Alabama: Total Number of Hours “650 hours
(i) 100 hours of anatomy and physiology consisting of 35 hours of myology, 15 hours of osteology, 10 hours of circulatory system, 10 hours of nervous system, and 30 hours of other body systems at the discretion of the school;
(ii) 40 hours of pathology;
(iii) 250 hours of basic massage therapy, contradistinctions of massage therapy, contraindications to massage therapy, and related touch modalities, to include a minimum of 50 hours of supervised massage;(iv) 50 hours of miscellaneous required courses including business, hydrotherapy, first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and professional ethics;
(v) 210 hours of electives to be determined by the school. “
Alaska: 625
Arizona: 700
Arkansas: 500
“(e) The department may certify the school and provide for licensure thereof if the school
follows a curriculum consisting of not fewer than five hundred (500) hours of in-classroom
instruction over a term of not fewer than four (4) months consisting of the following subjects https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/pdf/Arkansas_Massage_Therapy_Law_2021.pdf”
California:
“(2) The applicant has successfully completed the curricula in massage and related
subjects totaling a minimum of 500 hours, or the credit unit equivalent, that incorporates
appropriate school assessment of student knowledge and skills.”
Colorado: 500
Connecticut: 750
Deleware: “License Requirement: 500 hours and MBLEx or NCETMB
Certification Requirement: 300 supervised class hours”
Florida: 500 hours
Georgia:
“500 Chapter 345-8 REQUIREMENTS – BOARD RECOGNIZED MASSAGE THERAPY EDUCATION PROGRAM
Rule 345-8-.01 Curriculum Requirements. Amended
In order to be a Georgia Board recognized massage therapy education program, the program must have a minimum curriculum of five-hundred (500) total clock hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction. For purposes of this rule,””supervised”” means the supervisor is physically on-site, qualified and immediately available. The minimum required subject matter and activities and the minimum required hours are as follows:
(a) A minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) hours of in-class supervised instruction in human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology;
(b) A minimum of forty (40) hours of in-class supervised instruction in pathology;
(c) A minimum of two-hundred hours (200) in massage therapy theory, technique and practice, which must include in-class supervised instruction of clinical techniques and hands-on clinical practice and must include, at a minimum, the following subject matters: effleurage/gliding; petrissage/kneading; compression; friction, tapotement/percussion; vibration; direct pressure; superficial warming techniques; pumping; stretching; jostling; shaking; rocking;
(d) A minimum of one hundred twenty-five (125) hours of in-class supervised instruction in contraindications, benefits, universal precautions, body mechanics, massage history, client data collection, documentation, and legalities of massage, professional standards including draping and modesty, therapeutic relationships and communications;
(e) A minimum of ten (10) hours of in-class supervised instruction in ethics and business (to include a minimum of six (6) hours in ethics); and,
(f) Of the five hundred (500) total clock hours, the curriculum must include a minimum of fifty (50) hours in supervised student clinical practice, but no more than sixty (60) hours in supervised student clinical practice. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to prohibit a massage therapy school that has a curriculum greater than five hundred (500) hours from having more supervised student clinical practice so long as it has at least four hundred and forty (440) hours of in-class supervised instruction.
(g) If an applicant transfers from another massage therapy education program into a massage therapy education program recognized by this Board and any of the clock hours from the original program(s) are accepted as a part of the program to which the applicant transferred, the name of the original program and the clock hours accepted from that program must be identified on the transcript provided to the Board. If the transferred hours are not from a board recognized massage therapy education program, the hours may not be used to satisfy the curriculum requirements of this rule.”
Hawaii:
“MASSAGE STUDENTS
§16-84-48 Requirements for massage students. (a) The student program shall consist of not less then five hundred seventy hours. In addition, the student shall successfully complete a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program.
(b) The curriculum of the massage school shall contain the following:
(1) Not less than fifty hours of anatomy, physiology, and structural kinesiology:
(2) Not less than one hundred hours of theory and demonstration of massage which shall include:
(A) The proper procedure in massaging (concerning the protection of both client and massage therapist);
(B) Record keeping;
(C) Hygiene;
(D) Theory;
(E) Technique for specific conditions;
(F) Contraindications of massage for specific techniques according to conditions;
(G) Draping; and
(H) Assessment of the client’s condition and the general technique to the applied;
(3) Not less than four hundred and twenty hours of practical massage training under the supervision of a teacher in a school setting.
