For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCREDITED INSTITUTION
. An educational institution holding accredited status from a regional accrediting agency approved by the United States Department of Education presently or at the time the applicant obtained his/her diploma or certificate of graduation.
ACCREDITED PROGRAM
. A professional massage program presently or at the time the applicant obtained his/her diploma or certificate of graduation accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), or a comparable national or regional organization which is approved by the United States Department of Education for its accrediting program for compliance with quality and competency standards through a process of periodic review and self-study.
ENDORSED CURRICULUM. A professional massage program presently or at the time the applicant obtained his/her diploma or certificate of graduation delivering a curriculum approved by the Commission of Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) as “Endorsed.”
MASSAGE THERAPY OR THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE. A scientific health care or health maintenance techniques or procedures carried out by a massage therapist involving the rubbing, tapping, pounding or kneading of a person's skin, muscles, and tissues or the stretching of body limbs (e.g., Thai massage) for the purpose of easing mental and physical tension, the breaking up of fatty tissues, relaxing muscles, or alleviating muscle spasms, and the improvement of circulation through the body.
MASSAGE THERAPY BUSINESS.
(1) Any enterprise, establishment, or operation, whether under control of an individual or legal entity, providing or offering to provide massage therapy services within the city for a fee or other consideration paid either directly or indirectly, that:
(a) Has one or more massage therapists, other than the owner, employed or contracted to provide massage therapy services for the massage therapy business; or
(b) Is located in a fixed location in a non-residential district within the city wherein massage therapy services are provided.
(2) Any health or medical facility, office, or clinic operated by state licensed medical professional(s) or any health or medical-related business operated by state licensed medical professional(s) which provides therapeutic massage to its patients shall not be deemed as a massage therapy business.
MASSAGE THERAPIST. A person who practices or provides therapeutic massage to another for a fee or other consideration paid either directly or indirectly. A person licensed as a medical doctor, chiropractor, osteopath, podiatrist, licensed nurse, physical therapist, athletic director or trainer, or beautician (cosmetologist) or barber who confines his/her treatment to the scalp, face, and neck or the lower leg and feet in the case of a pedicure shall not be deemed as a massage therapist.
STUDENT OF MASSAGE THERAPY. A person who is enrolled in and attends classes at a school, college, university, or other institution that is approved by the American Massage Therapists Association or other similar reputable massage association, accredited by a recognized educational accrediting association or agency, or is licensed by the state or local government agency having jurisdiction over the school or an endorsed curriculum.
(Ord. 912, passed 3-24-11; Am. Ord. 1119, passed 4-13-23)