As used in sections 324.240 to 324.275, the following terms shall mean:

(1) “Board”, the board of therapeutic massage;

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 324.240

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020

(2) “Certified mentor”, a practitioner who is qualified for license in this state pursuant to sections 324.240 to 324.275 and who has practiced professionally for five years, with an average of four hundred fifty hours per year of teaching and massage hours and who has been approved by the board as a massage therapy instructor;

(3) “Director”, the director of the division of professional registration;

(4) “Division”, the division of professional registration;

(5) “Massage business”, any place of business in which massage therapy is practiced;

(6) “Massage therapist”, a health care practitioner who provides or offers to provide massage therapy, as provided in sections 324.240 to 324.275, to any person at no cost or for a fee, monetary or otherwise, implying that the massage therapist is trained, experienced and licensed in massage therapy, and who holds a current, valid license to practice massage therapy;

(7) “Massage therapy”, a health care profession which involves the treatment of the body’s tonus system through the scientific or skillful touching, rubbing, pressing or other movements of the soft tissues of the body with the hands, forearms, elbows, or feet, or with the aid of mechanical apparatus, for relaxation, therapeutic, remedial or health maintenance purposes to enhance the mental and physical well-being of the client, but does not include the prescription of medication, spinal or joint manipulation, the diagnosis of illness or disease, or any service or procedure for which a license to practice medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, or podiatry is required by law, or to those occupations defined in chapter 329;

(8) “Massage therapy instructor”, an individual who possesses teaching credentials satisfactory to the board for the purpose of teaching massage therapy;

(9) “Person”, an individual, corporation, association or other legal entity.