(a) Reciprocity under Acts 2019, No. 1011.

1. (1) Required qualifications for reciprocity. An applicant applying for reciprocal licensure shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A)

(i) The applicant shall hold a substantially similar license in another United States jurisdiction.

1. (ii) A license from another state is substantially similar to an Arkansas massage therapy license if the other state’s licensure qualifications require:

(b) (b) Proof given of completion of the specific classes and hours taken as required in Arkansas massage schools as required by Arkansas Code § 17-86-306(e).

1. (iii) The applicant shall hold his or her occupational licensure in good standing;

   1. (B) The applicant shall not have had a license revoked for:

      1. (i) An act of bad faith; or
      2. (ii) A violation of:

(b) (b) Rule; or

1. (c) (c) Ethics;

   1. (C) The applicant shall not hold a suspended or probationary license in a United States jurisdiction; and

   2. (D) The applicant shall:

      1. (i) Be sufficiently competent in massage therapy;
      2. (ii) Pass a licensing exam comparable 17 CAR § 52-114(b); and
      3. (iii) Pass the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law examination.

2. (2) Required documentation.

   1. (A) An applicant shall submit:

      1. (i) A fully-executed application;
      2. (ii) The required fee; and
      3. (iii) The documentation described below.

   2. (B) As evidence that the applicant’s license from another jurisdiction is substantially similar to Arkansas, the applicant shall submit the following information:

      1. (i)

(b) (b) The Department of Health may verify this information online if the jurisdiction that issues provides primary source verification on its website; and

1. (ii)

(b) (b) The department may verify this information online if the jurisdiction that issues provides primary source verification on its website.

1. (C) To demonstrate that the applicant meets the requirements in subdivisions (a)(1)(B) – (D) of this section, the applicant shall provide the department with:

   1. (i) The names of all states in which the applicant is currently licensed or has been previously licensed; and

      1. (ii)

(a) (a) Letters of good standing or other information from each state in which the applicant is currently or has ever been licensed showing that the applicant:

1. (1) (1) Has not had his or her license revoked for the reasons listed in subdivision (a)(1)(B) of this section; and
2. (2) (2) Does not hold a license on suspended or probationary status as described in subdivision (a)(1)(C) of this section.

(b) (b) The department may verify this information online if the jurisdiction that issues provides primary source verification on its website.

1. (D) As evidence that the applicant is sufficiently competent in the field of massage therapy, an applicant shall:

   1. (i) Pass a licensing exam comparable to 17 CAR § 52-114(b) and pass the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law examination; and

      1. (ii) Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from:

(b) (b) Former educators; or

1. (c) (c) Clients.

   1. (E)

      1. (i) Documents required to show compliance with least restrictive requirements:

(b) (b) A social security card issued in the same name as the applicant or licensee; and

1. (c) (c) A high school diploma, Certificate of General Educational Development, or college transcript and credentials issued by a department-accepted massage therapy school or a like institution with no fewer than five hundred (500) in-classroom hours of instruction.

   1. (ii)

(b) (b) If the applicant's transcript is not obtainable from the original school, the applicant shall submit a statement to explain why it may not be obtained.

1. (c) (c) Other documentation of credentials may be submitted and accepted for licensure.

   1. (iii) Furnish to the department satisfactory proof of passing an examination recognized and approved by the department.

   2. (F)

      1. (i) An out-of-state applicant holding a current massage therapy license issued by another state and after receiving an Arkansas massage therapy license may apply for an upgrade to master massage therapist or massage therapy instructor by providing appropriate continuing education credits and experience gained before Arkansas licensure for department approval.
      2. (ii) An upgrade request shall be made by submitting a complete application package and paying the fees required by Arkansas Code § 17-86-301 et seq.

(b) Temporary license.

1. (1) The department shall issue a temporary license immediately upon receipt of the:

   1. (A) Application;
   2. (B) Required fee; and
   3. (C) Documentation required under subdivisions (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section.
2. (2) The temporary license shall be effective for ninety (90) days unless the department determines that the applicant does not meet the requirements for reciprocity in subdivision (a)(2) of this section in which case the temporary license shall be immediately revoked.

3. (3) An applicant may provide the rest of the documentation required above in order to receive a license or the applicant may only provide the information necessary for the issuance of a temporary license.

   1. (c) License for person from state that does not license profession pursuant to Acts 2019, No. 1011.

