Only 2 states—Connecticut and Washington—mandate registration or licensure specifically for hypnotherapy practice.
Multiple sources consistently identify these as the sole states with mandatory registration requirements to protect consumers from unqualified practitioners. In Connecticut, practitioners must register with the Department of Consumer Protection before offering services, facing civil penalties up to $100 for non-compliance. Washington enforces similar strict standards for professional hypnosis.
Several other states have specific guidelines or restrictions without requiring registration:
California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, Utah: Hypnotherapy often needs supervision by licensed professionals or falls under licensure exemptions for non-therapeutic uses.
Broader lists mention up to 15 states (e.g., adding Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island) with "explicit laws," but these typically involve voluntary compliance, therapeutic limits, or professional oversight rather than mandatory hypnotist registration.
Most of the 50 states (around 48) lack dedicated hypnotherapy regulations, falling under general business laws like truth-in-advertising. Conflicting source counts arise from varying definitions—mandatory vs. guidelines—highlighting the need to check state licensing boards for the latest rules, as laws evolve (e.g., Colorado's 2020 changes). The National Guild of Hypnotists provides updated state lists for practitioners.