Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: Recognizing and Responding

Course Summary

This one-hour course meets the Illinois continuing education requirement in domestic violence and sexual assault awareness for licensed massage therapists. The requirement was added to the Massage Therapy Practice Act under 225 ILCS 57/67 and applies beginning with the 2026 license renewal, bringing the total continuing education requirement to 25 hours per cycle. Advanced Massage Techniques is an approved Illinois Massage CE Sponsor, #245.000085.

This course is also approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) and can be used to satisfy continuing education requirements in many states that accept NCBTMB approved courses.

Who This Course Is For

This course is written for licensed massage therapists who need to satisfy a domestic violence and sexual assault awareness requirement for license renewal. This includes:

• Illinois LMTs renewing for the 2026 cycle or any cycle after.
• NCBTMB certified therapists in any state that accepts NCBTMB approved continuing education.

What This Course Covers

The course is built around six lessons that move from legal foundation to practical application. Each lesson is written in plain language, grounded in real client scenarios, and designed to stay within your professional scope.

• Introducing the new Illinois law and why massage therapists are in a unique position to help possible domestic violence victims.
• Physical and behavioral red flags that may appear during your sessions, including bruising patterns, the freeze response, dissociation, and hypervigilance.
• The six types of abuse, including financial, digital, and spiritual abuse alongside physical and sexual, and why each one matters in your practice.
• Word-for-word scripts for checking in with clients who display physical or behavioral red flags.
• Sexual assault as a standalone topic, separate from domestic violence, including what may happen during a session, how to make clients more comfortable.
• Illinois-specific resources including the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline, ICASA, RAINN, and Illinois Legal Aid Online.
• Documentation guidance, mandated reporting obligations, and how to keep your practice and booking process safe for clients.

What Happens After You Enroll

You get immediate access and can work on any device at your own pace. There is no course timer, so you move through the material on your schedule.

• Read or review the course material whenever it suits you across six focused lessons.
• Complete a short exam to confirm your understanding. A score of 80% or higher is required to pass.
• Download and print your certificate as soon as you pass.
• Illinois has no continuing education reporting system, so keep your certificate with your records in case you are audited at renewal.