PURPOSE: This rule outlines the requirements for licensure as a massage therapist including the grandfathering provisions and temporary two (2)-year license.

1. (1) A person who has completed massage therapy studies consisting of at least five hundred (500) clock hours of supervised instruction in a Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) certified school, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved vocational program or school, or school, college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Department of Education or an equivalent approving body for out-of-state applicants, shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall submit or cause to be submitted:

   1. (A) A completed notarized application and the accompanying application fee;
   2. (B) Two (2) sets of fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The applicant shall provide proof of submission of fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s approved vendor(s) for both a Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI criminal background check. Proof shall consist of any documentation acceptable to the board. Any fees due for a fingerprint background check shall be paid by the applicant directly to the Missouri State Highway Patrol or its approved vendor(s);

   3. (C) An official final transcript showing successful completion of the program to be submitted directly to the board office from the massage therapy program which includes:

      1. 1. The applicant’s name;
      2. 2. Date of enrollment;
      3. 3. Date of completion; and
      4. 4. Documentation that the massage ther-

apy program consisted of at least five hundred (500) clock hours of supervised instruction which consisted of:

1. A. At least three hundred (300) clock

hours dedicated to massage theory and practice techniques. An instructor for massage theory and practice techniques shall document at least two (2) years of massage therapy practice and either be licensed as a massage therapist in this state or be licensure eligible, based upon board review of the instructor’s credentials. An instructor of kinesiology within the massage theory and practice technique curriculum shall submit verification of education and/or experience in kinesiology instruction and licensure as a massage therapist or licensure eligibility shall not be required;

1. B. One hundred (100) clock hours

dedicated to the study of anatomy and physiology provided by one of the following:

1. (I) An instructor with an associate,

bachelor, or advanced degree in a science related field that includes a course of study in anatomy and physiology. Such degrees include but are not limited to physical therapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, medicine, nursing, chemistry, or biology and shall be from a college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education;

1. (II) An instructor with fifteen (15)

semester hours or twenty-five (25) quarter hours in science or science related courses from a college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All course work must have a passing grade and at least eight (8) semester hours or fifteen (15) quarter hours of the course of study shall be in anatomy and physiology. For the purpose of this regulation a semester hour is equivalent to fifteen (15) clock hours and a quarter hour is equivalent to ten (10) clock hours;

1. C. Fifty (50) clock hours dedicated to

business practice, professional ethics, hygiene and massage law in the state of Missouri provided by an instructor who demonstrates documented experience/education in a related field; and

1. D. Fifty (50) clock hours dedicated to

ancillary therapies provided by an instructor(s) who demonstrates documented experience/education in a related field. The fifty (50) clock hours shall include but not be limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid which shall be provided by an instructor who holds the respective instructor certification; and

1. (D) Evidence of passing an examination from one of the following:

   1. 1. The National Certification Board of

Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork 20 CSR 2197-2

(NCBTMB);

1. 2. The National Certification Commission

for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM);

1. 3. The American Medical Massage

Association National Board Certification Examination (AMMA NBCE) administered as of 2006; or

1. 4. An examination deemed appropriate

by the board;

1. (E) An applicant completing a massage therapy program consisting of less than five hundred (500) hours of supervised instruction from a Missouri Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) approved school, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved vocational program or school, college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Department of Education or an equivalent approving agency for out-of-state schools, or who has completed a massage therapy program deficient in clock hours according to 20 CSR 2197-2.010(1)(C)4.A.–D. may complete deficiencies at either a Missouri CBHE approved school, DESE approved vocational program, mentorship approved by the board, or school, college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Department of Education, or an out-of-state school approved by an agency equivalent to CBHE; and
2. (F) For the purpose of 20 CSR 2197- 2.010, the course of instruction meeting the educational requirements for licensure shall not be provided via correspondence course, audiotape, videotape, or the Internet unless approved by the board. The course of instruction shall be face-to-face, visually and verbally interactive, between an instructor and the student(s).

