Our Verification Standard

01. Eligibility for listing

Before a therapist can be listed, they must:

• provide evidence of an accepted course from a recognized MLD school, listed in section 03 below;
• provide a current professional liability insurance document relevant to the MLD services they declare;
• provide their state massage therapy license details, or the details of the clinical license under which they practice, where their state licenses their profession;
• provide personal and practice information consistent with the submitted documents;
• agree to maintain accurate profile information;
• accept the Code of Conduct, Badge Terms of Use and Membership Terms; and
• complete The MLD Register's manual verification process.

Payment alone does not secure entry. A profile is published only after the applicable requirements have been met.

02. What we independently review

MLD training documentation

The applicant provides their training certificate or equivalent formal evidence. The verification reviewer considers:

• the name of the certificate holder;
• the issuing school or training provider;
• the exact program or method completed;
• the recorded training level or scope;
• the completion date;
• whether the program falls within an accepted training pathway; and
• whether the document is internally consistent and appears authentic.

Where clarification is required, further evidence may be requested or the issuing provider may be contacted.

The training provider, program or method and the relevant level or scope are recorded without renaming the qualification or presenting it as something it is not.

Current professional liability insurance

The applicant provides their current professional liability insurance certificate or equivalent insurer-issued evidence. The verification reviewer considers:

• the name of the insured practitioner;
• the policy or coverage dates;
• whether the document is current;
• whether the document appears to show professional coverage relevant to the MLD services declared; and
• whether the insured name is consistent with the application and training documentation.

The stated insurance expiration date is recorded so that renewal can be monitored.

The review confirms the information visible within the document supplied. It does not constitute insurance advice, an assessment of the adequacy of the policy for every circumstance or a guarantee that an insurer will meet a future claim.

State licensure details

Massage therapy licensure in the United States is a matter of state law. The applicant provides their license type, license number and the issuing state, and those details are recorded on file. Where the issuing state provides a public license lookup, the details provided are checked against it.

A small number of states have no statewide massage therapy license (at the time of writing, Kansas, Minnesota and Wyoming); an applicant practicing in one of those states is asked for the license under which they practice, where one applies, and the state licensure requirement does not otherwise apply to them.

Recording a license is not an assessment of the license itself. Questions about the standing of a license belong to the issuing state board.

Review by a person

Every application is reviewed manually. Automated systems may support document management, status updates and reminders, but no application is automatically approved.

Publication following successful review

Once the required training and insurance checks have been completed successfully, the therapist is assigned a registration number and their profile is approved for publication.

Where evidence is incomplete or does not meet the published criteria, the applicant is told what is required and is given 14 days to provide clarification or further documentation. Where the matter cannot be resolved, the application is declined and the reserved place is released; no payment is taken before public launch, so nothing is charged.

03. Recognized training pathways

The MLD Register recognizes defined programs and qualification levels rather than endorsing an entire training organization without distinction. Recognition of a named school or provider applies only to the relevant programs and levels accepted under this Standard.

Recognized clinical MLD schools and methods

The principal recognized pathways for therapists practicing in the United States include:

• Vodder - the Dr. Vodder School International and recognized course providers;
• Földi/Klose - including the relevant certifications delivered through Klose Training;
• Academy of Lymphatic Studies (ACOLS);
• Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy;
• Chikly Health Institute; and
• ILWTI - the International Lymphedema and Wound Training Institute.

The method and the course completed are recorded, because different courses support different scopes of practice and search eligibility.

A qualification listed for any country in which the register operates is accepted everywhere: a qualification recognized for the United Kingdom register (for example Casley-Smith, Leduc or the Lymphoedema Training Academy) does not stop being one across an ocean, and is accepted from a United States applicant on the same basis.

Specifically recognized specialist postoperative training

The Register also recognizes:

• Aftercare Academy, Advanced MLD & Treatment Protocols.

Recognition applies to the specific courses listed below, and does not extend automatically to every course offered by Aftercare Academy.

Acceptance of those courses relates to the postoperative scope they teach. It does not confer a lymphedema or Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy designation unless the therapist separately provides evidence of the relevant qualifying training.

The courses accepted as an entry qualification

A qualification is accepted when the applicant was assessed, not merely present. A certificate of attendance is not a qualification, and hours alone do not decide it: an introductory course and the course above it can run for the same number of days.

Vodder

• Level 1 Basic - not accepted on its own.
• Level 2 Applied MLD.
• Level 3 Lymphedema Management - including work with lymphedema and swelling after cancer treatment.

Földi/Klose

• Lymphedema Therapy Certification - including work with lymphedema and swelling after cancer treatment.
• MLD Certification (CMLDT).

Academy of Lymphatic Studies

• Complete Lymphedema Certification - including work with lymphedema and swelling after cancer treatment.
• Manual Lymph Drainage (Vodder Technique).

Norton School

• CDT Lymphedema Certification - including work with lymphedema and swelling after cancer treatment.

