Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners
(established Oct. 1, 2016)
About the Board - Past, Present and Future
Jurisdictional Overview
The Massage Therapy Practice Act was enacted in 1997 and subsequently revised in 1999. It originally established a Massage Therapy Advisory Committee (MTAC) composed of six members to review and recommend massage related issues to the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. In 2008, the Legislature abolished the MTAC and statutorily reconfigured (the “Board”) as the joint, Maryland State Board of Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Examiners. In 2016, the Legislature abolished the joint Board and statutorily established the Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners (BOMTE).
Board Composition
The new board is composed of seven volunteer members: five licensed massage therapists and must have been engaged in the practice of massage in this state for not less than 5 consecutive years prior to the date of appointment to the Board. Two members of the board must be consumer representatives with no ties to the profession and a resident of this state. All members are appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) from a list of nominees submitted to the DHMH Office of Executive Appointments. Members serve terms of four years and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
Members of the Board
Caitlin Thompson, LMT - Board Chair
Paula Jilanis, LMT - Board Vice Chair
Kirsten Bodnarchuk, LMT - Board Secretary / Treasurer
Eric Newdom, LMT- Board Member
David Cox, LMT - Board Member
Diane Jones Richards, Consumer Board Member
Margaret Hayes, Consumer Board Member
Because of the logistics of this meeting, please submit your questions in writing to sharon.oliver@maryland.gov or caitlin.thompson@maryland.gov
The Board’s Jurisdiction and Functions is to Administer
- All licensing and registering functions of massage therapists and massage practitioners
- All regulatory interpretations and updates
- All disciplinary investigations and hearings relating to any violations of laws or regulations related to licensees and registrants.
Board Mission - Duty to Protect the Public
The primary function of the Board is to protect the Maryland healthcare public. This is accomplished by ensuring that massage therapists and massage practitioners are properly trained and educated, properly licensed or registered, engaged in professional development for continued license or registration; and fully comply with all required laws and regulations governing their respective scopes of practice [Regulations (COMAR 10.65.01 et seq.)].
Board Meetings
The Board meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am unless otherwise announced. General Session meetings are open to the public. Anyone may petition the Board to have an issue placed on the General Session Agenda. Such petitions must be in writing and submitted to the Board’s Executive Director at least two weeks before the scheduled meeting. Executive Session meetings usually follow the General Session meeting and are closed to the public.
