A major licensing change buried in HF3825 will reshape how massage therapy practices operate in Minnesota—and most owners haven't heard about it yet.
Most Minnesota massage therapy practice owners don't realize that a significant new regulatory requirement is already law—and they have less than two years to prepare for it.
Effective January 1, 2028, anyone using the title "registered massage therapist" or "registered Asian bodywork therapist" in Minnesota must register with the state commissioner of health. This isn't optional for those titles. It's a protected-title requirement embedded in HF3825, signed into law on May 27, 2026.
To use either protected title, practitioners must:
Pay registration fees: Up to $640.50 for initial registration, then $640.50 every two years for renewal. These fees fund the registration system itself.
Carry professional liability insurance: At least $2,000,000 per occurrence and $6,000,000 aggregate. This is a material business expense many solo practitioners may not currently carry.
Pass a credentialing exam: The state will require exam passage as part of the registration process.
Complete a qualifying postsecondary program: Practitioners must have completed an approved educational program in massage therapy or Asian bodywork.
Registration opened immediately upon the governor's approval (May 27, 2026). Practitioners can begin registering now, but the protected titles don't take effect until January 1, 2028. This means:
Anyone currently calling themselves a "registered massage therapist" or "registered Asian bodywork therapist" without registration will be in violation after that date. Those using other titles (like "massage therapist" without "registered") are not affected by this requirement.
The law gives practitioners roughly 20 months from enactment to complete education verification, secure liability insurance, pass the credentialing exam, and submit registration.
This applies to independent practitioners, clinic owners, and any business that employs or markets massage or Asian bodywork services under the protected titles. Practices that don't use those specific titles can continue operating as before, but they cannot represent themselves as "registered" without complying.
If your practice uses or plans to use either protected title, begin by verifying that your education meets state requirements and review your current liability insurance. The $640.50 biennial fee is predictable, but the insurance requirement may require policy changes or new coverage. Confirm that your credentialing pathway is clear well before the January 2028 deadline.
The full provision appears in HF3825, Section 21, Minnesota Statutes 148.6377, Subdivision 1 (pages 40.4–40.11).
For a detailed walk-through of registration steps and insurance requirements specific to your practice structure, the Minnesota Department of Health will publish guidance as the effective date approaches.