Chikly Health Institute

• Chikly Lymphedema Therapy Certification (CLTC) - including work with lymphedema and swelling after cancer treatment.
• Lymph Drainage Therapy 2 (LDT2).
• Lymph Drainage Therapy 1 (LDT1) - not accepted on its own.
• Lymph Drainage Therapy Technique Certification (LDT-T).

ILWTI

• Certified Lymphedema and Wound Therapist (CLWT).

Aftercare Academy

• Advanced MLD & Treatment Protocols.

Lymphedema eligibility follows the named course first. Where a therapist holds a qualification from a provider outside this list, the training hours stated on the certificate are considered instead, and 135 hours or more of training is the threshold applied to lymphedema eligibility. That figure follows the certification eligibility rule published by the Lymphology Association of North America (LANA) in its Candidate Information Booklet, which also allows no more than 45 of those hours to be completed remotely and does not accept remote assessment of hands-on skills. The named course is always considered first: several recognized qualifications run for fewer hours than that and are accepted on the strength of the course itself.

For entry to the register with a foundational MLD qualification from a provider outside this list, the certificate must show at least 40 hours of training in total, theory and hands-on together, must show that the applicant was assessed, and must not belong to an unrelated qualification framework. Meeting the hours figure alone does not create lymphedema eligibility.

The profile displays the actual provider and course completed. A qualification is never renamed as though it had been awarded by a different recognized school.

04. Scope-specific search eligibility

A therapist's appearance within a particular search pathway may depend on either independently reviewed training evidence or therapist-reported experience. The distinction must remain clear.

Qualification-led pathways

Where a search pathway requires a particular training level - for example, work with lymphedema or a compromised lymphatic system - the therapist must provide evidence of the relevant accepted qualification. A general MLD or specialist postoperative qualification does not automatically create eligibility for a lymphedema or Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy search category.

The profile displays the training method and level so that patients can see the basis on which the therapist appears within the pathway.

Postoperative procedure searches

Patients may search by the specific surgery or postoperative procedure they have undergone. The procedures shown on an individual therapist's profile are selected and described by the therapist. They represent the therapist's own statement of the procedures they have experience supporting.

The MLD Register does not independently audit:

• the number of postoperative clients treated;
• the length or frequency of that experience;
• individual case histories;
• clinical performance;
• professional judgment; or
• treatment outcomes.

Procedure-specific experience is therefore displayed as therapist-reported, separately from the training and insurance information independently reviewed by the Register.

Other practice information

Unless explicitly marked as independently reviewed, the following information is supplied by the therapist:

• biography and professional description;
• conditions and areas of work;
• years in practice;
• fees and cancellation arrangements;
• home-visit availability;
• practice locations;
• appointment availability;
• website and booking links;
• professional memberships; and
• photographs and other profile content.

Members are required under the Code of Conduct to keep this information accurate and current. The Register may request evidence, clarification or correction where information appears misleading or a concern is raised.

05. Reviews and ratings

Patient reviews remain separate from The MLD Register's verification process.

Google reviews originate from Google. Client reviews collected through the Register's own Review system originate here. The source of each review should be identified clearly wherever it is displayed.

The MLD Register does not independently verify every statement or opinion contained within a third-party review.

Patient reviews do not form part of the training or insurance verification process and do not constitute an assessment or guarantee of treatment quality, clinical competence, future patient experience or outcomes.

Where a review is challenged, it is handled under the policy of the platform from which it originated and any applicable Register procedure.

06. What appears on a therapist profile

A current member profile may display:

• the therapist's registration number;
• the recognized school, provider or program recorded;
• the MLD method and training level or scope;
• the date the training documentation was reviewed;
• confirmation that a current professional liability insurance document has been reviewed;
• the stated insurance expiration or current-to date;
• current registration status;
• Revalidated status, where applicable;
• therapist-reported surgery and procedure experience;
• practical practice information; and
• clearly sourced patient reviews.

The underlying training, insurance and licensure documents are not made public. They are stored securely and handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy.

07. What "verified" means

On The MLD Register, verified means that:

• an accepted training certificate or equivalent formal document has been independently reviewed;
• the name and qualification details recorded are consistent with the submitted evidence;
• a current professional liability insurance document has been independently reviewed;
• the relevant review was completed by a person;
• the applicable review information is displayed publicly; and
• the therapist's registration is currently active.

The live MLD Register badge reflects this current registration status and links directly to the member's public profile.

08. What "verified" does not mean

Verified does not mean that The MLD Register has:

• assessed or certified the therapist's clinical competence;
• observed the therapist carrying out treatment;
• assessed their professional judgment, communication or bedside manner;
• guaranteed treatment quality, safety or results;
• independently verified every statement about surgery-specific or procedure-specific experience;
• audited patient numbers, case histories or treatment outcomes;
• determined whether MLD is suitable for an individual patient;
• endorsed a particular treatment plan or health claim;
• guaranteed that a therapist is the right practitioner for every patient;
• assessed the adequacy of an insurance policy for every possible circumstance;
• guaranteed that an insurer will meet a claim;
• ruled on the standing of a state license, which belongs to the issuing state board;
• guaranteed patient inquiries, search-engine rankings or AI visibility; or
• conferred state licensure, government, Medicare, Medicaid or professional-body approval.