(c) Students who complete a course consisting of at least five hundred and seventy hours course from a curriculum approved school by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the Rolf Institute shall be eligible to sit for the written clinical competency examination.
(d) Students who complete a course of study in a school approved by the state department of education shall be eligible to sit for the written clinical competency examination if the curriculum of the school meets the requirements of subsection (b).
(e) An applicant shall provide the board with written proof that the applicant has successfully completed the required course of study in a massage school approved by the department of education, American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), or the Rolf Institute.”
Idaho: 500
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa: 500
Kansas
Kentucky:
“309.363 Board approval of massage therapy program of instruction –Requirements — Continuing education guidelines.
(1) A person, institution, or business entity offering a massage therapy program of instruction shall file a completed application for a certificate of good standing with the board on a form prescribed by the board and pay a fee as specified in KRS 309.357. The completed application shall provide proof acceptable to the board that the following criteria have been met:
(a) The school is licensed to operate by the Kentucky Commission on Proprietary Education, the Council on Postsecondary Education, or their equivalent in another state;
(b) A curriculum statement showing clock hours devoted to each subject with the
following minimums:
- One hundred twenty-five (125) hours of anatomy, physiology, or
kinesiology; - A two hundred (200) hour course to include massage theory, technique,
and practice focusing on gliding strokes, kneading, direct pressure, deep
friction, joint movement, superficial warming techniques, percussion,
compression, vibration, jostling, shaking, and rocking; - Two hundred (200) hours of approach to the business of massage,
specifically including contraindications, benefits, business, history,
ethics, client documentation, legalities of massage, and modality courses
designed to meet the school’s specific program objectives; - Forty (40) hours of pathology; and
- The school may use its discretion in allotting the additional thirty-five
(35) curricular hours that are required under KRS 309.358; and https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=50949“
Louisiana
Maine: 500
A. Core curriculum. The curriculum must include a minimum of supervised 500 clock hours of classroom and clinical instruction. B. Curriculum content. The program curriculum must include at least the required subject matter described below and the hours allotted to each required area. The following are the minimum program elements that a curriculum must contain: 1. Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathology (120 hours minimum); 2. Massage Therapy Theory, Technique, and Practice which includes, but is not limited to the following: Gliding Strokes; Kneading; Direct Pressure; Deep Friction; Superficial Warming Techniques; Percussion; Compression (pumping); Vibration; Jostling; Shaking; Rocking; 3. Contraindications, benefits, universal precautions, body mechanics, business, history, ethics, and legalities of massage and professional standards regarding draping and modesty; and 4. A minimum of 100 hours of supervised hands-on practice. C. First Aid/CPR. Proof of current certification of completion of First Aid and CPR courses taught by an instructor certified by a nationally recognized organization. CPR or First Aid instruction hours may not be counted as part of the 500 minimum hours. D. Demonstration of course completion. The applicant must submit an official transcript of the massage therapy program. At a minimum, the official transcript must contain the student’s name and address, the number of hours of classroom instruction completed in each subject, the name and address of the institution, date of admission and date of graduation. E. Submissions. If schools wish to seek pre-approval of courses or programs, the following documentation must be submitted: 1. A copy of the school’s catalog or program curriculum or syllabus describing the minimum approved 500 hour massage courses as outlined in Sections 3(A), (B), and (C), the total hours for each course, the number of hours of lecture and practical instruction; 2. If the course includes supervised hands-on practice, the school shall provide clear and concise information on how the supervised hands-on practice is integrated in the overall course; and 3. A list of all faculty members and their credentials.
“A. Core curriculum. The curriculum must include a minimum of supervised 500 clock hours of classroom and clinical instruction.”
Maryland:
“.07 Required Massage Therapy Education and Training.
A. Classroom Training.
(1) Of the minimum 600 hours classroom training required in Regulation .06A(9), B, C, and D(8) of this chapter:
(a) At least 100 hours shall consist of:
(i) Anatomy;
(ii) Physiology;
(iii) Pathology; and
(iv) Kinesiology; and
(b) The remaining 500 hours shall include a majority of hours in:
(i) Massage therapy theory;
(ii) Technique;
(iii) Supervised practice;
(iv) Professional ethics;
(v) Professional standards;
(vi) Business practices;
(vii) Health and hygiene;
(viii) Contraindications of massage; and
(ix) Research.
