Do You Need a License for Reiki in Indiana?

Yes. Indiana's massage law states that it does not prohibit Reiki, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais or Therapeutic Touch that involves no intentional soft tissue manipulation.

Indiana defines massage therapy as external manipulation or pressure of soft tissue, and its listed techniques include touch and holding. Because of this, hands-on Reiki relies on the exemption, so keep your touch free of any intentional manipulation of soft tissue.

Yes. Sessions without touch and remote sessions involve no soft tissue manipulation, so they fit the Reiki exemption and fall outside the massage definition. This guide did not review the Indiana medical practice act, so avoid claims to diagnose or treat disease.

Partly. One section says people engaged in massage therapy for compensation must be licensed, while another bars unlicensed people from practicing or offering massage therapy with no mention of pay. The Reiki exemption applies either way.

Unlicensed people may not use titles such as Certified Massage Therapist, Massage Therapist, Licensed Massage Therapist, Masseuse, Masseur, Bodyworker or Muscle Mechanic, or the initials CMT, MT or LMT. Bodyworker is on the list, so leave it off your materials. You also may not advertise that you are a massage therapist.

Some do. St. Joseph County requires a county health department license for massage therapists and massage establishments, and its listed exemptions do not mention Reiki or energy work.

Indiana's massage law also has a chapter on preemption of local ordinances, which could not be read for this guide. Check with your county health department and city before offering touch-based sessions.