St. Louis, MO Business Licensing & Operations: Massage Establishments (2026)

324.240. Definitions. — As used in sections 324.240 to 324.275, the following terms shall mean: (1) "Board", the board of therapeutic massage; (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; [...] (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.