Ay, There’s the Rub: Tests for Masseurs

In the hope of weeding out those who use massage therapy as a front for prostitution, practitioners who apply for a license may need to pass a written test.

Police were granted preliminary approval Monday from the City Council to develop an exam evaluating applicants’ knowledge of health issues and techniques that are covered in certified massage schools that require 500 hours of study and practice.

Formal approval may come this month. Police embrace this new tactic as more efficient and safer because it does not place undercover officers in potentially violent and unsanitary situations.