Sunset CAMTC: Call to Immediate Action!

According to the California Senate Business and Professions Committee website, a Senate vote on AB1504 in regards to CAMTC is scheduled for June 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM, located at 1021 O Street, Room 2100.

Massage therapists, school owners, employers, and consumers of massage: please attend and encourage all those who support sunsetting CAMTC and establishing a state licensing board to attend and speak in support for up to 2 minutes. Advocacy letters in favor of creating a state licensing board can also be sent to legislative staff and to the Business and Professions Committee. (should be sent prior to 6/30/25). A template courtesy of ABMP can be downloaded here. They can email their support to sunset CAMTC to:

• Robert.Sumner@asm.ca.gov – Robert Sumner
• elissa.silva@sen.ca.gov – Elissa Silva
• sarah.mason@sen.ca.gov -Sarah Mason

Link to AMTA licensing support of state license is here: https://ca.wp.amtamassage.org/state-legislation/

Link to ABMP licensing support is here: https://www.abmp.com/updates/legislative-updates/california/let-sun-set-camtc-certification

There are numerous reasons for sunsetting CAMTC and getting a real licensing board, the same as exists in 46 states, Washington DC, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Licensed massage therapists are not out there in left field with a “certification.”

It’s interesting to note that California has a population of over 39 million people, and Governor Gavin Newsom’s salary is $279,476.00. Meanwhile, CAMTC has less than 60,000 certified massage therapists, and the CEO of that organization makes more than twice the amount of salary that the governor does. No wonder they don’t want the sun to go down on this organization. It’s a cash cow.

Yet another reason to sunset CAMTC is the unethical and unlawful behavior they have exhibited in the matter of A2Z Healthnet Massage Schools. The Sacramento Superior Court hearing to hold CAMTC in contempt of court is scheduled now for June 24, 2025. A2Z graduates (the number is now close to 300) remain in a state of limbo—some for over two years—with no explanation or solution provided by CAMTC. Despite two court injunctions ordering CAMTC to certify A2Z graduates, the organization refuses to comply. This organization apparently thinks it is above the law. The graduates have shown up to board meetings, sent emails, called, but they are being ignored. The owners have written letters requesting to speak at board meetings that received no response linked here, and specifically wrote a letter to Joe Bob Smith, Director of Education Standard Division,  to which they have also had no response, linked here.

We call on legislators to protect the due process rights of individuals. They have the constitutional right to work. Furthermore, these students have paid their $300 fee to CAMTC, and they have nothing to show for it. Legislators must hold CAMTC accountable. Whatever grievance CAMTC may have with the school should not affect the applicants. These students enrolled and attended A2Z while it was fully approved, and there was never any lapse in its approval.

For more background on the sunset, you can read my previous blogs:

Let the Sun Set on CAMTC

Let the Sun Set on CAMTC Part II

Let the Sun Set on CAMTC Part III

I urge every massage therapist in California to email their legislators. Flood their email urging the sunset of CAMTC and the creation of a true licensing board in California.  Do it before June 30.