Moved to Arkansas

by Sara
(Arkansas, USA)

I received a degree in Massage Therapy in Tennessee. I applied for a license and began practicing in Nashville. After a year of employment at a dayspa, I decided to move (back home) to Arkansas. I contacted the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy and was told they did NOT practice reciprocity with any other state and they did NOT recognize the National Exam as a measure of skill in massage. I was rather disgusted by this, but I kept digging. I learned that not only would I have to apply for another license, I would have to take an Arkansas Board approved Test (which was apparently a joke compared to the comprehensive National Exam) as well as another exam covering each therapist's knowledge of the structure of the Board itself and duties of each Board member! (I struggled to grasp the importance of why I would ever need that particular knowledge in my future as a licensed therapist, but I digress...)

I calculated the cost of jumping through each individual "hoop" that Arkansas was requiring me to jump through, and, sadly I decided NOT to renew my license in the State of Arkansas.
I continued to read Massage Magazine on occasion, and I came across an article that spoke about license reciprocity between different states. It made a brilliant argument for therapists across the U.S. and made a call to action among those interested in changing the current status quo. I had really hoped I would have been able to continue my career as a massage therapist after I moved back home, but I was sorely mistaken (ok, pissed!) when the Arkansas State Board more or less laughed at my attempt to become licensed in my home state!

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