20 (relating to State Board of Massage Therapy), the act and the Massage Therapy Law. The following apply:

      1. (i) The salon owner may only employ a massage therapist who is currently licensed by the State Board of Massage Therapy. The salon owner is responsible to ensure each massage therapist employed by the salon complies with this section, Chapter 20, the act and the Massage Therapy Law.
      2. (ii) A massage therapist who is the owner of the salon shall comply with all of the regulations applicable to salon owners set forth in § § 7.50—7.66 (relating to licensure and management of salons).

   3. (3) The salon owner provides an appropriate level of privacy for clients in accordance with all of the following:

      1. (i) Massage therapy services within the scope of practice of the Cosmetology Law. When a massage therapist is practicing in a separate massage therapy room of the salon or in the areas of the salon used for cosmetology or esthetics, the massage therapist is practicing in the licensed square footage of the salon. Physical barriers separating the areas used for massage therapy services from the areas used for cosmetology or esthetics are not required when a massage therapist provides massage therapy services that are within the scope of practice of cosmetology as defined in § 7.1 (relating to definitions) as follows:

         1. (A) Massage therapy services of the scalp, face, arms or hands, or the upper part of the body.
         2. (B) Massage therapy services of the feet or the lower legs of an individual up to the individual’s knee.

      2. (ii) Massage therapy services beyond the scope of practice of the Cosmetology Law. When a massage therapist is practicing in a separate massage therapy room of the salon, the massage therapist is practicing in the licensed square footage of the salon. A salon owner shall provide separate massage therapy rooms with permanent walls and doors to ensure privacy for clients receiving massage therapy services from a massage therapist when the massage therapy services are beyond the scope of practice of cosmetology or esthetics as provided in § 7.1. The following apply:

         1. (A) The size of the separate massage therapy room must be a minimum of 90 square feet.
         2. (B) The massage therapist may store linens or other supplies in the separate room provided or in the salon in a space designated by the salon owner.
         3. (C) Esthetician services may be provided to a client in the same room where the client receives massage therapy, provided these services are not performed concurrently.
2. (b) A massage therapist providing massage therapy services within the approved premises of a salon is subject to inspection by the State Board of Massage Therapy and the Board.
3. (c) A massage therapist providing massage therapy services within the approved premises of a salon who violates this section, Chapter 20, the act or the Massage Therapy Law is subject to discipline by the State Board of Massage Therapy.

Authority

The provisions of this § 7.150 adeded under section 9.3 of the Cosmetology Law (63 P.S. § 515.3).

Source

The provisions of this § 7.150 added January 17, 2025, effective January 18, 2025, 55 Pa.B. 451.