(A) For purposes of this rule,
"hours" as used in section 4731.19 of the Revised Code, means a
period of sixty minutes with a minimum of fifty minutes of
instruction.
(B) A person seeking a license to
practice massage therapy must hold one of the following:
(1) A diploma or
certificate from a limited branch school, college or institution located in
Ohio that held a certificate of good standing at the time the person obtained
the diploma or certificate.
(2) A diploma or
certificate from a limited branch school, college, or institution located
outside of Ohio that held a certificate of good standing at the time the person
obtained the diploma or certificate.
(3) A diploma or
certificate from a limited branch school, college, or institution located
outside of Ohio that required the completion of a course of instruction meeting
the requirements section 4731.19 of the Revised Code. No more than one-half of
the course of instruction required by section 4731.19 of the Revised Code may
have been provided via distance education.
(4) During the five-year
period immediately preceding the date of application, a current license,
registration, or certificate in good standing in another state for massage
therapy.
(C) A person desiring to have the board
determine the standing of a limited branch school, college, or institution
shall file an application for a certificate of good standing in the form and
manner prescribed by the board. The completed application shall be signed by
the owner or owners and shall provide evidence of the following:
(1) If the limited branch
school, college or institution is located in this state, that:
(a) It holds a certificate of authorization issued by the
Ohio department of higher education pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised
Code; or
(b) It holds a valid certificate of registration and a
valid program authorization for the program in the limited branch of medicine
issued by the state board of career colleges and schools pursuant to Chapter
3332. of the Revised Code; or
(c) It holds a certificate of authorization issued by the
Ohio department of education, division of career/technical adult education;
and
(d) It offers a course of instruction in compliance with
section 4731.19 of the Revised Code. No more than one-half of the course of
instruction required by section 4731.19 of the Revised Code may be provided via
distance education.
(e) It requires that each student, prior to completing the
course of instruction, perform, on a licensed massage therapist, at least one
therapeutic massage. The school shall ensure that the student massage is
evaluated as to whether the student demonstrates at least minimally acceptable
competency.
(2) If the limited branch
school, college or institution is located outside this state,
that:
(a) It holds a current or valid registration authorizing
its operation issued by the appropriate regulatory body in the state of
location that is substantially equivalent to the department of higher
education, the state board of career colleges and schools, or the department of
education in this state; or
(b) Approval or recognition by the state board or agency
authorized to regulate the limited branch of medicine in the state in which the
limited branch school, college, or institution is located; or
(c) In the event that the limited branch school, college,
or institution is located in a state that does not approve or recognize such
facilities or educational programs, approval by the federation of state massage
therapy boards for purposes of permitting graduates to sit for the MBLEx;
and
(d) It offers a course of instruction in compliance with
section 4731.19 of the Revised Code. No more than one-half of the course of
instruction required by section 4731.19 of the Revised Code may be provided via
distance education.
(e) It requires that each student, prior to completing the
course of instruction, perform, on a licensed massage therapist, at least one
therapeutic massage. The school shall ensure that the student massage is
evaluated as to whether the student demonstrates at least minimally acceptable
competency.
(D) At or before the time a school,
college or institution in this state accepts a student for admission to a
massage therapy course of instruction, the school, college or institution shall
provide the student with written notice that arrests, charges, or convictions
of criminal offenses may be cause to deny or limit licensure or employment
opportunities in specific careers and occupations and may limit the
student's ability to obtain federal, state, and other financial aid. The
notice shall direct students to the explanatory statement and disqualifying
offense list on the board's website at
www.med.ohio.gov/The-Board/Disqualifying-Criminal-Convictions.
(E) An application for a certificate of
good standing shall be signed by all owners and may not be signed by a person
who has been found guilty of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, or
by a person who has been disciplined by the board pursuant to section 4731.22
of the Revised Code.
(F) The board may refuse to issue,
suspend, place on probation, revoke, or permanently revoke a certificate of
good standing for any one or any combination of the following
causes:
(1) Non-compliance with
or failure to fulfill the provisions of this chapter of the Administrative Code
or applicable provisions of Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code;
(2) Furnishing of false,
misleading, or incomplete information requested by the board;
(3) Violation of state or
federal laws including discrimination in the acceptance and education of
students upon the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national
origin.
(G) If the board refuses to issue,
suspend, place on probation, revoke, or permanently revoke a certificate of
good standing, the applicant or the certificate holder shall be entitled to a
hearing. Notice and hearing requirements will be in compliance with the
provisions of Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and any rules adopted by the
board.
(H) In determining the effective date of
any suspension, revocation, or permanent revocation of a certificate, the board
shall take into consideration those students currently enrolled in the course
of instruction.
(I) The certificate of good standing
issued pursuant to this rule is valid for two years from the date of issuance.
It may be renewed upon the holder's submission of evidence demonstrating
that the requirements of paragraph (C) of this rule are satisfied as determined
by the board.
