Do You Need a License for Reiki in Michigan?

Yes. Michigan defines massage therapy as structured touch, pressure, movement and holding applied to the soft tissue to enhance or restore health and well-being. The law then exempts the affecting of the human energy system, acupoints or qi meridians within a profession with established standards and ethics, and it names Reiki, polarity therapy, Asian bodywork therapy and shiatsu.

The exemption holds only if your services are never called or implied to be massage. The law names no specific credential for the standards and ethics condition.

Yes. No-touch and distance work fall outside the massage definition, and the energy system exemption covers them in any case. Michigan's Public Health Code defines practicing medicine broadly, as diagnosing, treating, preventing, curing or relieving any disease or condition by any means, or offering to do so. Keep your descriptions to relaxation, balance and well-being.

No. The massage law has no payment condition, and neither does the medical practice definition. Uncompensated care by a friend or family member who does not claim to be a licensed massage therapist is exempt from the massage law.

Michigan restricts a long list of titles and initials, including licensed massage therapist, massage therapist, certified, clinical, medical, manual or board certified massage therapist, masseur, masseuse, massagist, massage technician, myomassologist, L.M.T., M.M.T., C.M.T. and similar words or initials. Your exempt Reiki work may not be called or implied to be massage.

Leave these words out of your website and listings, and avoid promising to diagnose, treat or cure any condition.

Possibly. Michigan bars local governments from setting their own licensing requirements for state-licensed massage therapists. That rule does not mention massage establishments, and some cities have massage establishment ordinances. Check with your city and county, especially if you work from commercial premises.