(2) Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) shall be included but do not count toward the 600-hour minimum.
(3) An applicant may attend more than one training institution, if the applicant graduates from a school requiring satisfactory completion of a minimum of 600 classroom hours in massage therapy education.
(4) Correspondence courses are not recognized by the Board.
B. Education and Training in a Foreign Country.
(1) The Board may grant a license or registration to practice massage therapy to an applicant who completed an educational program in a foreign country if the applicant:
(a) Can demonstrate through a Board-approved certifying agency that the applicant’s education and training were substantially equivalent to the requirements of Regulation .04A(7) of this chapter and §A of this regulation through a Board-approved certifying agency; and
(b) Meets the examination and other requirements of this chapter.
(2) The Board may interview an applicant under this section to determine whether the applicant’s education and training meet the requirements of this chapter.
(3) An applicant shall arrange and pay for the professional translation into English of all documentation required under this chapter if the documentation is in a language other than English.”
Massachussetts: 650
” 650-hour course of in-classroom study that includes 550 hours of academic courses and 100 hours of unpaid, supervised clinical experience. Within the academic courses there shall be 100 hours in the Anatomy & Physiology of the Body; 45 hours in Pathology; 45 hours in Kinesiology; 60 hours in Ethics, Professionalism & Business Practices, and 300 hours of supervised classroom Massage Theory & Technique. The theory and techniques must be pertinent to Massage Therapy as defined by the Board’s statutes and regulations. Courses or topics such as First Aid, Reflexology or other excluded modalities may not be included in the 300 hour minimum.
https://www.mass.gov/doc/interim-rules-for-proprietary-schools-0/download”
Michigan:625
“https://ars.apps.lara.state.mi.us/AdminCode/DownloadAdminCodeFile?FileName=R%20338.701%20to%20R%20338.752.pdf&ReturnHTML=True R
338.722a Supervised curriculum for students enrolled on or after January 10, 2020; requirements. Rule 22a. (1) As used in this rule, “supervised curriculum” means a massage therapy curriculum that meets the requirements of this rule and is approved by the board pursuant to R 338.726. (2) For students enrolled on or after January 10, 2020, a supervised curriculum must include, at a minimum, 625 hours of courses or coursework and satisfy both of the following:
(a) Classroom instruction including both of the following:
(i) Seventy-five hours performing massage therapy services for members of the public in a supervised student clinic that meets all of the requirements of R 338.724.
(ii) Two hundred hours of massage and bodywork assessment, theory, and application instruction.
(b) Classroom instruction including all of the following: (i) One hundred twenty-five hours of instruction on the body systems that include anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. (ii) Forty hours of pathology. (iii) Twenty-five hours of business, professional practice, or ethics instruction with a minimum of 10 hours in ethics. (iv) One hundred sixty hours of instruction in an area or related field, as determined by the school, that completes the massage therapy program of study.
Mississippi:
“9 73-67-35. Education requirements for licensure; standards for massage therapy programs and schools; evidence of current national accreditation in lieu of application IRepealed effective July 1, 20251.
(1) To obtain a massage therapy license, an applicant must submit to the board the applicant official and certified transcript(s) from the applicant’s massage therapy school. The transcript must verify that the applicant has completed a board-approved training program of not less than five hundred Rfty (550) hours of massage therapy instruction, and at least fifty (50) hours of student clinic, with a minimum grade requirement of “”C”” or better in every course of instruction, in the following subjects:
(a) Two hundred (200) hours in massage theory and practicum;
(b) Two hundred (200) hours in science of the human body;
(c) One hundred fifty ( 150) hours in allied modalities; and
(d) Fifty (50) hours in supervised student clinic.
(2) “”Massage theory and practicum”” must include a minimum of the following classroom
hours in the specified subject areas:
(a) Ten (10) hours in legalities including Mississippi massage law and ethics;
(b) Twenty (20) hours ln history benefits, indications and contraindications;
(c) One hundred (100) hours in massage demonstration and supervised practice, which must
include, but is not limited to, client evaluation, stroking, kneadlng, stretching, friction,percussion, vibration, range of motion, approved hand held tools and devices designated as tbars or knobbies, and draping and turning; and
(d) The remaining seventy (70) hours may expand on any or all of the previous three (3)
subject areas andlor be related to practical massage.
