The Board revised the rule relating to the type of Continuing Education hours (“CE’s”) the Board will accept. Licensees are required to obtain CE Hours every two years prior to the biennium license renewal. The primary revision to the rule requires that 12 of the required 24 CE’s be “direct, hands on, supervised instruction”. Please review the rule and be familiar with the new requirements for the October 31, 2010 renewal.

345-4-.02 Continuing Education Hours. Amended. (Effective March 29, 2009)

(1) Every massage therapist licensed pursuant to this chapter shall be required to complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) continuing education (CE) hours through an approved provider related to the practice of massage therapy as a condition for renewing his or her license for each biennium renewal expiration date except as otherwise provided for in this chapter.


(2) Approved providers for Continuing Education may be found on the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork website at www.ncbtmb.org. Licensees do not have to be nationally certified by NCBTMB to access the NCBTMB continuing education providers. The Board only accepts those Continuing Education Providers assigned a provider code number by NCBTMB.

(3) The Board may consider a waiver or variance of the requirement of CE hours for licensees who can provide acceptable proof of a verifiable illness, disability or hardship that substantially affected their ability to obtain the required CE hours during the prior biennium renewal period through submission to the board of a completed, signed waiver/variance request form prior to the biennium renewal expiration date of October 31st of every even numbered year.

(4) An applicant who is licensed during the second year of the biennium renewal period shall only be required to provide 12 hours of continuing education (CE) hours through an approved provider for that renewal period.


(5) An applicant having graduated from a Board recognized approved massage therapy education program within one year of their application date shall be exempt from continuing education requirements for their initial biennium renewal period only.

(6) An applicant for reinstatement must show along with their completed application that they have taken the required twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education, in accordance with paragraph 1 of this rule, within one (1) year of the date of their reinstatement application to the board.

(7) Each licensed massage therapist shall maintain records of attendance and supporting
documents for continuing education for a period of three (3) years from the date of attendance.

(8) Reporting and Auditing:

(a) Upon applying for license renewal, each massage therapist shall certify to the Board that he/she has completed the continuing educational hours required for license renewal. The method of reporting and auditing continuing education shall be as stated in this Rule.

(b) The Board may direct the staff to audit a percentage of randomly selected active renewing licensees, as determined by the Board, for compliance with continuing education requirements. Documentation of completed continuing education hours which the Board deems to be acceptable proof or verification of completion shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Attendance and participation at a live presentation such as a workshop, seminar, conference or direct hands-on client care educational program: A certificate of completion or similar documentation that includes a massage therapist license number and the approved provider’s number, signed or verified by a program official, and a program or course description including sponsor, course title, date, program objective/learning outcomes, content description, agenda or schedule.

2. Lectures and Multi-Media Courses: For lectures, a certificate of completion, or similar documentation, including a massage therapist license number and the approved provider’s number, signed or verified by a program official, and a program description including sponsor, course title, date, program objective/learning outcomes, content description, agenda or schedule. Multi-Media courses shall require the successful completion and submission of a written post experience examination to evaluate material retention. Multi-Media courses include, but are not limited to, audio, audiovisual, closed circuit television, and internet courses.

3. Correspondence Courses: A certificate of completion or similar documentation, including a massage therapist license number and the approved provider’s number signed or verified by a program official and a program description including sponsor, course title, date, program objective/learning outcomes, content description, agenda or schedule.

4. Formal self study, viewing of videotapes in a professional setting, satellite broadcasts, or computer learning activities. Documentation must include:

(i) Verified instructional time by the course sponsor, a certificate of completion or similar documentation that is signed or verified by program official; and

(ii) A program description including sponsor, course title, date, program objective or learning outcomes, and description of program content.