TDLR Revokes Massage Therapy School License of Austin Massage Academy, as Well as Two Massage Therapist & Instructor Licenses Associated With the School

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) has issued an emergency order that closes the Austin Massage Academy, located at 13491 Pond Springs Road in Austin, and revokes the massage therapist and massage instructor licenses of Xue Lian Wang and Travis Engebretson. The two cannot work as massage therapists or massage therapy instructors in Texas.

TDLR has reasonable cause to believe that the school, through the actions of these individuals, has been involved in assisting students in obtaining or trying to obtain massage therapy licenses by fraud or false representation and by falsifying documents that were submitted to TDLR.

In addition, the Department has identified many cases where Austin Massage Academy students are working as unlicensed massage therapists at illicit massage businesses and have found other connections to the illicit massage industry.

“Massage schools are expected to uphold rigorous educational standards to ultimately protect the health and safety of Texas consumers,” said TDLR Executive Director Courtney Arbour. “We will take immediate action when we find schools that are not adhering to state law.”

A TDLR investigation found numerous continued violations of state massage rules and laws regarding student registration and attendance, as well as recordkeeping requirements and rules that students must obtain TDLR student permits.

In addition, the investigation found that Wang’s home address is listed as the current address for at least 34 students enrolled in Austin Massage Academy. Additionally, the Department’s records show that 171 students have the same address in Austin, Texas. That address is actually the address of a United States Postal Service office; none of the individuals using that address list a specific postal box.