§3556. Licensure; qualifications; provisional licensure

            A. No person shall engage in the practice of massage therapy without a current license issued pursuant to this Chapter unless such person is exempt under the provisions of this Chapter. To receive a massage therapist license in this state, an applicant shall pay the application fee pursuant to R.S. 37:3562 and shall submit evidence satisfactory to the board of meeting the following requirements:

            NOTE: Paragraphs (A)(1) and (2) eff. until a certain proposed amendment to 34 CFR 668.14(b)(26) becomes effective. See Acts 2024, No. 779.

            (1)(a) Has satisfactorily completed a minimum five hundred hour synchronous instructor-supervised course of studies pursuant to rules promulgated by the board in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

            (i) The five hundred hour course of studies requirement shall consist of in-person, in-class, instructor-supervised hours dedicated to the study of massage therapy techniques and clinical practicum-related modalities.

            (ii) Any remaining hours required beyond the minimum five hundred hours of massage therapy techniques and clinical practicum may be a combination of real-time synchronous distance learning and in-person, in-class, instructor-supervised hours for each individual massage therapy program in this state in accordance with the policies prescribed by the Board of Regents.

            (iii) The guidelines provided for in this Subparagraph apply to all hours of instruction above the five-hundred-hour minimum.

            (b) A course of study may utilize a credit hours equivalent as defined by the United States Department of Education in lieu of clock hours to measure student achievement. A course of study using credit hours shall provide coursework consistent with the rules promulgated by the board including at least five hundred hours of in-class supervised instruction.

            (2) Has passed a national examination approved by the board under R.S. 37:3557 within two years from the date the application is filed.

            NOTE: Paragraphs (A)(1) and (2) eff. when a certain proposed amendment to 34 CFR 668.14(b)(26) becomes effective. See Acts 2024, No. 779.

            (1)(a) Has satisfactorily completed any of the following:

            (i) A course meeting the requirements of law in effect at the time of enrollment.

            (ii) A minimum six hundred twenty-five hour instructor-supervised course of studies pursuant to rules adopted by the board in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, R.S. 49:950 et seq. The course of study shall consist of and be taught in person, in class, and supervised by an instructor unless otherwise provided in this Item:

            (aa) A minimum of four hundred hours dedicated to the study of massage therapy techniques and clinical practicum-related modalities.

            (bb) A maximum of one hundred seventy-five hours dedicated to anatomy and physiology that may be taught in real-time synchronous or asynchronous distance learning.

            (cc) A minimum of ten hours dedicated to Louisiana law, rules, and ethics that may be taught in real-time synchronous distance learning.

            (dd) Any remaining hours required may include but not be limited to marketing, first aid, and subjects related to providing massage therapy.

            (iii) Schools have until December 31, 2026, to comply with the requirements outlined in Item (ii) of this Subparagraph.

            (iv) An individual satisfies the requirement of this Subparagraph if the individual has done all of the following:

            (aa) Enrolled and is participating in a massage training program at an approved school prior to December 31, 2026.

            (bb) Applies for a Louisiana massage therapy license upon completion or graduation from the program.

            (b) A course of study may utilize a credit hours equivalent as defined by the United States Department of Education in lieu of clock hours to measure student achievement. A course of study using credit hours shall provide coursework consistent with the provisions of this Section.

            (c) The school shall designate each course taught pursuant to R.S. 37:3552(10) and (19).

            (2) Has passed a national examination approved by the board pursuant to R.S. 37:3557.

            (3) Is a citizen or legal resident of the United States and has the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently.

            (4) Has not, within the five years preceding the date of the application, been convicted of a nonviolent felony.

            (5) Has never been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to a violent felony or a criminal offense involving sexual misconduct.

            (6) Has submitted to and cleared a background check as set forth in R.S. 37:3555(A)(14).

            B. The requirements set forth in Paragraphs (A)(1) and (2) of this Section shall not apply to any of the following:

            (1) Persons who have continuously held a license to engage in the practice of massage therapy issued by the board since March 1, 1998.

            (2) Persons who hold a valid, current, and unexpired license or registration to engage in the practice of massage therapy in another state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia that has and maintains standards and requirements of practice and licensure or registration that substantially conform to the requirements in force in this state, as determined by the board. The board shall verify the validity of the documents submitted with that state's licensing or registration agency and obtain any transcript information directly from the school identified by the applicant.

            (3) Persons who are active or retired military personnel and spouses who relocate to this state who possess a license from another state with substantially equivalent licensing requirements pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.

            C. After review of the evidence submitted, the board shall notify each applicant whether the application and such evidence is accepted or rejected. If an application is rejected, such notice shall state the reasons for the rejection.

            D. The board shall issue and deliver, by United States Postal Service or any other delivery option, a license to each person who meets the qualifications provided for in this Section upon payment of the professional license fee provided pursuant to R.S. 37:3562. The license shall include a recent two inch by two inch size photo of the licensee, which shall be attached by the licensee upon receipt of the license.

            E. Each license granted shall have a validity period of one calendar year and shall have an expiration date as determined by administrative rules promulgated by the board.

            NOTE: Subsection F ceases to be effective on Dec. 31, 2025. See Acts 2022, No. 41.

            F. The board shall make available to any graduate of a state-approved, Louisiana-based school for massage therapy a provisional license for immediate use upon graduation at an established massage therapy business registered with the board. The provisional license shall be active for one three-month term and shall not be renewed. Any facility that employs a massage therapist who is operating under a provisional license shall notify a client of the licensure status of a provisionally licensed massage therapist prior to the client receiving any services from that massage therapist. A provisionally licensed massage therapist may only work at a facility that employs a massage therapist licensed pursuant to Subsection A of this Section.

            Acts 1992, No. 753, §2, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 766, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1013, §1; Acts 2012, No. 605, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2021, No. 324, §2, eff. June 14, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 41, §1; Acts 2022, No. 420, §1; Acts 2024, No. 779, §1, eff. June 21, 2024, §3, see Act.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1993, NO. 766, §1.}}