Do You Need a License for Reiki in Maryland?

Yes, under specific conditions. Maryland's definition of massage therapy excludes the laying on of hands, with pressure or movement, on a person who is fully clothed except for footwear, to affect the energetic field. Reiki is not named. Touch-based Reiki done this way fits the exclusion, and no separate board ruling on Reiki was found.

The exclusion ends when you add manual soft tissue techniques. Hands-on pressure or movement meant to affect the body's energy counts as massage when it is combined with stroking, kneading, tapping, stretching, compression, vibration or friction.

Yes. Sessions without touch and remote sessions are outside the massage definition, which requires manual techniques on soft tissue. Maryland's Medical Practice Act is broad, though. It covers attempting to detect, cure, manage or prevent any physical, mental or emotional ailment, real or perceived, by any process, paid or not.

Describe your work as relaxation, balance and well-being, and never present it as diagnosing, treating or curing illness.

Yes, for massage. The massage definition applies to manual techniques used for compensation. The medical practice definition applies whether or not you are paid.

Unlicensed people may not use massage, massage therapy, myotherapy or any synonym or derivation in titles, signs, cards or other representations. The titles massage therapist, MT, licensed massage therapist, LMT, massage practitioner, MP, registered massage practitioner and RMP are also restricted. Bodywork is not listed by name.