(3) “”Science of the human body”” must include a minimum of the following classroom hours
in the speclfied subject areas:
(a) Twenty (20) hours in anatomy, lncluding all body systems;
(b) Twenty (20) hours in physiology, including all body systems;
(c) Twenty (20) hours in myology/kinesiology;
(d) Twenty (20) hours in neurology;
(e) Twenty (20) hours in pathology, including medical terminology; and
(f) The remaining eighty (80) hours may expand on any or all of the previous six (6) subject
areas and/or be related to the science of the human body.
(4) “”Allied modallties”” must lnclude. but are not limited to, a minimum of the following
classroom hours in the specified subject areas:
(a) Seven (7) hours in Eastern, European and Western theory/methods;
(b) Eight (8) hours in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid;
(c) Ten (10) hours in chartinq and documentation;
(d) Twenty-five (25) hours in hydrotherapy and infrared heau
(e) Twenty (20) hours in referral methods within the health care system; and
(O The remaining one hundred thirty ( 130) hours may expand on any or all of the previous five (5) subject areas, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, and/or be devoted to any approach to massage therapy and wellness. such as trigger points, management, communication, safety, oriental or Eastern massage techniques and specialized populations,
Schools with a temporary or probationary board status license must include a comprehensive review class of no less than sixteen (16) hours and three (3) hours to sit for and pass the board comprehensive exam.
(5) “”Student clinic”” must lnclude at least fifty (50) practical hands-on one-hour massage
therapy sessions to be evaluated on documents filed and kept on record at the school for a
minimum of six (6) months. These evaluations are to be completed by the clients of the
massage therapy sessions and shall include the client’s name, address, reason for session,
indications and contraindications, date and signature. Each completed session shall constitute
one (1) hour of student clinic. The hands-on session must be supervised by an lnstructor,
board licensed in the area being supervised.
(6) A massage therapy program shall not operate in the State of Mississippi unless it meets
the minlmum standards of curriculum for licensure as stated in this chapter. Massage schools
and massage curriculums for licensure preparation must obtain a national accreditation from
such agencies as the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation or programs with the
same or greater requirements. Existing massage schools wlll have five (5) years from July 1,
2001, to obtain that accreditation, New massage schools will have five (5) years from the
opening of the massage school to show conformance with the accreditation requirements. An
existing accredited massage school that loses its accreditation will have three (3) years from
the date of loss of its accreditation to show conformance wlth the accreditation requirements.
(7) No massage therapy program shall consist of more than forty (40) in-class clock hours per week.
(8) Hours credited through transfer credit shall not be recognized by the board unless the
following transfer standards are met:
(b) Courses for which credit is granted shall parallel in content and intensity to the course
offered by the school;
(c) Documentation of previous training shall be included in each studentt permanent file.
(9) Private business and vocational schools that have obtained national accreditation from an
accrediting agency designated by the United States Department of Educatlon may submit
evidence of current accreditation in lieu of other application requests. Applications submitted
on evidence of national accreditation must be approved or denied within sixty (60) days after
receipt. If no action is taken within sixty (60) days, the application shall be deemed approved
and a massage therapy license must be issued
https://www.msbmt.ms.gov/sites/msbmt/files/73-67%207.1.2021..pdf”
Missouri: 500
“(1) A person who seeks licensure as a massage therapist and has completed either five
hundred (500) clock hours of massage therapy training in an apprenticeship with a certified mentor and has successfully passed an examination approved by the board or massage therapy studies consisting of at least five hundred (500) clock hours of supervised instruction from a Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) certified school, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved vocational program or school, or school, college, university, or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Department of Education or an equivalent approving body for out-ofstate applicants, shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and shall submit the following:
https://www.sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2197-2.pdf”
Nebraska
Montana:
“24.155.605 CURRICULUM GUIDELINES (1) The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is a program currently accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and its curriculum guidelines meet or exceed the requirements of 37-33-502, MCA. Those curriculum guidelines are as follows:
(a) 200 hours of in-class and instructor-supervised massage and bodywork assessment, theory, and application instruction;
(b) 125 hours of instruction on the body systems (anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology);
(c) 40 hours of pathology;
(d) ten hours of business and ethics instruction (a minimum of six hours in ethics); and
(e) 125 hours of instruction in an area or related field that completes themassage program of study.