1. (2) A person who has completed five hundred

2. (500) clock hours in an apprenticeship with a certified mentor and has successfully passed an examination approved by the board shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall submit or cause to be submitted:

   1. (A) A completed notarized application and the accompanying application fee;
   2. (B) Two (2) sets of fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI. The applicant shall provide proof of submission of fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s approved vendor(s) for both a Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI criminal background check. Proof shall FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

consist of any documentation acceptable to the board. Any fees due for fingerprint background check shall be paid by the applicant directly to the Missouri State Highway Patrol or its approved vendor(s);

1. (C) Official evidence of completing five hundred (500) clock hours of massage therapy training in an apprenticeship with a certified mentor which includes:

   1. 1. The applicant name;
   2. 2. Date of enrollment;
   3. 3. Date of completion;
   4. 4. Documentation that the mentorship

program consisted of at least five hundred (500) clock hours of supervised instruction which consisted of:

1. A. Three hundred (300) clock hours

dedicated to massage theory and practice techniques provided directly by the certified mentor;

1. B. One hundred (100) clock hours

dedicated to the study of anatomy and physiology provided by one (1) of the following:

1. (I) The board approved mentor

with an associate, bachelor, or advanced degree in a science related field from a college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education that includes a course of study in anatomy and physiology. Such degrees include but are not limited to physical therapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, medicine, nursing, chemistry, or biology;

1. (II) A school, college, university,

or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, a massage therapy program approved by the Missouri CBHE, or an out-of-state school approved by an agency equivalent to the Missouri CBHE; or

1. (III) The board approved mentor

with fifteen (15) semester hours or twentyfive (25) quarter hours in science or science related courses from a college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. All course work must have a passing grade and at least eight (8) semester hours in fifteen (15) quarter hours of the course of study shall be in anatomy and physiology. For the purpose of this regulation a semester hour is equivalent to fifteen (15) clock hours and a quarter hour is equivalent to ten (10) clock hours;

1. C. Fifty (50) clock hours dedicated to

business practice, professional ethics, hygiene and massage law in the state of Missouri. The mentor shall document education and/or experience to provide a course of instruction for this area; and

1. D. Fifty (50) clock hours dedicated to

ancillary therapies. The mentor shall document education and/or experience to provide a course of instruction for this area. The fifty (50) clock hours shall include but not be limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid which shall be provided by an instructor who holds the respective instructor certification;

1. (D) Evidence of passing a statistically valid examination from one of the following:

   1. 1. NCBTMB;
   2. 2. NCCAOM;
   3. 3. AMMA NBCE administered as of

2006; or

1. 4. An examination deemed appropriate

by the board; and

1. (E) For the purpose of 20 CSR 2197- 2.010, the course of instruction meeting the educational requirements for licensure shall not be provided via correspondence course, audiotape, videotape, or the Internet unless approved by the board. The course of instruction shall be face-to-face, visually and verbally interactive, between an instructor and the student(s).

1. (3) Grandfathering Provisions.

   1. (A) A person who has passed a statistically valid examination on therapeutic massage and bodywork prior to August 28, 1999 and applies for such license prior to December 31, 2000 shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall submit:

      1. 1. A completed notarized application

and the accompanying application fee;

1. 2. Two (2) sets of fingerprints for the

purpose of conducting a criminal background check by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI. The applicant shall provide proof of submission of fingerprints to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s approved vendor(s) for both a Missouri State Highway Patrol and FBI criminal background check. Proof shall consist of any documentation acceptable to the board. Any fees due for a fingerprint background check shall be paid by the applicant directly to the Missouri State Highway Patrol or its approved vendor(s); and

1. 3. Evidence of passing a statistically

valid examination from one of the following:

1. A. NCBTMB; or
2. B. NCCAOM.

3. (B) A person who has been in the practice of massage therapy for at least ten (10) years prior to August 28, 1999 and applies for such license prior to December 31, 2000 shall submit or cause to be submitted:

   1. 1. A completed notarized application

and the accompanying application fee;

