The mission and purpose of the Board is to regulate the practice of massage and bodywork therapy in the State of North Carolina in order to ensure minimum standards of competency and to protect the public health, safety and welfare.

The Board regulates the practice of massage and bodywork therapy by:

• Determining the qualifications of persons seeking to practice massage and bodywork therapy and authorizing persons who have met the statutory requirements to so practice; and

• Enforcing the provisions of laws governing the practice of massage and bodywork therapy and those duly enacted rules designed to ensure its safe and ethical practice.

Board Structure

Composition of the Board:
    The Board is comprised of seven members: five members are massage and bodywork therapists; one is a medical doctor, one is a member of the general public. Members serve a three-year term, and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. Board members volunteer their time and expertise; they do not receive a salary for their service.

Board Appointments:
    The Governor appoints one therapist member, the physician, and the public member. The Speaker of the House of Representatives appoints two therapist members.The President Pro Tempore of the Senate appoints two therapist members. In making these appointments, consideration is given to geographic distribution, practice setting, clinical specialty, and other factors that will promote diversity of the profession on the Board.

Responsibilities:
     Each member of the Board is bound to uphold the Board Member Code of Conduct. This is a comprehensive set of behavioral expectations which are intended to assure the Public that the Board and its individual members uphold the highest level of integrity and ethical standards. The Board is given specific powers and duties as listed in Section 90-626 of the Practice Act.

Financial Resources:
    As set forth in Sections 90-627 and 90-628 of the Practice Act, this is a "self-funded" regulatory program. All costs involved with operating the Board Office, paying professional staff, and carrying out the licensure program must come from fees collected for this purpose. No State, County or Municipal money may be provided to support this program.