(2) Other curriculum guideline submissions will be evaluated by the board for
compliance with 37-33-502, MCA, on a case-by-case basis.
https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/arm/CH-155-LMT-as-of-06-30-2021.pdf”
Nevada:
“NAC 640C.052 License to practice massage therapy: Requirements for recognition of program by Board. (NRS 640C.320, 640C.400) The Board will recognize a program of massage therapy pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 3 of NRS 640C.400, if the program requires its pupils to complete a minimum of 550 hours of instruction in the following courses before receiving a certificate evidencing successful completion of the program:
New Hampshire: 750 https://www.oplc.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt441/files/inline-documents/sonh/plc-900-certified.pdf
” Plc 902.02 Educational Requirements for Initial Licensure as a Massage Therapist.
(a) The minimum educational qualifications for licensure as a massage therapist shall include:
(1) A high school diploma or its equivalent;
(2) Graduation from a qualifying massage therapy school, as described in Plc 902.04; and
(3) Completion of a course of study of at least 750 hours, including the following:
a. Anatomy and physiology;
b. History, theory, practice, benefits, and contraindications of massage therapy, related
modalities, and adjunct therapies within the scope of practice of a massage therapist, including
Swedish massage and hydrotherapy;
c. Hygiene and sanitary practices, including:
- Blood-borne pathogen standards; and
- Adult CPR and first aid, as documented by current certification in each area;
d. Health service management, business practices, and ethics of massage; and
e. Verifiably documented practical hours, further described in Plc 902.03.
(b) Continuing education events, seminars, or programs shall not be accepted or approved as meeting any of the educational requirements in (a) above.
(c) Distance learning shall be accepted as meeting the educational requirements in (a) above, provided that:
(1) The distance learning courses were not palpation dependent, hands-on courses;
(2) All palpation dependent, hands-on courses were taken at the qualifying massage school;
(3) The distance learning program required an on-line learning self-assessment quiz to be passed
by the potential student prior to being accepted into the program;
NEW HAMPSHIRE CODE OF ADMINISTRATIVE RULES
4 Plc 900
(4) The self-assessment quiz required in accordance with (3) above included inquiries relative to
the student’s:
a. Expectations of on-line learning;
b. Academic experience;
c. Technology skills;
d. Writing skills;
e. Level of maturity; and
f. Self-discipline;
(5) Specific learning goals for each course were posted online;
(6) All distance learning courses provided students with continuous interaction between faculty
and students through use of online communications tools which included:
a. Online discussion board;
b. Virtual classroom;
c. Responsive email; and
d. Live chat;
(7) Each course contained a weekly scheduled time for students to communicate live with his or
her instructor;
(8) Each course contained timely and reliable feedback to students; and
(9) All distance learning courses provided the use of an online gradebook to allow students to
constantly monitor their progress throughout the course.
Source. (See Revision Note #1 at chapter heading for Plc 900)
New Jersey: 500 https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-37A-New-Jersey-Board-of-Massage-and-Bodywork-Therapy.pdf
d) A course of study in massage and bodywork therapy of at least 500 hours shall include: 1) At least 90 hours of anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology; 2) Ethics and Law; 3) Theory and Practice (in-class instruction as to massage and bodywork theory and modalities and in-class demonstration and practice of massage and bodywork modalities); 4) Electives directly related to the practice of massage and bodywork therapy; and 5) At least 100 hours of clinical practice which is supervised by a faculty member who is present on-site while services are being performed and is either a licensed massage and bodywork therapist or is legally authorized to perform massage and bodywork in the state in which the school exists. e) For purposes of (d) above, one credit in a course taken in a college or university shall constitute 15 hours of course study. NEW JERSEY BOARD OF MASSAGE AND BODYWORK THERAPY LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY Chapter 37A Page 8 of 34 Last Revision Date: 09/20/2021 f) Hours completed during one area of a course of study in massage, bodywork and somatic therapy shall not be counted towards completion of another area of that course. For example, one hour spent performing massage, bodywork and somatic therapy that is completed as part of theory and practice pursuant to (d)3 above shall not be counted towards the 100 hours of clinical practice required by (d)5 above. g) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant who qualifies pursuant to (a) above if the applicant is not disqualified for license pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A.
New Mexico
New York: 1000 https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/massage-therapy/laws-rules-regulations/part-52
- A program of instruction in massage therapy may be offered at a degree-granting institution or by a school or institute of massage therapy which meets the requirements of this Part.
