Typically, medical malpractice insurance is reserved for doctors practicing advanced and intensive surgeries that are prone to mistakes. However, an ever-increasing number of trained medical doctors are purchasing liability insurance to protect themselves from being sued by a patient. Even for an LMT, who does not perform life-or-death surgeries, liability insurance is still a requirement.

Insurance for massage practitioners in Maryland is available through a variety of private companies at a very affordable price. Despite the low risk of being sued as a bodyworker, it is better to be safe than sorry by spending a nominal amount per month on insurance. Even if the insurance proves unnecessary, your patients will be more at ease and comfortable knowing that you are licensed, insured and registered to practice massage in Maryland. Furthermore, the state of Maryland requires that all therapists have liability coverage., so it is not an option for LMTs.

Massage therapy is the manipulation and movement of the tissues and joints of a patient’s body by hand. Consequently, because the therapist’s hands are constantly moving and touching the body, damage to the person’s circulation, joints, tissues and muscles can occur. Fortunately, massage practitioner insurance provides malpractice coverage for therapists working in a variety of massage practices including sports, hot stone, deep tissue, Swedish, medical, therapeutic pregnancy, and many more.

Just like people can select from a variety of automobile and homeowners insurance policies, so too can therapists select from a multitude of insurance companies with various coverage levels. From slip and fall incidents to problems on the table, most touch therapist insurance policies include coverage for each occurrence, per aggregate, for commercial liability and product liability. The exact coverage is dependent on the insuring company and the plan selected.

An individual in Maryland hoping to become a masseuse has two options: Licensed Massage Therapist or Registered Massage Practitioner. Both positions require a total of 500 classroom hours at an approved massage training school; however, a CMT must also have 60 hours of college courses. The additional educational requirement allows a CMT to perform massage treatments in nursing homes, walk-in clinics, doctors’ offices and hospitals. An individual who becomes an RMT is only allowed to practice at a private business, gym/health club, or spa.

Both CMTs and RMTs are required to pass one of three national exams to become licensed in Maryland. Each of three national tests covers a different type of therapeutic massage. The MBELx covers the basic principles of the practice, NCCAOM covers Acupuncture/Oriental medicine & more advanced massage techniques, and the NCETM/TMB test examines all aspects of massage therapy from massage techniques to business ethics.

Once the national test has been passed, LMTs must then pass a Maryland state exam before beginning their career. The 55 multiple-choice question test covers the rules and regulations governing massage professionals in Maryland. The test must be completed in 90 minutes and applicants are required to receive a 75% or higher on their exam to become a certified massage therapist.