Business and Professions Code section 4609
(a)
It is a violation of this chapter for an applicant or a certificate holder to commit any of the following acts, the commission of which is grounds for the council to deny an application for a certificate or to impose discipline on a certificate holder:(1)
Unprofessional conduct, including, but not limited to, any of the following:(A)
Engaging in sexually suggestive advertising related to massage services.(B)
Engaging in any form of sexual activity on the premises of a massage establishment where massage is provided for compensation, excluding a residence.(C)
Engaging in sexual activity while providing massage services for compensation.(D)
Practicing massage on a suspended certificate or practicing outside of the conditions of a restricted certificate.(E)
Providing massage of the genitals or anal region.(F)
Providing massage of female breasts without the written consent of the person receiving the massage.(2)
Procuring or attempting to procure a certificate by fraud, misrepresentation, or mistake.(3)
Failing to fully disclose all information requested on the application.(4)
Impersonating an applicant or acting as a proxy for an applicant in any examination referred to in this chapter for the issuance of a certificate.(5)
Impersonating a certificate holder, or permitting or allowing a noncertified person to use a certificate.(6)
Violating or attempting to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of, or conspiring to violate, any provision of this chapter or any rule or bylaw adopted by the council.(7)
Committing any fraudulent, dishonest, or corrupt act that is substantially related to the qualifications or duties of a certificate holder.(8)
Denial of licensure, revocation, suspension, restriction, citation, or any other disciplinary action against an applicant or certificate holder by another state or territory of the United States, by any other government agency, or by another California health care professional licensing board. A certified copy of the decision, order, judgment, or citation shall be conclusive evidence of these actions.(9)
(A)Being convicted of any felony, misdemeanor, infraction, or municipal code violation, or being held liable in an administrative or civil action for an act, that is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a certificate holder. A record of the conviction or other judgment or liability shall be conclusive evidence of the crime or liability.(B)
The council may take action pursuant to this paragraph when the time for appeal has elapsed, the judgment of conviction has been affirmed on appeal, or an order granting probation is made suspending the imposition of sentence.(C)
For purposes of this paragraph, “conviction” means a judgment following a plea or verdict of guilty, a plea of nolo contendere, or a finding of guilt.(10)
Dressing while engaged in the practice of massage for compensation, or while visible to clients in a massage establishment, in a manner that is deemed by the council to constitute unprofessional attire based on the custom and practice of the profession in California.(11)
Committing any act punishable as a sexually related crime or being required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 290) of Title 9 of Part 1 of the Penal Code), or being required to register as a sex offender in another state.(12)
Being determined to be a threat to public safety based on mental health reasons by a medical or mental health professional, or rendered a finding of not guilty in a criminal proceeding by reason of insanity.(b)
The council may deny an application for a certificate for the commission of any of the acts described in subdivision (a). The council may also discipline a certificate holder, in any manner permitted by this chapter, for the commission of any of those acts by a certificate holder.(c)
The council shall deny an application for a certificate, or revoke the certificate of a certificate holder, if the applicant or certificate holder is required to register pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration Act (Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 290) of Title 9 of Part 1 of the Penal Code), or is required to register as a sex offender in another state.(d)
Denial of an initial certificate on the grounds that the applicant has been convicted of a crime or has been subject to formal discipline as provided in this section shall be consistent with the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 480.
Source:
Section 4609, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=4609. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
