Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024
(1) In order for a Georgia (physically) based massage therapy education program location(s) to obtain the Georgia Massage Therapy Board "Recognized" massage therapy education program status, the program must meet the requirements set forth in rules 345-8-.01 and 345-8-.02, and the additional requirements below:
(a) the program must require that each student have a minimum grade of 70% and the student have a minimum attendance of 70% in order to receive credit/hours in massage therapy related course and clinical work, and;
(b) the program must maintain a written program, philosophy and objectives, and the program must maintain course outlines or syllabi for all massage therapy courses, and;
(c) the program must provide a student handbook, and;
(d) the program must maintain permanent student records that summarize the credentials for admission, attendance, grades and other records of performance, and;
(e) the program must possess a current, unencumbered National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) School Provider Code.
(f) the program must possess a current, unencumbered Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (NPEC) Authorization number.
(2) If a board recognized program does not meet or fails to comply with the curriculum, faculty, and additional requirements noted in these rules, the Board may withdraw the "recognized" status of the program.
(a) the Board shall promptly notify the program, in writing, of the withdrawn recognition status.
(b) the program must notify, in writing, current and potential new students of their withdrawn recognition status within ten (10) business days from receipt of the Board's notice. Simultaneously, a copy of such notification must be submitted to the Board within the ten (10) business days.
(3) No other transcripts will be accepted from a program whose recognition status has been withdrawn effective on or after a date established by the Board.
(4) Programs losing Board recognition must reapply for recognition by the Board
(5) A Georgia (physically) based recognized program that is sold, physically moves or changes the recognized program's name must file a new school recognition application with the Board within ten (10) business days from the date of the action:
(a) if sold to a new owner, the new owner must provide, within ten (10) days, a new application and all supporting documents (including NCBTMB and NPEC current code/number - see e & f above);
(b) if moving location, report within ten (10) days the new physical and mailing address, in addition to any other changes (faculty, curriculum, etc.);
(c) if changing the programs name, but not physical location, report the name change to the Board within ten (10) business days.
(6) Massage Therapy educational programs located outside the state of Georgia may be recognized by meeting the following criteria:
(a) hold, and maintain, a current, unencumbered NCBTMB school code number; and,
(b) be approved or recognized by the state the program is located in as meeting the requirements for massage therapy education (pursuant to the Georgia Board rules 345-8-.01 and 345-8-.02) for licensure in the state the program is located and operating in; and,
(c) recognition by the Board of any massage therapy educational program is at the sole discretion of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.
(7) Recognition of massage therapy educational programs located outside of the United States is at the sole discretion of the Board:
(a) transcripts will only be accepted if translated by a reputable and verifiable credential evaluation service. The Board has sole discretion on the acceptance/approval of a credential evaluations service utilized by an applicant; and,
(b) the foreign massage therapy education program must at a minimum be determined to be substantially equal to or exceed the curriculum requirements set forth in Board rule 345-8-.01; and,
(c) recognition by the Board of any foreign massage therapy educational program is at the sole discretion of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.
O.C.G.A. §§
43-1-25, 43-24A-3, 43-24A-7, 43-24A-8, 43-24A-10 and 43-24A-13.
