Mandatory Reporting

As a massage therapist, you’re privy to information about your clients that few people know. You see parts of their bodies that are covered or hidden, hear their aches and pains, their day-to-day lives, their histories. You can pick up on things that would escape the notice of others. 

So, what should you do when something seems “off” with one of your clients? Are you required by law to report your suspicions? Are you considered a mandatory reporter? 

Mandatory Reporters

Mandatory reporters (also called mandated reporters) are individuals, traditionally those who work in medical and education fields, who are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. 

Over the years, the definition has expanded in some states to require the reporting of suspected domestic abuse and, in others, the suspected abuse of vulnerable adults—the elderly and those who are mentally unable to advocate for themselves. Many states have expanded their list of mandatory reporters to encompass a wider range of professionals, including law enforcement, camp counselors, retirement home employees, social workers, corrections officers, dental hygienists, and massage therapists. 

States also have their own timeline on how quickly suspected abuse must be reported, from a vague “promptly” to within 24 hours to no set limit. Some limit reporting requirements to suspected abuse witnessed only within a professional capacity, while others require reporting regardless of where it is witnessed. With varying statutes across state lines, it can be hard to know where you stand as a massage therapist. 

How Do You Know If You’re a Mandatory Reporter?

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is a federal law that requires states to implement mandatory reporting laws, specifically for child abuse and neglect. Although CAPTA is a federal initiative, mandatory reporting requirements are state laws, not federal. That means there is no central repository, reporting process, or platform containing this information that’s consistently and reliably updated. The most recent comprehensive national report on this topic, published in May 2024,¹ says the states in which massage therapists are specifically named mandated reporters in statute are Arkansas, Iowa, Nevada, and Ohio. States that include variations of “practitioners of the healing arts” in their current mandated reporter statutes are Alaska, Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota, and Virginia. Numerous states require all adults to report suspected child abuse, no matter their profession. 

For the most accurate information on whether you are a mandatory reporter, visit your state legislature’s website to read through the mandatory reporter statute.

It’s important to remember that states frequently amend their laws and adopt new ones, so changes are constant. You can ask your favorite search engine, but in the age of AI, it’s hard to place complete trust in information that doesn’t come directly from the source, particularly when it’s as important as this. For the most accurate information on whether you are a mandatory reporter, visit your state legislature’s website to read through the mandatory reporting statute. If you are in one of the few states where LMTs are mandatory reporters, you should be able to get more details from your state massage board. And, as new states seek to add massage therapists to their list of mandatory reporters, the ABMP Government Relations department will keep therapists from those states updated.

What To Do if You See Something

The saying “if you see something, say something” leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in situations this complex. What signs are concerning enough to rise to the level of reporting them? Should you keep an eye out for abuse only in minors and vulnerable adults, or everyone, regardless of age or mental capacity? Who should you report something to, or should you talk to the person bearing the signs of abuse first? How do you go about making a report? Let’s try to clear up some of these questions.

Many states offer helplines (such as calling 211) as alternatives to reporting abuse when you suspect it might be a matter of a family being unable to afford food or heat, for example, rather than intentional neglect.

It’s important to note you can’t get into legal trouble for reporting suspected abuse to law enforcement, even if your suspicions turn out to be false. You can, however, face serious consequences if you see something and do not report it. Depending on the state, you could face criminal, civil, or professional repercussions for failing to report. To clarify your legal responsibility, check your state’s laws to determine what exactly is required of mandatory reporters where you live and work. Your statute should also define which types of abuse should be reported, whether it be physical, sexual, medical, or something else. Some state agencies will give you details on how mandatory reporters should be trained and can provide helpful resources. 

Only you can decide if what you notice is enough to raise your suspicions. Use your best judgment or talk to a trusted colleague or mental health professional, and trust your gut. As we know, abuse is not limited to certain ages, but resources to help victims of abuse often are. Sometimes, providing the suspected victim with resources that allow them to seek help when they’re ready, particularly if they are a fully capable adult, is a safer move for everyone involved than calling the authorities, provided you are not required to report by law. 

If you have noticed something that rises to the level of reporting to law enforcement, there are a few things you should do. First, don’t dawdle. It’s not only important for the safety of the potential victim that someone intervene as soon as possible, but there also might be a timeline on how quickly you’re required by law to report. Determine which agency is appropriate for reporting your concerns. Your state might have guidelines on who to reach out to, but typically it will be local law enforcement, your state’s child protective services agency, or your state’s adult protection services agency, if applicable. There also may be a dedicated reporting hotline or online portal in your state. Depending on your state, you may be allowed to make your report anonymously (Arkansas, for example, no longer allows anonymous reporters). Make sure to include all the relevant information you can provide. This includes names, addresses, ages, descriptions of the suspected abuse or neglect, anything said by the suspected victim or perpetrator, and anything else you think may be helpful to an investigation. An important thing to note—you, as the reporter, do not have the burden of proof; reasonable suspicion is all you need to make a report. 

What Is the Importance of Mandatory Reporter Laws?

We can’t overstate the importance of mandatory reporter laws. Simply put, they can save lives. When people are unable to advocate for themselves (particularly children, vulnerable adults, and seniors), it is the community’s responsibility to advocate for them. But as with all good things, there can be drawbacks. It’s been documented in recent years that families who are experiencing poverty are more likely to be reported for neglect. This can have detrimental effects on the child welfare system and can further isolate families needing community support, which can be an aggravating factor for child abuse and neglect. 

So, it is of the utmost importance to be careful and as accurate as possible when reporting suspected abuse or neglect. The goal, after all, is to help those in need. 

Where Is Mandatory Reporter Policy Headed?

Where do states go from here? What is the future of mandatory reporting? If the past few years are any indication, it’s safe to say we’ll see states continue to expand and clarify their mandatory reporting statutes. More professions are likely to be included. Details on how and under what circumstances people should make a report will help clarify existing statutes. 

Beyond that, ABMP would like to see some changes. Hopefully, more states will move to provide dedicated hotlines and web portals to make the process simpler for reporters. Standardization between states would also be a nice change—uniformity across state lines would make things much simpler for mandated reporters who live and work along state borders. Most urgently, there needs to be clarity in mandatory reporter laws. Professionals can’t help if they aren’t told how. States need to make information on their mandatory reporter laws clear, detailed, and easy to find. The law can only work if people know how to work with it. 

Note

1. Child Protection Ombudsman of Colorado, “Mandatory Reporting,” accessed January 2026.