Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING
Chapter 246-830 - Massage therapists
EDUCATION
Section 246-830-430 - Education and training

Universal Citation: WA Admin Code 246-830-430

Current through Register Vol. 24-18, September 15, 2024

(1) A massage school, massage program, transfer program, or apprenticeship program education and training must have a curriculum and system of education and training consistent with its particular area of practice. The education and training in massage therapy will consist of a minimum of six hundred twenty-five hours. An hour of education and training is defined as fifty minutes of actual instructional time. Certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR or the equivalent is required. CPR training must be in person. This requirement is in addition to the six hundred twenty-five hours of education and training in massage therapy. These six hundred twenty-five hours are to be completed in no fewer than twenty-four weeks and must consist of the following minimum requirements:

(a) Ninety hours of anatomy and physiology, to include orientation to the human body, and the integumentary, skeletal, fascial, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular and other body systems.

(b) Sixty hours of kinesiology to include muscle identification and palpation, location and attachment(s), actions, range of motion, and joint classification and function.

(c) Seventy hours of pathology to include general terminology and classification of diseases, the indications, contraindications, cautions and common adaptations to massage including, but not limited to, arthritis, bursitis, cancer, headaches, skin cancer and other skin conditions, diabetes, fasciitis, sprain, strain, tendinopathy, nerve compression syndromes, osteoporosis, stress, fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes, common neurological diseases, autoimmune disorders, bloodborne pathogens, common cardiovascular diseases, reproductive systems, pregnancy, and any other health care issues as they relate to the practice of massage as defined in RCW 18.108.010.

(d) Two hundred sixty hours of theory, principles, and practice of massage to include history of massage, benefits and effects, techniques and strokes, body mechanics of the therapist, application methods and styles, concepts of basic research, session planning and the adaptation of techniques appropriate to stages of healing, to include the safe use of superficial heat, cold, lubricants and salts, and considerations relevant to special populations.

(e) Fifty hours of mandatory student clinic to be directly supervised as defined in WAC 246-830-005(9) and in accordance with WAC 246-830-420(1)(d), with a ratio of no less than one instructor to no more than six students who are actively performing massage. For those education and training programs beyond six hundred twenty-five hours, in no case may the number of student clinic hours exceed seventy-five hours.

(f) Fifty-five hours of clinical/business practices, at a minimum to include hygiene, sanitation, draping, record-keeping, billing and insurance concepts, medical terminology, business models and management, and laws and rules relevant to massage and massage businesses.

(g) Forty hours of professional ethics to include the therapeutic relationship of the massage therapist and client or patient, human behavior, communication skills, professional boundaries, standards of ethical practice, and state laws and rules related to massage and health care ethics.

(2) To receive credit in an apprenticeship program for previous education and training, this education and training must have been completed within the five-year period prior to enrollment in the apprenticeship program.

(3) Only a board approved transfer program may exempt a student from curriculum requirements and grant credit or clock hours when the student's successful performance on an examination that the transfer program or apprenticeship program administers demonstrates that the student has attained competency in that subject area as a result of prior postsecondary learning or training. Any credits or clock hours granted pursuant to this subsection must be documented and retained in the student's record.

Statutory Authority: RCW 18.108.025(1). 95-11-108, § 246-830-430, filed 5/23/95, effective 6/23/95; 94-13-181, § 246-830-430, filed 6/21/94, effective 7/22/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.108.025. 92-15-153 (Order 291B), § 246-830-430, filed 7/22/92, effective 8/22/92; 91-01-077 (Order 102B), recodified as § 246-830-430, filed 12/17/90, effective 1/31/91; 88-13-038 (Order PM 739), § 308-51A-040, filed 6/9/88.

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