4. (1) Required qualifications. An applicant from a state that does not license massage therapy shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (A) Be sufficiently competent in massage therapy;

   2. (B) Pass:

      1. (i) A licensing exam comparable to 17 CAR § 52-114(b); and
      2. (ii) The Arkansas Massage Therapy Law examination; and

   3. (C) Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from:

      1. (i) Former employers;
      2. (ii) Former educators; or
      3. (iii) Clients.

5. (2) Required documentation. An applicant shall submit:

   1. (A) A fully executed application;
   2. (B) The required fee; and

   3. (C)

      1. (i) The documentation described below.
      2. (ii) As evidence that the applicant is sufficiently competent in the field of massage therapy an applicant shall:

(a) (a) Pass:

1. (1) (1) A licensing exam comparable to 17 CAR § 52-114(b); and
2. (2) (2) The Arkansas Massage Therapy Law examination; and

(b) (b) Submit three (3) letters of recommendation from:

1. (1) (1) Former employers;
2. (2) (2) Former educators; or

3. (3) (3) Clients.

   1. (iii) A valid:

(b) (b) Driver’s license; or

1. (c) (c) Both.

   1. (iv) A social security card issued in the same name as the applicant or licensee.

      1. (v) A high school diploma, Certificate of General Educational Development, or college transcript and credentials issued by a department-accepted massage therapy school or a like institution with no fewer than five hundred (500) in-classroom hours of instruction.
      2. (vi)

(b) (b) If the applicant's transcript is not obtainable from the original school, the applicant shall submit a statement to explain why it may not be obtained.

1. (c) (c) Other documentation of credentials may be submitted and accepted for licensure.

   1. (vii) Furnish to the department satisfactory proof of passing an examination recognized and approved by the department.

      1. (d) Reciprocity and state-specific education pursuant to Acts 2019, No. 1011.
2. (1) The department shall require an applicant to take no fewer than five hundred (500) in-classroom hours of instruction at a department-accepted massage therapy school or a like institution if the applicant is licensed in another state that does not offer reciprocity to Arkansas residents that is similar to reciprocity provided to out-of-state applicants in Arkansas Code § 17-1-108.

3. (2) Reciprocity in another state will be considered similar to reciprocity under Arkansas Code § 17-1-108 if the reciprocity provisions in the other state:

   1. (A) Provide the least restrictive path to licensure for Arkansas applicants;
   2. (B) Do not require Arkansas applicants to participate in the apprenticeship, education, or training required as a prerequisite to licensure of a new professional in that state except that the state may require Arkansas applicants to participate in continuing education or training that is required for all professionals in that state to maintain the licensure; and
   3. (C) Do not require Arkansas applicants to take state-specific education unless required to do so under the same conditions described in Arkansas Code § 17-1-108.

(e) Automatic occupational licensing of uniformed service members, veterans, and spouses under Acts 2023, No. 137.

1. (1) This section applies to:

   1. (A) A uniformed service member stationed in the State of Arkansas;
   2. (B) A uniformed service veteran who resides in or establishes residency in the State of Arkansas; or

   3. (C) The spouse of a uniformed service member stationed in the State of Arkansas or a uniformed service veteran who resides in or establishes residency in the State of Arkansas, including a uniformed service member who is:

      1. (i) Assigned a tour of duty that excludes the spouse from accompanying the uniformed service member and the spouse relocates to Arkansas; or
      2. (ii) Killed or succumbs to his or her injuries or illness in the line of duty if the spouse establishes residency in Arkansas.

2. (2) Automatic licensure shall be granted to persons listed in subdivision (e)(1) of this section if the person:

   1. (A) Is a holder in good standing of occupational licensure with similar scope of practice issued by another state, territory, or district of the United States; and
   2. (B) Pays the licensure fee in 17 CAR § 52-114.
3. (3) Credit toward initial licensure. Relevant and applicable uniformed service education, training, national certification, or service-issued credential shall be accepted toward initial licensure.
4. (4) Expiration dates. A license expiration date shall be extended for a deployed uniformed service member or spouse for one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member's return from deployment.
5. (5) Continuing education. A uniformed service member or spouse shall be exempt from continuing education requirements in 17 CAR § 52-116 for one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the uniformed service member's return from deployment.
6. (6) Any uniformed service member or spouse exercising the exemption shall provide evidence of completion of continuing education before renewal or grant of a subsequent license.