STATE OF WISCONSIN
MASSAGE THERAPY AND BODYWORK THERAPY AFFILIATED CREDENTIALING BOARD
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IN THE MATTER OF RULEMAKING : ORDER OF THE
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE : MASSAGE THERAPY AND BODYWORK
MASSAGE THERAPY AND BODYWORK : THERAPY AFFILIATED CREDENTIALING
THERAPY AFFILIATED : BOARD ADOPTING RULES
CREDENTIALING BOARD : (CLEARINGHOUSE RULE 18-053)
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ORDER
An order of the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board to renumber and amend MTBT 2.01 (3) (b) 3. and (g) and 3.01 (4) (b); to amend MTBT 2.01 (intro.), (1), (Note), (2), and (3) (intro.), (a), (Note), (b) (intro.), 1., and 2., (h), and (j), 2.015, 2.03 (1) (intro.), (a), (Note), (b), and (c) (intro.) and (2) (a) and (b), 2.04, and 3.01 (1) and (5) (a) to (f); and to create MTBT 2.01 (3) (b) 3. a., (Note), and b. and (g) 1. to 7. and 3.01 (4) (b) 1., (Note), and 2., relating to application for a license and approved training programs.
Analysis prepared by the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
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ANALYSIS
Statutes interpreted:
Statutory authority:
Explanation of agency authority:
Section 15.085 (5) (b), Stats., provides that affiliated credentialing boards, such as the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board, “shall promulgate rules for its own guidance and for the guidance of the trade or profession to which it pertains . . .” Section 460.04 (2) (b), Stats., provides the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board shall promulgate rules that establish criteria for approving a training program for purposes of licensing massage therapists and bodywork therapists. Section 460.04 (2) (e), Stats., provides the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board shall promulgate rules that establish “[a] requirement that an applicant for a license under this chapter submit evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the applicant has current proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator achieved through instruction provided by an individual, organization, or institution of higher education approved under s. 46.03 (38) to provide such instruction.” Section 460.04 (2) (f), Stats., provides the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board shall promulgate rules that establish “[r]equirements to be satisfied by a person seeking a temporary license under s. 460.08 …” Section 460.04 (2) (g), Stats., provides the Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board shall promulgate rules that establish “[a] requirement that an applicant for a license under this chapter pass an examination on state laws and administrative rules governing massage therapy and bodywork therapy.” Related statute or rule:
Section MTBT 1.02 (1) defines the term “accrediting agency” to mean either of the following:
A regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
A state government agency or territorial government agency located in another state or territory of the United States or another country.Section SPS 404.04 provides the criteria for approval of schools and programs of instruction by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Plain language analysis:
Current rules contain requirements that a school that is neither approved by the Educational Approval Board nor a technical college established pursuant to s. 38.02, Stats., be “approved by an accrediting agency” or “accredited by an accrediting agency.” The vagueness of these terms makes approval of applications for licensure and training programs difficult. In addition, recent legislation (2017 Wisconsin Act 59) transferred responsibility for school approvals from the Educational Approval Board to the Department of Safety and Professional Services. The rules create a requirement that a school not approved by the Department of Safety and Professional Services nor a technical college established pursuant to s. 38.02, Stats., have approval or accreditation that is in good standing from one of the following:
An accrediting agency with recognition by the United States Department of Education that is current.
A state government agency or territorial government agency located in the state or territory in which the school is located and whose criteria for approval of schools is substantially equivalent, as determined by the board, to the criteria under s. SPS 404.04. The rules revise s. MTBT 2.01 (3) (g) to reflect that the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) currently offers only one examination for certification, the Board Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCETMB). Section MTBT 2.01 (3) (g) is also revised to specify that the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards is an approved examination. The rules also make changes throughout chs. MTBT 2 and 3 to provide clarity and conform to current drafting standards. Summary of, and comparison with, existing or proposed federal regulation:
None.
Comparison with rules in adjacent states:
Illinois:
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) provides rules and oversight for the practice of massage therapy in the state of Illinois. The Illinois Massage Licensing Board advises IDFPR on matters involving professional conduct, discipline, and qualifications of candidates and licensees.
An applicant for a license to practice massage therapy in Illinois must 1) be at least 18 years of age and of good moral character; 2) have completed at least 600 hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction from an approved massage therapy program while maintaining a minimum grade of 70% for all massage therapy related course and clinical work; 3) have passed the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork's (NCBTMB) examination or the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB); 4) have verification of fingerprint processing from the Illinois Department of State Police (ISP) or other certified or licensed vendor; and 5) pay the required fee. (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.30 (2014))
An in-state massage therapy program must include at least 600 hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction and meet certain other minimum criteria to be considered an approved massage therapy program. This includes criteria relating to 1) classroom instruction subject matter and hands-on instruction activities; 2) number of faculty and faculty and faculty assistant qualifications; 3) maintenance of student records; 4) having written plans of organization and study; and 5) use of a living human being for hands-on practice. A massage therapy program from another jurisdiction must have substantially similar criteria for an applicant to have his or her credentials accepted for licensure by IDFPR. (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.20 (2014))
Iowa:
The Iowa Board of Massage Therapy provides rules and oversight for the practice of massage therapy in the state of Iowa.
An applicant for a license to practice massage therapy in Iowa must 1) complete an application packet approved by the Board; 2) have graduated from a school approved by the Board that has a minimum of 500 hours of massage therapy education; 3) have passed any National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) examination or the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx); 4) have completed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course and a first-aid course certified by the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or National Safety Council; and 5) pay the required fee. (645 IAC 131)
An in-state massage therapy school’s education curriculum must offer a course of study of at least 500 hours and meet certain other criteria to be approved by the Board. This includes criteria relating to entrance requirements, curriculum content areas, clinical practicum coursework, records retention, and awarding of a certificate or diploma. An out-of-state massage therapy school’s curriculum is only reviewed by the Board on a case-by-case basis upon receipt of the curriculum as part of an individual’s application for licensure. (645 IAC 132)
Michigan:
The Michigan Board of Massage Therapy provides rules and oversight for the practice of massage therapy in the state of Michigan.
An applicant for a license to practice massage therapy in Michigan must 1) complete an application provided by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs; 2) have a high school diploma or the equivalent as determined by the Board; 3) have successfully completed a supervised curriculum that meets the requirements approved by the Board; 4) have passed the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork’s National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) or National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards’ Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx); and 5) submit the required fee. (Mich Admin Code, R 338.709)
A supervised curriculum must include at least 500 hours of classroom instruction and meet certain other minimum requirements. This includes requirements relating to course or coursework content, performance of massage therapy services in a supervised student clinic, and the qualifications and responsibilities of a supervising massage therapist at a supervised student clinic. (Mich Admin Code, R 338.705)
Minnesota:
The Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Unlicensed Complementary and Alternative Health Care Practice (OCAP) investigates complaints and takes enforcement actions against massage therapists for violations of prohibited conduct. However, neither OCAP nor any other statewide agency or board oversees the licensing of massage therapists or approves massage therapy training programs or curriculum. Licensing requirements, if any, for massage therapists are established by the county or city in which the massage therapist practices.
