World School>> Holistic Health and Massage Therapy Newsletter>>San Francisco Massage Permits

As you may be aware, in July of 2004, San Francisco revised its massage therapist permit process. One of the biggest modifications to the massage permit process is that the Department of Public Health has taken over responsibility for this process from the Police Department. Because this is a new responsibility for the DPH, it has taken a little while to iron out its procedures.

We have received feedback from several practitioners about their experiences obtaining a permit under the new procedures. Below we outline the process as we understand it, both from reading and from personal reports on how to speed the flow.

All forms and regulations, and a list of fees, are located at the Department of Public Health massage Web page. We recommend that you review the information below before you go in for your permit.

We want to acknowledge and thank the following individuals for sharing their knowledge with us: Julie True, Theresa Cooper, Patricia Cramer, and John Crutchfield. Also a big thanks to the World School staff for communicating much of this information to practitioners as it became available.

Step 1: Bring the following items to the Dept. of Public Health

The Department of Public Health (DPH) is located at 1390 Market St., 2nd floor, suite 210—in the Fox Plaza near the Civic Center U.S. post office.

• “Letter of Intent to Hire.”
• Photo ID.
• Original massage school certificate (not a copy).
General Massage Therapist: 100 hours.
Advanced Massage Therapist: 200 hours.
• $100 check (we believe a money order is acceptable as well).


Step 2: Request and complete an application for massage permit


Step 3: Obtain and complete massage anatomy test request form

Choose three dates on the form. A confirmation of your test date will be mailed to you.


Step 4: Take the test

On the day of the test:
• Bring a pencil.
• Take the test.
• Make an appointment to have your permit photo taken.
• Pick up a background check request application.


Step 5. Obtain background check, fingerprints, and photographs

While you await your test results, bring your background check application and a check (or money order?) for $43 to 850 Bryant St., 4t h floor, room 458. (Hours are Monday through Friday, 9–12 & 1–3) Go to window 1, with the blue sign that reads “TAXICAB SECTION.”

• Turn in your application for background check.
• Go to Fingerprinting & Photography: Facing window 1 (from the above step), turn to your left and go to the end of that corridor/hallway and turn right.
• Look around for a red number dispenser. Take a number and wait for your number to be called.
• Meditate on being in the present moment. Check out your body sensations. Drink water. Breathe. Resist no thing. Be aware.
• When you’re called, someone will scan your fingerprints with a cool high-tech computer scanner and take some headshot photographs of you.
• When finished with fingerprinting and photograps, take the application back to window 1.


Step 6: Take permit photograph

Return to the DPH and have your photograph taken on the date of the appointment you made when you took the anatomy test.


Step 7: Wait for your permit to arrive in the mail

Total elapsed time: 1–3 months (we expect the speed and efficiency to increase as the department gains more experience with this new system).


Tips
Here are a few additional notes from some people who have already received their permits:

• When calling for information, if you leave a message, please remember this is a new process for the Department of Public Health. With all the current interest in massage, they might not get around to returning your call as soon as you’d like. So keep calling until you speak with a live person. The people in the Department of Public Health are very helpful and friendly when you do speak with them.
• Better yet, go in person to the San Francisco Department of Public Health with any questions.
• Easy parking is available near 1390 Market Street on the side streets north of Market!

We hope this article speeds your permit process. Of course, your experience may be different from ours, so please use our information as a starting point only. And if you do learn something helpful or think we should add some new information to this Web page, please email us at info@worldschoolmassage.com. Thank you.