Chinese, Thai students sue California massage board for discrimination based on English proficiency

“The school didn’t say anything about the fact that English has to be a student’s native language,” Zhang said. “They didn’t mention that requirement. Then, after I finished the program, I was told by the school that I had a problem.”

Although CAMTC certification is not required to practice massage therapy in California, many states require practitioners to have one. The lawsuit alleges that this has resulted in CAMTC being a “gatekeeper to a career in massage therapy.”

The lawsuit, filed in June in Sacramento Superior Court, alleges the board targeted its Chinese and Thai students by withholding certifications. The lawsuit seeks to overturn the withholding of certifications.

“I actually don’t know how to survive these days,” Zhang said. “I don’t know what to do. Life has remained very difficult and challenging for me these past two years.”

Informal telephone interviews

At the end of the course, the students were interviewed by phone and asked questions that did not seem relevant to their massage certification, said Paul Estuar, litigation director for Asian-American Advancing Justice Southern California.

During these interviews, Estuar said students were asked how much they paid for school and how they traveled to class. CAMTC allegedly failed to provide interpreters and asked students to bring their own interpreters at the last minute. The lawsuit alleges that CAMTC failed to provide students with any preparation time.

Before Zhang was called, she was told the interview would last “20 minutes to verify that she had received adequate education” through her school, the lawsuit states.

Estuar said there were no questions about massage technique or anything related to massage.

“It felt like an investigation,” Estuar said. “Our clients weren’t getting through those interviews.”

In a statement to The Sacramento Bee, CAMTC said allegations that the organization discriminated against Chinese and Thai students were “false and completely unfounded.” CAMTC added that it was not at liberty to discuss details of the lawsuit.

Zhang said she felt very frustrated during this whole process. While waiting for her certification, she worked multiple temporary and part-time jobs to make ends meet and pay her rent.

The appeal procedure

Once a student has completed the 500 required training hours from a CAMTC-approved school, such as A2Z Health. Net Inc, he/she can apply to become certified.

In February 2023, CAMTC raised concerns with A2Z Health. Net, Inc. about whether students were properly understanding the material, the lawsuit says. As a result, CAMTC began requiring students to provide evidence of an “adequate education” through an informal interview. In May, A2Z Health. Net, Inc. sued CAMTC.

After failing the interview, students were not explicitly told why, Estuar said. Students were given the opportunity to appeal the decision, which required them to pay a $180 fee and submit documentation.

During her telephone interview, Zhang was not assigned an interpreter and was later told that her application had been denied because she “failed to pass the interview,” the lawsuit said.

The uncertainty and delay in issuing the certification have created obstacles in supporting her family and helping her 15-year-old son come to the United States from China, Zhang said.

“Once I have a stable income, I can apply to bring my son here,” Zhang said. “It is urgent and important for me to get a job.”

Zhang was denied in April 2023. She filed a formal appeal in July.

She submitted her transcript and a copy of her lecture notes. In September 2023, she was informed that she had been removed from CAMTC’s hearing schedule. Later, in October 2023, Zhang was told that CAMTC hearing officers were reviewing the documents she had submitted.

She has not yet received any information about the status of this review, the complaint states.

Zhang’s struggles are similar to those of other students. Li Lin, a massage therapist in Roseville who has been practicing for five years, had to get certified when she moved to Los Angeles.

Her application was also rejected.

“CAMTC did not give me a schedule or a way to get my CAMTC license. This prevents me from working close to home. I have to travel very far to work in provinces where CAMTC certification is not required,” Lin said.

“I only sleep at home two days a month. I just want to see my husband and son much more than I do now. The rejection of my application by CAMTC is causing me a lot of mental pain. I am so tired.”