Hawaii Massage Liability Insurance Guidelines

Massage liability insurance in Hawaii is a type of liability that covers a licensed practitioner from liability claims. Similar to malpractice insurance that doctors and nurses carry, it is important to have this insurance to protect you and your business from the potential of a significant financial burden due to a lawsuit. There are three main coverage areas:

• General Liability. This protects you from “slip and fall” type cases that can occur at your business location.

• Professional Liability. This is the malpractice portion of the insurance coverage and this covers claims due to negligence or error on your part as the professional.

• Products Liability. This protects you if a client claims injury or loss due to a product used during a therapeutic massage treatment.

While Hawaii currently does not require that you have this insurance, it is a wise idea to have it. Having this protection could mean the difference between staying in business or coming to financial ruin, and losing everything.

Educational Requirements

The state of Hawaii has certain educational and practical requirements to become an MT. These include:

• 50 hours of in-class course in Anatomy and Physiology and Structural Kinesiology

• 100 Hours of in-class work on theory and demonstration of massage. These include: proper procedure in massaging, hygiene, theory, record keeping, techniques for specific conditions, assessment of a client’s condition and the general techniques to be applied, draping, contraindications of massage for specific techniques according to the client’s conditions

• 420 Hours of practical massage therapy training. This can be done either:

1) As a student in a licensed massage school that consists of at least 420 hours of practical massage training under the supervision of a teacher in the school setting, OR

2) Practical massage training as an LMT’s apprentice under the Board’s massage therapist program consisting on course study for at least six months that consist of the following:

a. Clinical Operations (70 hours: 30 hours of office procedures, 20 hours of sanitation and 10 hours of record keeping)

b. Advanced techniques (40 hours; 20 hours of consulting, 20 hours of observation of classroom instructors) AND

c. Supervised hands on massage with record keep (310 hours) You must have a current CPR card for both infant and adults.

For training outside of Hawaii, you must provide proof of the successful completion of practical therapeutic massage training at an approved school. The school must have been approved or licensed by an education agency or similar governmental authority, an accredited degree granting institution or approved by the American Massage Therapists Association (AMTA) or the Rolf institute. Apprenticeships outside of Hawaii are not accepted.

Licensing and Examinations

You will need to successfully complete the Hawaii state licensing examination. Out-of-state licenses will not be transferred to Hawaii, and you will need to apply for and meet the Hawaii professional massage practitioner licensure requirements. With all the time and effort invested into gaining your license, you want to protect it and your business. Getting LMT insurance in Hawaii is one way to protect not only your practice, but also your financial well-being.

The following are Hawaii state resources, including some employment statistics, to help you determine if being a massage therapist is right for you:

Hawaii Massage Therapy Resources:

State of Hawaii massage employment statistics as of May, 2017:
Licensed Therapists: 1,380
Annual Mean Wage: $53,860
Source: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_hi.htm

Education Requirements
Required Education Hours: 570 hours
Written or Practical Exam: Written/Practical
Exam Administered: The Hawaii Massage Therapy Exam 
CEUs Required: No CEUs but CPR Certification required
Source: https://www.massagetherapylicense.org/state/hawaii-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.
Application Process: Online Application for immediate approval.

For additional information about massage therapy in Hawaii, follow these links:
State massage association: Hawaii Professional and Vocational Licensing
State employment stats: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_hi.htm

Compare Hawaii’s massage therapist employment statistics to other states:
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319011.htm