Do You Need a License for Reiki in Oregon?

Yes, if you meet every condition. Oregon exempts practitioners who use touch to affect the energy systems or channels of energy of the body, provided all of these are true: you do not claim, openly or by implication, to be a massage therapist; you limit your work to the listed energy or movement techniques; you are certified by an organization that requires minimum training, a demonstration of competence, adherence to a scope of practice and ethical standards, and that keeps disciplinary procedures; and you display that organization's contact information at your place of business.

Reiki is not named. Touch-based Reiki fits the energy systems wording, and the Board may verify your certification. Many Reiki teachers and lineages run no disciplinary procedure, so a certificate from an individual teacher may not meet the rule. Unlicensed massage is a Class A misdemeanor, and the Board can also impose civil penalties.

Yes. The Oregon Board of Massage Therapists says work that does not involve touching the client does not need to be regulated by the Board. Once you make contact, you may fall under the massage definition. Distance work is not addressed.

Oregon's medical practice act treats offering to diagnose or treat any illness, pain or condition by any means as practicing medicine, so avoid diagnosing or offering to treat conditions.

Yes. The practice of massage covers massage performed for compensation, and the Board counts barter, tips, money, donations or services as compensation. A donation arrangement still counts as paid.

Do not advertise that you practice massage or use the word massage in your business name. Only licensees may use LMT or similar titles, and you lose the energy work exemption if you claim, even by implication, to be a massage therapist.

Using Doctor, Physician, M.D. or similar titles, or offering to diagnose or treat conditions, counts as practicing medicine.