DOH stops licensing of massage therapists

MANILA, Philippines - Massage therapists don’t need to secure a government license in order to practice their profession, at least for now.

The Department of Health (DOH) has ordered a moratorium in the implementation of a policy requiring massage therapists to secure a license.

Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva yesterday said the health department agreed to a three-year moratorium on licensing of masseurs and masseuses.  

The moratorium started last month and will end in December 2017.

Villanueva said the DOH would temporarily stop enforcing Administrative Order No. 2010-0034 to allow massage therapists to secure certification from TESDA.

The order, dated Dec. 10, 2010, states that no person is authorized to practice massage as a profession without a valid certificate of registration issued by the committee of examiners for massage therapy and approved by the DOH.

 The order should have been implemented last month but the DOH and TESDA agreed to impose a minimum requirement in the practice of the profession.

During the moratorium, massage therapists should have a National Certificate in Massage Therapy NC II issued by TESDA.

Villanueva said a joint team from DOH and TESDA would harmonize the implementation of training, assessment and certification of massage therapists.

“We want to regulate the practice of massage therapy to ensure that only qualified individuals can get into the profession,” he said.

Villanueva said massage therapy has become one of the most in demand courses at TESDA.