Maryland Health Occupations Section 3-5A-05

      (a)      (1)      Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an individual shall be:

                  (i)      Certified by the Board before the individual may practice massage therapy in this State; or

                  (ii)      Registered by the Board before the individual may practice non-therapeutic massage in this State.

            (2)      This section does not apply to:

                  (i)      A student enrolled in an approved education program as determined by the Board while practicing massage therapy in that program;

                  (ii)      An individual permitted to practice massage therapy under regulations adopted by the Board, if the individual:

                        1.      Otherwise has qualified to practice massage therapy in any other state or country that has substantially similar requirements for authorization to practice massage therapy and the individual is in this State for no more than 7 days; or

                        2.      Has an application for a certificate pending before the Board but has not taken the examination required under this section or has taken an examination under this section, but the results of the examination are not yet known;

                  (iii)      A family member practicing massage therapy on another family member;

                  (iv)      An athletic trainer while functioning in the course of the athletic trainer's professional capacity;

                  (v)      An individual employed by the federal government to practice massage therapy while practicing within the scope of the individual's employment; or

                  (vi)      An individual working in a beauty salon:

                        1.      For which the person who operates the beauty salon has obtained a permit from the State Board of Cosmetology as required under § 5-501 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article; and

                        2.      In which the individual is providing cosmetology and esthetic services, including the application and removal of skin or skin care products.

      (b)      To qualify for a certificate, an applicant shall be an individual who:

            (1)      Is of good moral character;

            (2)      Is at least 18 years old;

            (3)      (i)      After January 1, 2002, has satisfactorily completed at least 60 credit hours of education at an institution of higher education as defined in § 10-101 of the Education Article and as approved by the Board and the Maryland Higher Education Commission; or

                  (ii)      On or after March 1, 2004, enrolled in a school approved by the Board at the time of enrollment and graduated from that school no later than December 31, 2004;

            (4)      Has completed 500 hours of education in a Board approved program for the study of massage therapy that includes the following areas of content:

                  (i)      Anatomy and physiology;

                  (ii)      Massage theory, techniques, and practice;

                  (iii)      Contraindications to massage therapy; and

                  (iv)      Professional ethics; and

            (5)      Has passed an examination approved by the Board.

      (c)      To qualify for registration, an applicant shall be an individual who:

            (1)      Is of good moral character;

            (2)      Is at least 18 years old;

            (3)      Has completed 500 hours of education in a Board approved program for the study of massage therapy that includes the following areas of content:

                  (i)      Anatomy and physiology;

                  (ii)      Massage theory, techniques, and practice;

                  (iii)      Contraindications to massage therapy; and

                  (iv)      Professional ethics; and

            (4)      Has passed an examination approved by the Board.

      (d)      (1)      Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may waive any of the qualifications required for a certificate under this subtitle for an applicant who:

                  (i)      Pays the application fee set by the Board;

                  (ii)      Provides evidence acceptable to the Board that the applicant has practiced massage therapy for at least a total of 2 years after October 1, 1994 and before October 1, 1999 and has performed at least 300 paid massage therapy sessions; and

                  (iii)      1.      Completes a Board approved program in the study of massage therapy; or

                        2.      Passes an examination approved by the Board.

            (2)      The authority of the Board to grant a waiver under this subsection shall terminate on January 1, 2002.

      (e)      (1)      Subject to the provisions of this subsection, the Board may waive any requirement of this subtitle for an applicant who is registered, certified, or licensed to practice massage therapy in another state.

            (2)      The Board may grant a waiver under this subsection only if the applicant:

                  (i)      Pays the application fee set by the Board; and

                  (ii)      Provides adequate evidence that the applicant:

                        1.      Has completed educational requirements that the Board determines to be equivalent to the Board approved educational requirements in this State;

                        2.      At the time the applicant became certified, registered, or licensed in the other state, passed in that state or any other state an examination that the Board determines to be equivalent to the examination required in this State; and

                        3.      Is of good moral character.