1. (1) In order to receive and maintain Board approval, in-state schools, and any satellite location of a previously approved in-state school, must:

   1. (a) Submit a completed application on form DH-MQA 1266, “Application for Massage Therapy School Approval” (01/18). The form is incorporated herein by reference and may be obtained from the Board office at 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C-06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or from the website located at https:.//floridamassagetherapy.gov/educatin-an-trainingprograms/ or HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09169" http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09169. To complete this application online, visit http://flhealthsource.gov/mqa-services.
   2. (b) Meet the requirements of and be licensed by the Department of Education pursuant to Chapter 1005, F.S., or be within the public school system of the State of Florida; and,
   3. (c) Offer a course of study that includes, all required hours in each subject area listed below. All hours must be completed at a rate of no more than 6 hours per day and no more than 30 hours per calendar week:

1. (d) Achieve a graduate passage rate not lower than 10 percentage points less than the average state passage rate for graduates of approved massage therapy programs who are first-time examinees on a board approved examination during a calendar year.

   1. If an in-state board approved massage therapy school’s graduate passage rates do not equal or exceed required passage rates for two consecutive calendar years, the school will be placed on probationary status. The board may require the program director to present a plan for remediation at a regularly scheduled meeting.

   2. The board will remove probationary status at a regularly scheduled meeting following release of the school’s graduate passage rate by the board approved testing vendor and once the school achieves a graduate passage rate for any one calendar year that equals or exceeds the required passage rate.

2. (2) An in-state board approved massage therapy school must notify the board within 90 days of:

   1. (a) Changes in curriculum;
   2. (b) Changes in address;
   3. (c) Changes in name;
   4. (d) Changes in approved signer;
   5. (e) Changes in ownership.

3. (3) Approval of an in-state board approved massage therapy school shall be revoked or other action taken if the school:

   1. (a) Modifies its course of study to fall below minimum standards, or fails to require its students to complete its course of study in order to graduate;
   2. (b) Submits on behalf of an applicant for licensure documents containing information the school, through its owner, manager, faculty, or other employees or agents, knows to be false;
   3. (c) Violates any standard applicable to the school pursuant to licensure by the Department of Education;
   4. (d) Violates any applicable rule herein;
   5. (e) Does not achieve the required passage rate for any one calendar year during the two calendar years following placement on probationary status.

4. (4) If an in-state board approved massage therapy school or any owner, manager, faculty, or other employee or agent is alleged to have violated any provision of Chapter 480, F.S., Chapter 64B7-32, F.A.C., or any part therein:

   1. (a) The board shall inform the school of any alleged violations in writing. The school shall respond in writing. The school may request an appearance before the board at the next scheduled meeting to explain any mitigating factors;

   2. (b) If the board determines that a school is in noncompliance, it may impose one of the following:

      1. Corrective action required which shall include the time period in which the school must comply; or

      2. Rescission of board approval.

   3. (c) The Board shall inform the Florida Department of Education of the action taken.

5. (5) The Board shall review approval of an in-state board approved massage therapy school when a change in ownership occurs. If the Board determines that the school is in noncompliance with any provision of Chapter 480, F.S., and Chapter 64B7-32, F.A.C., or part therein, it may impose one of the following:

   1. (a) Corrective action required which shall include the time period in which the school must demonstrate compliance;
   2. (b) Revocation of board approval.

Rulemaking Authority 480.033(3), 480.035(7) FS. Law Implemented 480.041(1)(b) FS. History–New 3-25-86, Amended 8-15-89, 12-22-92, Formerly 21L-32.003, Amended 10-20-96, Formerly 61G11-32.003, Amended 8-16-98, 10-30-07, 4-25-10, 5-8-12, 3-21-18, 8-31-20, 11-4-21, 2-2-22, 6-5-23, 12-3-23, 11-23-25.