Do You Need a License for Reiki in North Dakota?

Yes, with light touch. North Dakota's massage law covers structured touch to the soft tissues, such as pressure, friction, stroking, kneading and stretching. It exempts anyone practicing healing by manipulating the energy field or the flow of energy of the body by means other than manipulating soft tissues, provided the services are not called or implied to be massage or massage therapy.

The law adds that a light touch or tap is not a manipulation of the soft tissues. The statute does not use the word Reiki. Light-touch Reiki fits its wording directly.

Yes. The energy field exemption covers this work, and work without touch is outside massage anyway. The medical practice act covers holding yourself out as diagnosing or treating disease or injury, keeping an office for examining or treating people, and recommending treatment with intent to be paid. Avoid diagnostic or treatment claims.

Partly. The massage law bars practicing, attempting to practice or teaching massage for a fee or gratuity, or as a free demonstration, without a license, so even a free demonstration counts. In the medical act, recommending treatment counts only with intent to receive a fee, gift or compensation. Holding yourself out as diagnosing or treating disease, or keeping an office for treatment, counts either way.

Unlicensed people may not use massage therapist, L.M.T., M.T. or terms with a similar meaning. You lose the energy exemption if your services are called or implied to be massage, so leave that word out completely.

Do not hold yourself out as diagnosing or treating disease or injury, and do not use M.D., Dr., D.O. or similar titles.