Massage Licensing Reciprocity Laws by State

Tennessee

Reciprocity Licensure

1.Applicants who are licensed or have been licensed in another state and are

seeking reciprocity licensure in Tennessee may do so in one of two ways:

(i)An applicant may request that one or more transcripts compliant with Rule0870-01-.05(1)(e)1-4 and verification of having successfully completed an approved competency examination as provided in 0870-01-.09 be submitted directly to the Board Administrative Office; or

(ii)An applicant can avoid the educational requirements of rule 0870-01-.05(1)(e)1-4 if they qualify under the terms of Tennessee Code Annotated§ 63-18-116. Such applicants must request that proof from the NCBTMB of their certification for the five (5) year period immediately preceding application for licensure be submitted directly to the Board Administrative

Office and must submit documentation satisfactory to the Board that they have engaged in the practice of massage therapy in another state for the five (5) year period immediately preceding application for licensure.

2.All applicants for reciprocity licensure must submit proof of having successfully completed five (5) classroom hours

of instruction regarding Tennessee massage statutes and regulations and must have had at least ten (10) classroom hours of

ethics instruction, as required in rule 0870-01-.05(1)(e)4. and 5. These hours shall not be self-

directed.

(2)All applications shall be sworn to and signed by the applicant and notarized. All applications and documents submitted for licensure purposes become the property of the State of Tennessee and will not be returned. Neither the application form nor any required document will be accepted if any portion has been executed and dated prior to one (1) year before

receipt by the Board Administrative Office.

(3)Application review and all licensure decisions shall be governed by Rule 0870-01-.08.

(4)Applicants who graduated from schools that are no longer in operation may be asked to submit additional documentary evidence of their education

Washington State

WAC 246-830-037

Transfer programs and transfer of prior education and clock hours.

(1) Board approved massage schools or massage programs may operate transfer programs that accept an individual’s credits or clock hours from massage schools, massage programs, colleges or universities, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The massage school, massage program, college or university from where credits or clock hours are being transferred is:

(i) Accredited by a national or regional education accreditation organization;

(ii) Approved by a state authority with responsibility for oversight of educational or vocational programs; or

(iii) Approved by a state agency that regulates massage schools or massage programs and is a member of the federation of state massage therapy boards.

(b) The massage school, massage program, college or university from where credits or clock hours are being transferred provides an official transcript;

(c) Courses for which credits or clock hours are granted must be substantially equivalent in content and academic rigor to the courses and clock hours presently offered by the massage school or massage program. In order to determine substantial equivalency, the massage school or massage program will evaluate the courses and clock hours. If components are missing, the massage school or massage program shall require credits or clock hours for those subjects while granting partial credit as appropriate. Documentation of the massage school’s or massage program’s decision-making rationale must be maintained in the student’s file; and

(d) Documentation of all previous formal education and training applicable to completion of a massage school or massage program is included in each student’s permanent file.

(2) A transfer program must be approved by the board prior to a massage school or massage program enrolling a transfer student via the use of transfer credits or clock hours.

(3) An authorized representative of the massage school or massage program must submit to the board a completed application packet provided by the department. Approval of a transfer program will follow the same process as outlined in WAC 246-830-420.

(4) Approval of a transfer program is valid for three years after initial approval and every five years for reapproval. The board may place restrictions on or may revoke or suspend approval of a transfer program that fails to comply with the requirements in this section or in RCW 18.108.028.