- Curriculum. The institution shall maintain a satisfactory program of not less than 1,000 clock hours of classroom instruction or the semester hour equivalent, as prescribed as follows:
- 200 clock hours in anatomy, physiology, and neurology, provided that a minimum of 50 clock hours of instruction is in neurology;
- 150 clock hours in myology and/or kinesiology;
- 100 clock hours in general pathology, including instruction related to skin, neuromuscular, and soft tissue conditions;
- 75 clock hours in the subject of hygiene, first aid, and other areas related to the practice of massage therapy, including but not limited to instruction in: infection control procedures; cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) resulting in certification; the recognition of abused and/or neglected patients; and the uses, effects, and chemical ingredients of powders, oils, and other products used in the practice of massage therapy;
- 150 clock hours in general theory and techniques in the fundamentals of western massage therapy and oriental massage therapy, provided that a minimum of 50 clock hours of instruction is given in each type of massage therapy; and
- 325 clock hours of additional instruction and student practice in massage therapy techniques, within the practice of massage therapy as defined in section 7801 of the Education Law, provided that each student shall be required to directly apply massage therapy techniques to another individual for a minimum of 150 clock hours and that student practice shall be under the on-site supervision of a person licensed to practice massage therapy pursuant to the requirements of section 7804 of the Education Law or authorized to practice massage therapy by subdivision one of section 7805 of the Education Law.
North Carolina:
North Dakota: https://ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/49-02-02.pdf
“49-02-02-03. Required curriculum.
The supervised required hours of classroom instruction received by an applicant must satisfy
the following curriculum requirements:
a. One hundred fifty hours of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.
b. Forty hours of pathology.
c. Ten hours of first aid and CPR. At the time of graduation, the applicant must hold a valid
current CPR card certified by a nationally recognized organization to provide CPR
instruction.
d. One hundred and thirty hours of introductory massage therapy courses, including basic
and allied modalities, contraindications, sanitation, disease prevention, and massage
theory.
e. One hundred seventy-five hours of practical application and clinical practice.
The applicant must also satisfy the following curriculum requirements which do not require
supervised classroom instruction:
a. Fifty hours of business practices, career development, and professional ethics.
b. Seventy-five hours of clinical practice.
c. One hundred twenty hours of other courses directly related to massage therapy.
Each hour of instruction may be applied to only one of the above categories.
To be counted under this section, the instruction must reflect current scientific knowledge and
standards.
The number of classroom hours specified in subdivisions a through b of subsection 1 also is
the maximum amount of prior education credits in each subject which may be given under
section 49-02-02-02.
Hours of instruction for programs which measure their instruction in credit hours per semester
or per quarter shall be determined as follows:
a. For semester credits, fifteen clock-hours of lecture equals one credit hour and thirty
clock-hours of practical instruction (clinical or lab) equals one credit hour.
b. For quarter credits, ten clock-hours of lecture equals one credit hour and twenty
clock-hours of practical instruction (clinical or lab) equals one credit hour.
Ohio https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/chapter-4731
“Section 4731.19 | License to practice a limited branch of medicine.
Effective:October 9, 2021Latest Legislation:House Bill 263, House Bill 442 – 133rd General AssemblyPDF:Download Authenticated PDF
(A) A person seeking a license to practice a limited branch of medicine shall file with the state medical board an application in a manner prescribed by the board. The application shall include or be accompanied by all of the following:
(1) Evidence that the applicant is at least eighteen years of age;
(2) Evidence that the applicant has attained high school graduation or its equivalent;
(3) Evidence that the applicant holds one of the following:
(a) A diploma or certificate from a school, college, or institution in good standing as determined by the board, showing the completion of the following required courses of instruction:
(i) Two hundred seventy-five hours in anatomy and physiology and pathology;
(ii) Two hundred seventy-five hours in massage theory and practical, including hygiene;
(iii) Twenty-five hours in ethics;
(iv) Twenty-five hours in business and law.
(b) A diploma or certificate from a school, college, or institution in another state or jurisdiction showing completion of a course of instruction that meets the requirements of division (A)(3)(a) of this section and any other course requirements determined by the board through rules adopted under section 4731.05 of the Revised Code;
(c) 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.
(4) Evidence that the applicant has successfully passed an examination, prescribed in rules described in section 4731.16 of the Revised Code, to determine competency to practice the applicable limited branch of medicine;
(5) An attestation that the information submitted under this section is accurate and truthful and that the applicant consents to release of information;
(6) Any other information the board requires.
