Do You Need a License for Reiki in Wisconsin?

Yes, if you meet one condition. Wisconsin exempts a person who "uses touch to affect the energy systems of the human body", as long as that person is recognized by, or meets the established standards of, a professional organization or credentialing association that recognizes practitioners who show adequate training, competency and adherence to ethical standards.

Reiki is not named, and the Wisconsin chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association lists Reiki practitioners as covered by this exemption. Using manual actions to palpate and manipulate soft tissue is massage or bodywork therapy, so keep your touch to energy work.

Yes. The massage definition requires manual palpation and manipulation of soft tissue, so no-touch and distance energy work fall outside it. The Medical Practice Act covers examining into the cause of disease and treating, prescribing or advising for it by any means, and holding yourself out as able to do so. Avoid claims to diagnose, treat or cure disease.

No. Wisconsin's massage law has no payment wording, so the license requirement and the energy work exemption apply whether or not you are paid.

Without a license, no one may call themselves a massage therapist, bodywork therapist, masseur or masseuse, or use letters such as M.T., R.M.T., L.M.T. or C.B.W., or any designation implying a license under the massage chapter.

If you qualify for the energy work exemption, you may use the terms bodywork, bodyworker and bodywork therapy. The title bodywork therapist stays off limits, along with every massage title.

Wisconsin law bars cities, villages, towns and counties from regulating the practice of licensed massage or bodywork therapy. The Wisconsin chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association notes that many municipalities still license massage establishments, so check with your city or county.

The official text of that section could not be opened for this guide, so its wording here comes from the same chapter's summary.