2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 43 - PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 24A - MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE
§ 43-24A-8 - Licensure of massage therapists; application and requirements

O.C.G.A. 43-24A-8 (2010)
43-24A-8. Licensure of massage therapists; application and requirements


(a) No person may practice massage therapy in this state who is not a licensed massage therapist or the holder of a valid provisional permit issued by the division director pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Prior to July 1, 2007, any applicant for a license as a massage therapist must submit a completed application upon a form and in such manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by applicable fees, and evidence satisfactory to the board that:

(1) The applicant is at least 18 years of age;

(2) The applicant is of good moral character. For purposes of this paragraph, "good moral character" means professional integrity and a lack of any conviction for acts involving moral turpitude where the underlying conduct relates to the applicant's fitness to practice massage therapy;

(3) The applicant agrees to provide the board with any and all information necessary to perform a criminal background check and expressly consents and authorizes the board or its representative to perform such a check; and

(4) The applicant has met at least one of the following requirements:

(A) He or she has completed successfully a board recognized educational program with a minimum of 500 hours of course and clinical work;

(B) He or she has passed satisfactorily the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, an equivalent test approved by the board, or an examination administered by another state or jurisdiction whose license requirements meet or exceed those of this state;

(C) He or she meets the qualifications necessary to sit for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or has substantially similar qualifications as determined by the board;

(D) He or she holds a license as a massage therapist in another state or jurisdiction whose license requirements meet or exceed the licensing requirements of this state;

(E) He or she has practiced massage therapy for at least ten hours per week on average for at least ten years prior to the date of application and has completed at least 100 hours of formal training in massage therapy as determined by the board;

(F) He or she has practiced massage therapy for at least five years prior to the date of application and has completed a minimum of 200 hours of formal training in massage therapy as determined by the board;

(G) He or she has, to the satisfaction of the board, training in another state or jurisdiction that meets or exceeds the requirements for licensing in this state;

(H) He or she has been a member, as a massage therapist, for a period of one year prior to his or her application for licensure of a professional massage therapy association established before 2002 which holds its members to a published code of ethics; or

(I) He or she has been legally practicing massage therapy in this state for compensation prior to July 1, 2005.

(c) On and after July 1, 2007, any applicant for a license as a massage therapist must submit a completed application upon a form and in such manner as the board prescribes, accompanied by applicable fees, and evidence satisfactory to the board that:

(1) The applicant is at least 18 years of age;

(2) The applicant has a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent;

(3) The applicant is a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident of the United States;

(4) The applicant is of good moral character. For purposes of this paragraph, "good moral character" means professional integrity and a lack of any conviction for acts involving moral turpitude where the underlying conduct relates to the applicant's fitness to practice massage therapy;

(5) The applicant agrees to provide the board with any and all information necessary to perform a criminal background check and expressly consents and authorizes the board or its representative to perform such a check;

(6) The applicant has completed successfully a board recognized educational program consisting of a minimum of 500 hours of course and clinical work; and

(7) The applicant has passed satisfactorily the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, an equivalent test approved by the board, or an examination administered by another state or jurisdiction whose license requirements meet or exceed those of this state.