1. 2. Two (2) sets of fingerprints and the

criminal background check fee;

1. 3. Evidence documenting at least ten

1. (10) years of massage therapy practice (minimum of one hundred fifty (150) massage hours per year practiced between August 28, 1984 to August 28, 1999) which may include but not be limited to a combination of the following:

   1. A. Income tax forms;
   2. B. Professional massage therapy asso-

ciation membership(s);

1. C. Certificates of continuing educa-

tion in massage therapy;

1. D. Business license(s);
2. E. Office rent or lease agreement(s);
3. F. Yellow page advertisements with

dates;

1. G. Printed advertisements with dates;
2. H. Professional insurance;
3. I. Cancelled checks related to the

massage therapy practice which shall include but not be limited to payment for rent, services rendered and/or massage therapy supplies;

1. J. Verifiable letter(s) from employ-

er(s);

1. K. Verifiable letter(s) of referral for

massage therapy services from a licensed healthcare professional;

1. L. Verifiable letters of confirmation

from clients of massage therapy experience;

1. M. Work log or client records con-

sisting of client’s name, address and/or telephone number, appointment date, and time period worked on client.

1. (C) A person who has been in the practice of a massage therapy for at least three (3) years prior to August 28, 1999, has completed at least one hundred (100) clock hours of formal training in massage and applies for such license prior to December 31, 2000 shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall submit or cause to be submitted:

   1. 1. A completed notarized application

and the accompanying application fee;

1. 2. Two (2) sets of fingerprints and the

criminal background check fee;

1. 3. Evidence documenting at least three

1. (3) years massage therapy practice (minimum of one hundred fifty (150) massage hours per year practiced between August 28, 1994 to August 28, 1999) which may include but not be limited to a combination of the following:

   1. A. Income tax forms;
   2. B. Professional massage therapy asso-

ciation membership(s);

1. C. Certificates of continuing educa-

tion in massage therapy;

1. D. Business license(s);
2. E. Office rent or lease agreement(s);
3. F. Yellow page advertisements with

dates;

1. G. Printed advertisements with dates;
2. H. Professional insurance;
3. I. Cancelled checks related to the

massage therapy practice which shall include but not be limited to payment for rent, services rendered and/or massage therapy supplies;

1. J. Verifiable letter(s) from employ-

er(s);

1. K. Verifiable letter(s) of referral for

massage therapy services from a licensed healthcare professional;

1. L. Verifiable letters of confirmation

from clients of massage therapy experience; or

1. M. Work log or client records con-

sisting of client’s name, address and/or telephone number, appointment date, and time period worked on client; and

1. 4. Evidence of at least one hundred

1. (100) clock hours of formal massage therapy training approved by the board which shall include any combination of the following:

   1. A. Classroom and directly supervised

student clinical massage therapy practice hours;

1. B. Continuing education credits in

massage therapy; or

1. C. Massage therapy seminar and/or

workshop attendance.

1. (4) A massage therapist license shall not be issued until the results of the criminal background check have been reviewed by the board. The results of the criminal background check shall be valid for two (2) years from receipt of the criminal background check in the board office.

2. (5) Educational Review.

   1. (A) The board may review a person’s educational credentials prior to application for licensure upon receiving a written request to the board. The person requesting the education review shall be responsible for providing official transcripts and paying the required fee.

AUTHORITY: sections 324.240 and 324.267, RSMo 2000 and sections 324.243, 324.245, 324.265 and 324.270, RSMo Supp. 2007.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 197-2.010. Original rule filed Feb. 25, 2000, effective Sept. 30, 2000. Amended: Filed Nov. 26, 2003, effective June 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2197-2.010, effective Aug. 28, 2007. Amended: Filed Aug. 21, 2007, effective March 30, 2008. *Original authority: 324.240, RSMo 1998, amended 1999; 324.243 RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2001; 324.245, RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2003, 2006; 324.265, RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2006; 324.267, RSMo 1998, amended 1999; and 324.270, RSMo 1998, 2006.