(B) An applicant for a license to practice a limited branch of medicine shall comply with the requirements of section 4731.171 of the Revised Code.
(C) At the time of making application for a license to practice a limited branch of medicine, the applicant shall pay to the board a fee of one hundred fifty dollars, no part of which shall be returned. No application shall be considered filed until the board receives the appropriate fee.
(D) The board may investigate the application materials received under this section and contact any agency or organization for recommendations or other information about the applicant.
Oklahoma
Oregon
“4) Transcripts must include a minimum of 625 hours of certified classes. The 625 hours must include the knowledge and skills identified in OAR 334-010-0047 competencies and must be comprised of:
(a) A minimum of 200 hours of Anatomy & Physiology, Pathology, and Kinesiology; and
(b) A minimum of 300 hours of Massage Theory and Practical Application, Clinical Practice, Business Development, Communication and Ethics, and Sanitation. Hydrotherapy may be included as part of the 300 hours.
(c) The additional 125 hours can be in Anatomy & Physiology, Pathology, Kinesiology, Massage or Bodywork Theory and Practical Application, Clinical Practice, Business Development, Communication, Ethics, Sanitation or Hydrotherapy.
(d) Hours can be calculated in clock hours or equivalent credit hours from an institution that substantially complies with the definition of credit hours in 34 CFR 600.2. “
Pennsylvania: 600 http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacodefile=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter20/chap20toc.html&d=
Ҥ 20.11. Minimum hour requirements for massage therapy programs.
(a) Massage therapy programs must provide at least 600 hours of in-class, postsecondary education instruction, including:
(1) At least 175 contact hours of instruction in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology and pathology, including training in the human immunodeficiency virus and related risks.
(2) At least 250 contact hours in massage therapy and bodywork assessment, theory and practice including sanitation, safety and hygiene.
(3) At least 25 contact hours in professional ethics, and business and law related to a massage therapy business.
(4) At least 150 contact hours in related courses appropriate to a massage therapy curriculum as set forth in § 20.13 (related to required knowledge base), including cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
(b) Massage therapy programs may meet the 600-hour requirement through both didactic and clinical courses.
(c) Externship hours may not be included in the 600-hour minimum education instruction. For purposes of this section, an externship is an offsite practical technique learning experience where the student’s supervision is provided by a licensed massage therapist, supervisor or other appropriate licensed health professional.
(d) Hours for practicing assigned techniques under indirect supervision may not be included in the 600-hour minimum education instruction.
Rhode Island: 500 https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-10
“10.5 Qualifications for Licensure
A. In addition to the requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-20.8-5, an applicant for a
license to practice massage therapy in Rhode Island shall:
- Be a graduate of an approved school as defined in § 10.3 of this Part.
- The curriculum shall have consisted of at least five hundred (500) hours which included study and practical training specifically designed to provide knowledge and skills necessary for the practice of massage. The content of the five hundred (500) hour program shall include no less than the
following classroom subjects, including practical training:
a. Anatomy, physiology and kinesiology
b. Supervised theory and practice
c. Clinical Assessment and bodywork competency
d. Pathology
e. Elective subjects, including first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation {CPR}, and any of the following: ethics, boundaries, regulations and guidelines for professional practice, business
practices/law, office procedures - Successfully completed the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx); or other examination as approved by the Department.
- Correspondence courses shall not be recognized as acceptable equivalents. “
South Carolina
South Dakota: https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/30515
20:76:01:06. Required training. An applicant for licensure as a massage therapist shall provide proof of required training on a form prescribed by the board and completed by the recognized facility where the training was received. Official transcripts evidencing that the applicant has completed the required training shall be provided by the recognized facility. The board may consider other evidence of training if the recognized facility has ceased operations. The required training for licensure includes: (1) One hundred twenty-five hours of training in the body’s systems and anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology; (2) Two hundred hours of training in massage and bodywork assessment, theory, and application; (3) Forty hours of training in pathology; (4) Ten hours total of training in business and ethics, with a minimum of six hours in ethics; and (5) One hundred twenty-five hours of additional training in an area or related field that theoretically completes a massage program of study. Fifty minutes of supervised classroom instruction is equal to one hour of training. The board may approve an application from an applicant with required training from a combination of two or more recognized facilities. Online training is acceptable to meet the training requirements for licensure. At least 200 hours of hands-on training from a recognized facility must be completed. The board may recognize qualifying continuing education to fulfill required training for licensure.
