BY JOSH CORMAN

LAST YEAR , A DECISION BY THE U . S . DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ( of all entities ) sent ripples of hope through the spa industry . That ’ s because the D . O . D . elected to support the creation of interstate compacts for the discipline of massage therapy , as well as that of cosmetology and barbering .* These pieces of legislation , once developed , debated and passed into law , would allow licensed professionals within these disciplines to use their licensure in any participating state without requiring additional training hours , examination results or fees .

* EDITOR ’ S NOTE : The interstate compact for cosmetology and barbering will also affect the spa industry . Because Deirdre Strunk is involved in discussions regarding only the compact for massage therapy , that is the sole focus of this article .

34 PULSE • MAY / JUNE 2022