§ 20-4. Massage therapist license required; categories; educational requirements; restrictions.

No person shall perform massage therapy within the jurisdiction of the unified government unless he has a valid massage therapist permit issued by the unified government pursuant to the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that massage therapy may be performed by a student massage therapist subject to the provisions of section 20-24.

(1)

The categories of massage therapist permits and educational requirements shall be as follows:

a.

Massage Therapist I. To be eligible for issuance of a Massage Therapist I permit, an applicant must provide proof of the following:

1.

That the applicant has successfully completed a course of instruction consisting of not less than 300 hours in the theory, method or practice of massage. An hour of instruction is defined as 50 minutes of actual instructional time. The curriculum shall include, at a minimum:

(i)

Seventy-eight hours of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology, including palpation, range of motion, and physics of joint function.

(ii)

Thirty hours of pathology, including indications and contraindications to massage therapy and palpation.

(iii)

One hundred fifty hours of theory and practice of massage technique, to include deep tissue techniques, remedial gymnastics, body mechanics of the practitioner, and medical treatment. A maximum of 30 of these hours may include time spent in a student clinic.

(iv)

Thirty hours of clinical/business practices, to include hygiene, record keeping, medical terminology, professional ethics, business management, human behavior, client interaction, state and local laws and three hours of communicable diseases.

2.

In addition to the 300-hour educational requirement, the applicant must have successfully completed certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR or the equivalent, and provide current certification.

3.

Persons issued a permit as a Massage Therapist I may provide therapy within the jurisdiction of the unified government only when under the supervision of a person issued a permit by the unified government as a Massage Therapist II. Supervision shall mean the supervising therapist is available on the premises and is personally aware the Massage Therapist I is conducting massage therapy on a client. It shall be a violation of this chapter for a Massage Therapist I to conduct unsupervised massage therapy within the city. Persons issued a permit as a Massage Therapist I are prohibited from conducting massage therapy off the licensed business premises of the massage establishment.

b.

Massage Therapist II. To be eligible for issuance of a Massage Therapist II permit, an applicant must provide proof of the following:

1.

The applicant has successfully completed a course of instruction consisting of not less than 500 hours in the theory, method or practice of massage. An hour of instruction is defined as 50 minutes of actual instructional time. The curriculum shall include at a minimum:

(i)

One hundred thirty hours of anatomy, physiology and kinesiology, including palpation, range of motion, and physics of joint function.

(ii)

Fifty hours of pathology, including indications and contraindications to massage therapy and palpation.

(iii)

Two hundred fifty hours of theory and practice of massage therapy, at a minimum to include deep tissue techniques, remedial gymnastics, body mechanics of the practitioner, and medical treatment. A maximum of 50 of these hours may include time spent in a student clinic.

(iv)

Fifty-five hours of clinical/business practices, to include hygiene, record keeping, medical terminology, professional ethics, business management, human behavior, client interaction, state and local laws and three hours of communicable diseases.

In addition to the 500-hour educational requirement, the applicant must have successfully completed certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR or the equivalent, and provide current certification; or

2.

That the applicant is currently licensed or has been licensed within six months of the date of application, by a licensing authority that requires a course of instruction, consisting of not less than 500 hours, in the theory, method or practice of massage. The required curriculum must include anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, first aid and hygiene and practical instruction in massage technique. The applicant must also have successfully completed certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR or the equivalent and provide current certification. In addition, the applicant must show proof that they have been licensed in the foreign jurisdiction for a minimum of one year; or

3.

That the applicant has successfully passed the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

(2)

Proof of completion of educational and training requirements must be by certified transcripts. The educational and training requirements required by this chapter may be received from more than one school.

(3)

Individuals licensed with the unified government as massage therapists as of the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived have until June 1, 1999 to satisfy the education and training requirements of this section, provided all applicants for a massage therapist license in any category must have completed certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR or the equivalent no later than June 1, 1999; and provided further that the unified government license administrator is authorized, for good cause shown in writing, to extend the time period to satisfy the education and training requirement of this section until September 1, 1999.

(4)

As of July 1, 1999, all licensed massage therapists applying for a renewal license must show proof that they have received a minimum of 12 hours (50 minutes per hour) of professional massage continuing education during the preceding 12-month licensing period. One hour continuing education credit will be awarded for each hour attendance at programs relating to the theory or clinical application of theory pertaining to the practice of massage, to include, but not be limited to, clinical business practices, hygiene, record keeping, medical terminology, professional ethics, business management, human behavior, client interaction and state and local laws that are sponsored by a university, junior college or otherwise found to be acceptable by the license administrator and/or his designated representative.

(Code 1988, § 20-4; Ord. No. O-92-98, § 1, 10-22-1998)