Tennessee: https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0870/0870-01.20170817.pdf
“Applicants shall request that a transcript from one (1) or more post secondary
academic institution(s) approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission or
its equivalent in another state(s), or approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents and
approved by the Tennessee Massage Licensure Board, be submitted directly from the
institution(s) to the Board Administrative Office. The transcript must carry the official
seal of the institution(s) and must show that the applicant has successfully completed a
massage, bodywork, and/or somatic therapy curriculum(s) consisting of no less than
five hundred (500) classroom hours, specifically delineated as follows:
- Two hundred (200) classroom hours of the five hundred (500) classroom hour
requirement shall consist of sciences including, but not limited to, anatomy,
physiology-Western and/or/Eastern, kinesiology, pathology, HIV/AIDS and bloodborne pathogens, and hygiene (including standard precautions). Other sciences
related to the human body may be included with Board approval. - Two hundred (200) classroom hours of the five hundred classroom (500) hour
requirement shall consist of basic massage theory and practice including, but not
limited to, history, benefits, indications, contraindications, demonstration and
supervised practice, client assessment/evaluation, soft tissue manipulations
including: gliding, kneading, friction, compression, vibration, percussion,
stretching, joint movements, draping, positioning, turning, feedback,
charting/documentation, proper body mechanics, and self-care. - Eighty-five (85) classroom hours of the five hundred (500) classroom hour
requirement shall consist of related subjects including, but not limited to,
business standards of practice, communication skills, CPR/First Aid, the
Americans with Disabilities Act, referral methods, specialized populations, and
specialized and adjunct therapies/modalities (including hydrotherapy). - Ten (10) classroom hours of the five hundred (500) classroom hour requirement
shall consist of ethics instruction. - Five (5) classroom hours of the five hundred (500) classroom hour requirement
shall consist of instruction regarding Tennessee massage statutes and
regulations.https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0870/0870-01.20170817.pdf”
Utah: 600 https://adminrules.utah.gov/public/rule/R156-47b/Current%20Rules
R156-47b-302. Qualifications for Licensure as a Massage Therapist – Massage School Curriculum Standards.Under Subsection 58-47b-302(2)(d)(i)(A), an applicant shall graduate from a school of massage with a curriculum that meets the following standards at the time of graduation:(1) Curricula shall:(a) be registered with:(i) the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection; or
(ii) an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education; or(b) be from a recognized school.(2) Curricula shall be a minimum of 600 hours and shall include the following:(a) anatomy, physiology and kinesiology – 125 hours;(b) pathology – 40 hours;(c) massage theory, massage techniques including the five basic Swedish massage strokes, and hands on instruction – 285 hours;(d) professional standards, ethics and business practices – 35 hours;(e) sanitation and universal precautions including CPR and first aid – 15 hours;(f) clinic – 100 hours; and(g) other related massage subjects as approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board.(3) The Division, in collaboration with the Board, may consider supplemental coursework of an applicant who has completed the minimum 600 curricula hours, but has incidental deficiencies in one or more of the categories in Subsections R156-47b-302(2)(a) through (f). “
Vermont
Virginia
Washington: 625
West Virginia: http://www.wvmassage.org/rules.asp?show=schoolstandards
” 7.1.2 The schools shall offer a program consisting of a minimum of five hundred (500) classroom hours of supervised instruction. Such program shall contain the following hours of specific course work which are consistent with the school’s mission and education objectives:
“f 600 classroom hours of study and shall include the following
subject areas:
(a) One hundred twenty−five classroom hours in anatomy, physiology, pathology, and kinesiology.
(b) Fifty classroom hours in business, law and ethics, which shall include at least 6 classroom hours in the laws of this state and rules of the board relating to the practice of massage therapy or
bodywork therapy required by s. MTBT 2.01 (3) (b).
(c) Three hundred classroom hours in massage therapy or bodywork therapy theory, technique, and practice, which shall include 100 classroom hours of supervised hands−on practice.
(d) Twenty classroom hours in student clinic.
(e) Five classroom hours in adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid. The requirement of this paragraph may be alternatively satisfied as provided under s. MTBT 2.01 (3) (j).
(f) One hundred classroom hours in additional massage therapy or bodywork therapy course offerings meeting the objectives of the course of instruction”