Virginia Regulatory Town Hall

Proposed Text

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Action:
Regulatory reform
Stage: Fast-Track
 
18VAC90-50-20

18VAC90-50-20. Operational requirements.

A. Requirements for current mailing address.

1. Each applicant or certificate holder shall maintain a current address of record with the board. Any change in the address of record or the public address, if different from the address of record, shall be submitted electronically or in writing to the board within 30 days of such change.

2. All required notices mailed by the board to any applicant or certificate holder shall be validly given when mailed to the latest address of record on file with the board.

B. A certificate holder who has had a change of name shall submit as legal proof to the board a copy of the marriage certificate, a certificate of naturalization, or a court order evidencing the change. A duplicate certificate shall be issued by the board upon receipt of such evidence and the required fee.

C. Each certified massage therapist shall conspicuously post his current Virginia certificate in a public area at his practice location.

18VAC90-50-40

Part II
Requirements for Certification

18VAC90-50-40. Initial certification.

A. An applicant seeking initial certification shall submit a completed application and required fee and verification of meeting the requirements of § 54.1-3029 A of the Code of Virginia as follows:

1. Is at least 18 years old;

2. Has successfully completed a minimum of 500 hours of training from a massage therapy program certified or approved by the State Council of Higher Education or an agency in another state, the District of Columbia or a United States territory that approves educational programs, notwithstanding the provisions of § 22.1-320 of the Code of Virginia;

3. Has passed the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage, the Licensing Examination of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, or an exam deemed acceptable to the board; and

4. Has not committed any acts or omissions that would be grounds for disciplinary action or denial of certification as set forth in § 54.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia and 18VAC90-50-90.

B. No application for certification under provisions of § 54.1-3029 B of the Code of Virginia shall be considered unless submitted prior to July 1, 1998.

C. An applicant who has been licensed or certified in another country and who, in the opinion of the board, meets the educational requirements shall take and pass the national certifying an examination as required in subsection A of this section in order to become certified.

18VAC90-50-60

18VAC90-50-60. Provisional certification.

A. An eligible candidate who has filed an a completed application for certification in Virginia may engage in the provisional practice of massage therapy in Virginia for a period not to exceed 90 days between completion of the education program and the receipt of the results of the candidate's first certifying examination upon written authorization from the board.

B. The designation of "massage therapist" or "certified massage therapist" shall not be used by the applicant during the 90 days of provisional certification.

C. An applicant who fails the certifying examination shall have his provisional certification withdrawn upon the receipt of the examination results and shall not be eligible for certification until he passes such examination and becomes nationally certified.

18VAC90-50-70

Part III
Renewal and Reinstatement

18VAC90-50-70. Renewal of certification.

A. Certificate holders born in even-numbered years shall renew their certificates by the last day of the birth month in even-numbered years. Certificate holders born in odd-numbered years shall renew their certificates by the last day of the birth month in odd-numbered years.

B. The certificate holder shall complete the application renewal form and return submit it with the required fee and attest that he has complied with continuing competency requirements of 18VAC90-50-75.

C. Failure to receive the application for renewal shall not relieve the certified massage therapist of the responsibility for renewing the certificate by the expiration date.

D. The certificate shall automatically lapse by the last day of the birth month if not renewed; and use of the title "massage therapist" or "certified massage therapist" is prohibited.