In Nevada, massage therapy is a popular career choice for many professionals, including escorts. However, because Nevada is home to "Sin City", the Nevada Board of Massage Therapy regulates all massage therapy licenses very closely. Several schools were recently added to a list of schools that do not provide acceptable training that are often used by massage therapy license applicants. In attempts to effectively regulate and uphold the standard of practice of massage therapy, the board screens each application scrupulously.
Here are the general guidelines required to acquire a massage therapy license in Nevada:
- Applicants must be legal residents or citizens of the United States. A legible copy of one's driver's license or alien resident card is required with admission requests, along with a copy of one's social security card, if applicable.
- Applicants must complete 500 hours of massage therapy education from a board-approved massage therapy program. Official transcripts and certificates of completion are required. Applicants should arrange for the official documents to be sent to the board on their behalf.
- Applicants must successfully pass the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodyworks (NCETMB), the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) or the National Examination for State Licensure (NESL). Copies of the certificate or letter indicating passage of the test must be submitted with an application and application request.
- Applicants must agree to undergo a criminal background check that includes investigation through fingerprinting.
- Applicants must submit a passport-quality photograph that is printed in color on photo paper. The photo must be 2 inches by 2 inches. An applicant may utilize an amateur photo as long as the background is solid and the photo is a close-up of the applicant's face.
- Applicants must submit an application request, along with a non-refundable fee of $5. After certain basic criteria are met, an official application packet will be mailed to the applicant by the Nevada Board of Massage Therapy.
- Applicants must submit a completed and notarized application with all supporting documents in order to become licensed. The application includes several steps, self-disclosure and basic information about the applicant.
- Licensed Massage Therapists must complete at least 12 hours of continuing education credits in order to renew his or her license.
- All advertisements for licensed massage therapists must include the therapist's license number within the ad's information.
- A license may be revoked, suspended or denied for illicit sexual activity with clients including:
- Sexual intercourse with a client.
- Examination or contact with the genitals or anus unless otherwise ordered by a doctor.
- Rubbing against a client for personal sexual gratification.
- Kissing a client.
- Hugging, fondling or touching a client for personal sexual gratification.
- Failure to provide clients with proper draping accessories.
- Removal of the client's clothing, gown or draping without the client's consent.
- Encouragement of masturbation or any other sexually-related act in the presence of the massage therapist.
- Dressing or undressing in the client's presence.
- Masturbation by the massage therapist in the client's presence.
- Solicitation or encouragement of a romantic or sexual relationship with the client.
- Termination of the professional relationship to pursue a romantic or sexual relationship with the client.
- Discussion with the client about the sexual preferences, fantasies or history of the massage therapist.
- Seductive or sexual behavior in the presence of the client.
- Photographing or filming of the body or any body parts of the client other than for legitimate health care purposes.
- Display of sexually explicit photographs to the client.