1. (a)

   1. (1) All courses for continuing education must fall within the scope of practice of massage therapy.

   2. (2) Courses, demonstrations, and workshops offered within the State of Arkansas must be submitted to the Department of Health for prior approval for continuing education credits unless approved by:

      1. (A) NCBTMB;
      2. (B) AMTA; or
      3. (C) ABMP.

2. (b)

   1. (1) For the purpose of renewing or upgrading a license, credits may be approved for courses that are:

      1. (A) Preapproved by the Department of Health;
      2. (B) Officially transcribed courses from a United States Department of Education-approved and United States Department of Education-accredited postsecondary institution completed with a passing grade in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, pathology, medical terminology, or other related courses within the scope of practice of massage therapy; or
      3. (C) Out-of-state continuing education courses that fall within the scope of practice of massage therapy that are approved by:

3. (i) NCBTMB;

   1. (ii) AMTA; or

      1. (iii) ABMP.

   2. (2) Courses falling outside above guidelines may be submitted for consideration.

      1. (c) Home study and online courses may be approved by the Department of Health providing all the following criteria are met:

   3. (1)

      1. (A) The course is preapproved by:

         1. (i) The Department of Health;
         2. (ii) NCBTMB;
         3. (iii) AMTA; or
         4. (iv) ABMP.
      2. (B) The course must fall within the scope of practice of massage therapy.
   4. (2) The course content cannot be in a hands-on subject matter.

   5. (3)

      1. (A) The course or courses cannot:

         1. (i) Comprise more than six (6) of the total eighteen (18) continuing education hours needed for biannual renewal; and
         2. (ii) Be repeated for renewal or upgrade purposes.

      2. (B) During a statewide state of disaster emergency related to public health as declared by the Governor in accordance with Arkansas Code § 12-75-107, the MTTAC may upon motion and vote temporarily suspend the requirement that no more than six (6) of the total eighteen (18) continuing education hours needed for biannual renewal be home study or online courses until such time that:

         1. (i) MTTAC determines the suspension be terminated; or
         2. (ii) The statewide state of emergency has terminated or ended in accordance with Arkansas Code § 12-75-107.
         3. (d)
   6. (1) Each course requesting Department of Health approval must present all required information on the forms prescribed by the Department of Health with appropriate fees.
   7. (2) Courses must be relevant to the field of massage therapy as defined in 17 CAR § 52-102.

   8. (3) Courses must have the following:

      1. (A) Proposed title;
      2. (B) Schedule of course;
      3. (C) Learning outcomes;
      4. (D) Session description;
      5. (E) Relevance of course;
      6. (F) Program content/time frame;
      7. (G) Teaching strategies; and
      8. (H) Learning environment.

   9. (4) Courses must be instructed by a person who meets one (1) of the following:

      1. (A)

         1. (i) Has completed specialized related training.
         2. (ii) For every one (1) hour of CE to be taught the instructor must have five (5) hours of specialized related training.
         3. (iii) The Department of Health may give credit for:
4. (a) (a) Extensive experience teaching the course or related courses; or

5. (b) (b) Years employed in the field;

   1. (B) Has obtained instructor credentials specific to the practice;

      1. (C) Has:

         1. (i) Discovered and/or developed massage techniques; and
         2. (ii) A minimum of two (2) years of practical experience related to the subject; and

      2. (D) Meets at least two (2) of the following criteria:

         1. (i) Holds a current Arkansas massage therapist license;
         2. (ii) Graduated from a:
6. (a) (a) Massage therapy school or postsecondary massage therapy school approved by the Department of Health; or

7. (b) (b) School with a comparable curriculum;

   1. (iii) Holds a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with a major in a subject related to the content of the program offered; or

      1. (iv) Presents to the Department of Health evidence of a substantial amount of education, training, and knowledge sufficient, in the discretion of the Department of Health, to qualify their expertise in the field.

8. (e)

   1. (1) Preapproved continuing education providers must comply with the following rules:

      1. (A) Retain an attendance record of participants with copies of course materials for at least three (3) years following the conclusion of the course;

      2. (B) Furnish each participant with a certificate of attendance or transcript verifying the participant’s successful program completion:

         1. (i) The certificate shall not be issued until completion of the course; and
         2. (ii) The certificate must contain the:
9. (a) (a) Participant’s name;

10. (b) (b) Instructor’s name and signature;

    1. (c) (c) Title of the course;

       1. (d) (d) Dates the course was given;
11. (e) (e) Department of Health approval number; and

12. (f) (f) Number of credit hours earned; and

    1. (C)

       1. (i) Submit course revisions to the Department of Health for approval.

          1. (ii) Course revisions are defined as changes to the following:
13. (a) (a) Proposed title;

14. (b) (b) Schedule of course;

    1. (c) (c) Learning outcomes;

       1. (d) (d) Relevance of course;
15. (e) (e) Program content/time frame;
16. (f) (f) Teaching strategies; and

17. (g) (g) Learning environment;

    1. (iii) Course revisions affecting less than ten percent (10%) of the currently approved content may be approved by the Department of Health.

       1. (iv) Course revisions exceeding ten percent (10%) of the currently approved content may be approved by the Massage Therapy Technical Advisory Committee.
    2. (2) One (1) hour of continuing education credit is defined as no fewer than fifty (50) minutes of uninterrupted in-classroom learning, practical demonstration, or practice of the technique in the presence of the instructor.
    3. (3) Presenters/moderators/instructors of courses may not receive credit for the courses they present.

    4. (4) The Department of Health:

       1. (A) Retains the right to review programs given by the provider; and

       2. (B) May rescind provider status or reject individual programs given by provider if the provider:

          1. (i) Has disseminated any false or misleading information in connection with the continuing education program;
          2. (ii) Has failed to conform to and comply with the written agreement and rules of the Department of Health;
          3. (iii) Has failed to meet ethical standards; or
          4. (iv) Is not providing consistent quality educational benefits to participants.

    5. (5)

       1. (i) A written notice to rescind approval for continuing education courses will be sent to:
18. (a) (a) The course approval applicant; and

19. (b) (b) Any person or persons approved to instruct the course.

    1. (ii) Instructors may request a hearing of a decision to rescind approval for continuing education course or courses.

       1. (iii) The hearing shall be conducted according to 17 CAR § 52-111 and the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, Arkansas Code § 25-15-201 et seq.
20. (f) Officially transcribed courses from a United States Department of Education-approved and accredited postsecondary institution completed with a passing grade may be accepted at the rate of three (3) college credit hours to equal forty (40) clock hours of education.
21. (g) For the purpose of upgrading a license, classes that repeat any of the applicant’s specific entry-level five-hundred-hour coursework will not be accepted.

22. (h) For the purpose of upgrading a license, duplicated continuing education courses do not apply toward required hours for the upgrade.

    1. (i)
    2. (1) The Department of Health shall audit five to ten percent (5% – 10%) of randomly selected active license renewals for compliance with continuing education requirements annually.
    3. (2) Licensees who receive an audit form shall submit all appropriate documentation to substantiate compliance with the Department of Health’s continuing education requirements within thirty (30) days of receipt.
    4. (3) Each licensed massage therapist shall maintain records of continuing education for a period of three (3) years from the date of attendance.

Codification Notes: “ABMP” means Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. "AMTA" means American Massage Therapy Association. "CE" means continuing education. "MTTAC" means Massage Therapy Technical Advisory Committee.