SB221: SB221 Massage Therapy Practice; the number of education hours applicable to licensed massage therapists; increase

Under current Georgia law, people seeking a massage therapy license must complete a board-recognized educational program with at least 500 hours of course and clinical work before the state's massage therapy licensing board will approve their application. This bill would amend that requirement, found in Georgia's massage therapy practice law (O.C.G.A. § 43-24A-8), to raise the minimum from 500 hours to 625 hours. The bill does not change any other licensing requirements for massage therapists, such as exams or background checks, and it does not specify a delayed effective date, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules for newly signed legislation. It also repeals any other Georgia laws that conflict with this change.

• Raises the minimum required hours of massage therapy education from 500 to 625 hours of course and clinical work for licensure applicants.
• Amends O.C.G.A. § 43-24A-8, the section of Georgia law governing licensure requirements for massage therapists.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws or provisions that conflict with the new 625-hour requirement.

People applying to become licensed massage therapists in Georgia, massage therapy schools and training programs that must adjust their curricula to meet the new hour requirement, and the state board that reviews and approves massage therapist license applications.

Future applicants for a Georgia massage therapy license would need to complete 125 more hours of training than currently required, which could mean longer or more expensive schooling before someone can legally practice massage therapy for pay in the state.

• Section 1 revises paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of O.C.G.A. § 43-24A-8 to change the minimum required educational hours from 500 to 625 for massage therapist licensure applicants.
• Section 2 repeals all Georgia laws or parts of laws that conflict with this change.

1. 2026-01-12Senate Recommitted (Senate)
2. 2025-03-04Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
3. 2025-03-03Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
4. 2025-02-21Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
5. 2025-02-20Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)Primary sponsor
• Carden Summers (R, SD-013)
• Kay Kirkpatrick (R, SD-032)
• Chuck Hufstetler (R, SD-052)

• massage therapy licensing
• occupational licensing
• professional education requirements