64B7-32.003. Minimum Requirements for Board Approved Massage Therapy Schools

(1) In order to receive and maintain Board approval, in-state schools, and any satellite location of a previously approved in-state school, must:

(a) Submit a completed application on form DH-MQA 1266, “Application for Massage Therapy School Approval” (01/18). The form is incorporated herein by reference and may be obtained from the Board office at 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C-06, Tallahassee, Florida 32399 or from the website located at https:.//floridamassagetherapy.gov/educatin-an-trainingprograms/ or http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-09169. To complete this application online, visit http://flhealthsource.gov/mqa-services.

(b) Meet the requirements of and be licensed by the Department of Education pursuant to Chapter 1005, F.S., or be within the public school system of the State of Florida; and,

(c) Offer a course of study that includes, all required hours in each subject area listed below in chart A, except that from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025 some hours may be delivered as instruction hours as detailed in chart B. All hours must be completed at a rate of no more than 6 hours per day and no more than 30 hours per calendar week:

Chart A Minimum Course of Study Requirements

Subject Area	Required Classroom Hours
Anatomy and Physiology	150
Basic Massage Therapy Theory and History	100
Clinical Practicum Massage Therapy	125
Allied Modalities Massage Therapy	76
Business	15
Theory and Practice of Hydrotherapy	15
Florida Laws and Rules Governing Massage Therapy Practice (Chapters 456 and 480, F.S., and rule Division 64B7, F.A.C.)	10
Professional Ethics	4
HIV/AIDS Education	3
Prevention of Medical Errors	2

Chart B Minimum Course of Study Requirments (March 1, 2020 – December 31, 2025)

Subject Area	Required Classroom Hours	Total Required Hours (classroom and instruction)
Anatomy and Physiology	0	150 hours
Basic Massage Theory and History	75	100 hours
Clinical Practicum	125	125 hours
Allied Modalities	76	76 hours
Business	0	15 hours
Theory and Practice of Hydrotherapy	12	15 hours
Florida Laws and Rules Governing Massage Therapy Practice (Chapters 456 and 480, F.S., and rule Division 64B7, F.A.C.)	0	10 hours
Professional Ethics	0	4 hours
HIV/AIDS Education	0	3 hours
Prevention of Medical Errors	0	2 hours

(d) Achieve a graduate passage rate not lower than 10 percentage points less than the average passage rate for graduates of comparable degree programs who are first-time examinees on a board approved examination during a calendar year.

1. If an in-state board approved massage therapy school’s graduate passage rates do not equal or exceed required passage rates for two consecutive calendar years, the school will be placed on probationary status pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S. The board may require the program director to present a plan for remediation at a regularly scheduled meeting.

2. The board will remove probationary status at a regularly scheduled meeting following release of the school’s graduate passage rate by the board approved testing vendor and once the school achieves a graduate passage rate for any one calendar year that equals or exceeds the required passage rate.

(2) An in-state board approved massage therapy school must notify the board within 90 days of:

(a) Changes in curriculum;

(b) Changes in address;

(c) Changes in name;

(d) Changes in approved signer;

(e) Changes in ownership.

(3) Approval of an in-state board approved massage therapy school shall be revoked or other action taken if the school:

(a) Modifies its course of study to fall below minimum standards, or fails to require its students to complete its course of study in order to graduate;

(b) Submits on behalf of an applicant for licensure documents containing information the school, through its owner, manager, faculty, or other employees or agents, knows to be false;

(c) Violates any standard applicable to the school pursuant to licensure by the Department of Education;

(d) Violates any applicable rule herein;

(e) Does not achieve the required passage rate for any one calendar year during the two calendar years following placement on probationary status, pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S.

(4) If an in-state board approved massage therapy school or any owner, manager, faculty, or other employee or agent is alleged to have violated any provision of Chapter 480, F.S., Chapter 64B7-32, F.A.C., or any part therein:

(a) The board shall inform the school of any alleged violations in writing. The school shall respond in writing. The school may request an appearance before the board at the next scheduled meeting to explain any mitigating factors;

(b) If the board determines that a school is in noncompliance, it may impose one of the following:

1. Corrective action required which shall include the time period in which the school must comply; or

2. Rescission of board approval.

(c) The Board shall inform the Florida Department of Education of the action taken.

(5) The Board shall review approval of an in-state board approved massage therapy school when a change in ownership occurs. If the Board determines that the school is in noncompliance with any provision of Chapter 480, F.S., and Chapter 64B7-32, F.A.C., or part therein, it may impose one of the following:

(a) Corrective action required which shall include the time period in which the school must demonstrate compliance;

(b) Revocation of board approval.

Rulemaking Authority 480.033(3), 480.035(7) FS. Law Implemented 480.033(3), 480.041(1)(b) FS. History–New 3-25-86, Amended 8-15-89, 12-22-92, Formerly 21L-32.003, Amended 10-20-96, Formerly 61G11-32.003, Amended 8-16-98, 10-30-07, 4-25-10, 5-8-12, 3-21-18, 8-31-20, 11-4-21, 2-2-22, 6-5-23, 12-3-23.