New Jersey Massage Liability Insurance Guidelines

While NJ doesn’t have any insurance requirements for massage therapists, purchasing professional massage liability insurance is an important thing to consider. Massage liability insurance provides relief from the financial burden that a mishap or accident can have on your massage practice. Even though most massage sessions go pretty smoothly, some unforeseen event could leave you struck down by a lawsuit that would negatively impact your business and may even leave you bankrupt.

Massage Therapy: License Requirements in NJ

To obtain a license to practice massage in NJ, you need to complete 500 hours of course curriculum approved by NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development or the NJ Department of Education. The course covers subject areas such as physiology, anatomy, pathology, kinesiology, massage application, massage assessment, and business ethics. Once you have completed the course and passed the national exam, you can apply for certification by NJ Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy. Even after it is earned, certification must be renewed, and requires many years of continuing education.

The Importance of Insurance Coverage for Massage

So, you’ve completed your training and obtained the necessary certification and are ready to start a career as a massage therapist. But what do you need to start your own business? While it may be the last thing on your mind when setting up a massage business, getting insurance might turn out to be the best investment you ever made.

There are many unfortunate circumstances that could put your career on the line. For example, a client could slip and fall in your office or receive an injury while getting off your massage table. Such an occurrence may appear small, but it could become costly. However, with a good massage therapist policy, you don’t have to worry about any financial loss and damage to your reputation that might befall you, as the insurance coverage will take care of any unforeseen events.

There are a number of provisions within various massage insurance plans that are extremely helpful in certain unfortunate circumstances. These include public liability coverage (accidental injury or property damage to clients, reimbursement for stolen goods), or malpractice liability protection (bodily injury to a client, aggravates a pre-existing condition, injury caused by products). Such a claim can cause financial devastation and ruin your reputation. The good news is that you can protect yourself in your practice against any potential liability with the right insurance.

New Jersey State Massage Therapy Resources

The following are New Jersey state resources, including some employment statistics, to help you determine if being a massage therapist is right for you:
New Jersey massage employment statistics as of May, 2017:
Licensed Therapists: 3,310
Mean Hourly Wage: $21.54
Annual Mean Wage: $44,810
Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nj.htm

Education Requirements
Required Education Hours: 500 hours
Written or Practical Exam: Written Exam
Exam Administered: MBLEx
CEUs Required: 20 hours every 2 years
Source: https://www.massagetherapylicense.org/state/new-jersey-massage-license.html

Other Requirements: Liability Insurance
For one low flat fee, massage therapists can receive the quality, comprehensive coverage they deserve, avoiding the costly impact that a lawsuit can bring. Even the most careful massage therapists can make a mistake, or encounter one of those hard-to-please clients that finds fault in a treatment, even if nothing really went wrong.
Required To Have Insurance: NO
Application Process: Online Application for immediate approval.

For additional information about massage therapy in New Jersey, follow these links:
State massage information: New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
State employment stats: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nj.htm

Compare New Jersey massage therapist employment statistics to other states:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319011.htm