The badge is not a license, statutory credential, clinical award or guarantee.

Massage therapy licensure in the United States is a matter of state law and varies by state, and MLD is not a separately licensed profession. The MLD Register is an independent document-verification and listing service; it is not a state licensing board, a government agency or a regulator.

Patients should follow the timing, assessment and aftercare guidance provided by their surgeon, physician, cancer care team or other medical professionals.

09. Maintaining current status

Keeping insurance evidence current

Current professional liability insurance is required throughout active registration. The Register records the expiration date shown on the reviewed document and sends renewal reminders before it is due.

If an updated document is not supplied, the profile is suspended from public search and the live badge stops showing active status until a current document has been reviewed.

Revalidated status

The Register uses a separate Revalidated status for members who provide evidence of an accepted MLD refresher, review or update completed within the previous 24 months.

Revalidated is a Register status. It is not state or professional revalidation and does not replace any continuing-education or renewal requirement applying to a licensed professional.

A member whose original recognized qualification remains verified may continue to be listed without the Revalidated marker, provided current insurance and all other membership requirements remain satisfied.

Profile accuracy and further review

Members must keep their profile information accurate. The Register may request updated documents, clarification or further evidence:

• at renewal;
• following a material profile change;
• where a concern is raised;
• where information appears inconsistent; or
• at any time reasonably required to protect the integrity of the Register.

10. Registration status

Active

The therapist currently meets the applicable listing requirements and has an active membership.

Suspended

The therapist's profile has been removed temporarily from public search while a document, insurance, conduct or other membership matter is resolved. A suspended therapist must not present themselves as currently active on The MLD Register.

Lapsed

The therapist's membership has ended or has not been renewed. The profile is no longer presented as active, and the live badge changes to an inactive state.

Removed

The therapist's registration has ended following a decision under the Membership Terms, Code of Conduct or Complaints Procedure. Where the applicable procedure requires a public record of removal, the Register displays the relevant status and date.

11. Founding and Featured status

Founding Member

Founding Member identifies a therapist who was successfully verified and accepted within the original founding cohort. It records the therapist's place within that cohort. It does not indicate a higher level of qualification, verification or clinical ability.

Founding Member status is displayed while the therapist's registration is active. The preferential founding renewal rate remains conditional upon continuous membership. If membership lapses and the therapist later rejoins, the then-current standard rate applies.

Featured Member

Featured Member identifies a member who has purchased clearly labeled enhanced placement. Featured placement changes visibility only. It does not alter the Verification Standard, the eligibility criteria, the documents reviewed or the meaning of verified status.

12. The live badge and Check a Therapist tool

The live MLD Register badge is served directly by the Register and links to the member's current public profile. If registration ceases to be active because of lapse, suspension, removal or an unresolved insurance expiration, the live badge stops displaying active status automatically.

Static badge files must be removed where registration is no longer active, in accordance with the Badge Terms of Use.

Any member of the public can use the Check a Therapist tool to search by name, town or registration number and view current Register status.

A therapist not appearing on The MLD Register is not necessarily unqualified. It means that The MLD Register has not independently reviewed and listed their training and insurance documents.

13. Independence and funding

The MLD Register is not owned by a training school, insurer or professional body. It is owned and operated by Truly Empowered Ltd, the company behind Therapy Webgenie and VerifiedPractitioner, with more than 20 years' experience empowering therapists and health professionals.

The Register is funded through published membership fees. Payment does not guarantee acceptance, and no membership tier receives a reduced verification process.

Recognition of a training program is based on the published criteria rather than an ownership, commission, sponsorship or commercial relationship with the provider.

Featured placement and paid membership do not confer greater verification status or imply greater clinical ability.

The MLD Register is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, state licensing board, charity, insurer, training school or professional body unless an individual relationship is expressly stated.

14. Concerns, corrections and complaints

Anyone may raise a concern about:

• inaccurate profile information;
• misleading claims;
• misuse of the MLD Register badge;
• lapsed or inaccurate insurance information; or
• a possible breach of the Code of Conduct.

Straightforward factual corrections may be handled directly with the member. Concerns about professional conduct are considered under the published Complaints Procedure and may result in guidance, a formal warning, conditions, suspension or removal.

The Register cannot award compensation, determine clinical negligence or investigate a person who is not a member, although unauthorized use of the Register's name or badge may be pursued separately.

Medical emergencies and suspected criminal conduct should be referred to the appropriate emergency service or public authority.

Report a concern · Read the Complaints Procedure

15. Reviewing this Standard

This Standard is reviewed whenever the Register's eligibility criteria, document-review process or public-status system changes. Each published version should display:

• a version number;
• an effective date;
• the date of the most recent review; and
• a summary of any material amendment.

Where a change materially affects existing members, they are given appropriate notice and a fair opportunity to provide any newly required information.

Questions about eligibility, recognized programs or the interpretation of this Standard may be submitted directly to The MLD Register.