1. (1) Under Subsections 58-47b-302(3), (4)(a)(iii), and (7)(e), the standards for a massage apprenticeship program are established in this section.

2. (2)(a) An applicant for a massage apprentice license shall submit with their application for Division review and approval under Section R156-47b-302f:

   1. (i) the first name, last name, and license number of the applicant's proposed massage therapy supervisor;

      1. (ii) an outline of the Division-approved massage apprenticeship curriculum and the resources the applicant will use; and
      2. (iii) a written approval from the owner of the approved massage apprentice curriculum verifying that the applicant may use the curriculum.

   2. (b) An applicant may begin a massage apprenticeship with the proposed massage therapy supervisor after:

      1. (i) the Division has licensed the applicant as a massage apprentice; and
      2. (ii) unless otherwise approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board, each of the massage therapy supervisor's previous massage apprentices have passed the MBLEx.
3. (3) The massage apprentice shall follow the submitted massage apprenticeship curriculum and use the resource materials.

4. (4) The massage therapy supervisor shall train the massage apprentice in the following areas:

   TABLE 2AreaHours RequiredAnatomy, physiology, and kinesiology125 hoursPathology40 hoursMassage theory50 hoursMassage techniques including the five basic Swedish massage strokes120 hoursMassage client services300 hoursHands-on instruction310 hoursProfessional standards, ethics, and business practices40 hoursSanitation and universal precautions including CPR and first aid15 hours

5. (5) Training hours accumulated without a massage apprentice license may not be counted unless approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board.
6. (6) The list of massage apprenticeship programs approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board are listed on the Division's website at https://dopl.utah.gov/massage-therapy.
7. (7) Under Subsection 58-47b-302(3), a massage apprentice shall perform massage client services under at least the indirect supervision, as defined in Subsection R156-1-102a(1), of a massage therapy supervisor.

8. (8) If a massage apprentice fails the MBLEx three times and requests to retake the exam:

   1. (a) the massage apprentice shall:

      1. (i) submit to the Board a written statement outlining the massage apprentice's:

         1. (A) core barriers to successful completion of the exam;
         2. (B) plan for overcoming the core barriers, with goals in a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) format; and
         3. (C) timeline for achieving the plan;
      2. (ii) appear before the Board and develop with the Board a plan of study in the appropriate subject matter; and
      3. (iii) complete the plan of study to the satisfaction of the Board; and
   2. (b) the Division in collaboration with the Board shall review the massage apprentice's application to determine whether to provide approval for the massage apprentice to retake the exam.
9. (9) A licensed or formerly licensed massage apprentice who has failed the MBLEx may not use their supervised training as a massage apprentice to apply for a massage assistant license unless the applicant has received prior approval from the Division in collaboration with the Board.

KEY: licensing, massage establishment, massage establishment registration, massage therapy, massage therapist, massage apprentice, massage assistant, massage assistant-in-training, inspection, animal massage

Date of Last Change: May 7, 2026

Notice of Continuation: March 21, 2022

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 58-1-106(1)(a); 58-1-202(1)(a); 58-47b-101