Do You Need a License for Reiki in Georgia?

Yes, with conditions. Georgia exempts a person who uses touch to affect the energy systems, polarity, acupoints or Qi meridians of the body. You must work within the scope of practice of a profession with established standards and ethics, and your services must not be designated or implied to be massage or massage therapy.

Reiki is not named, and touch-based Reiki fits the energy systems wording. The law does not define a profession with established standards and ethics. Belonging to a Reiki or energy healing association with a published code of ethics is a sensible way to meet it, though that is an inference, and no board ruling on Reiki was found.

Yes. Massage in Georgia requires touch to the soft tissue, so no-touch and distance work fall outside it. The medical practice definition is broad, though. It includes holding yourself out as diagnosing or treating disease, or recommending any treatment for the relief or cure of any physical, mental or functional ailment with the intention of receiving a fee. Present your sessions as relaxation and well-being.

Partly. Rendering or offering massage therapy for compensation without a license is a violation, and a separate rule bars practicing massage therapy without a license, with no mention of pay. The energy work exemption applies whether or not you are paid.

Unless licensed, you may not use the terms massage, massage therapy, massage therapist or massage practitioner, the letters M.T. or L.M.T., or any words implying massage therapy is provided, and you may not advertise massage therapy services. Avoid holding yourself out as diagnosing or treating disease, and do not use titles such as Doctor or Physician to imply medical practice.