Recent News and Legislative Updates

Utah

The Board of Massage Therapy is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.

Texas

The Texas Department of State Health Services is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.

Tennessee

The Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.

South Carolina

The South Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.

Mississippi

The Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure. House Bill 426, signed into law by Governor Barbour, changes the state credential from registration to a license and stipulates that no member of the state board of massage therapy can be an owner or partner in a massage therapy school. HB 426 went into effect on July 1, 2008.

Maine

The Maine Office of Licensing and Registration is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.

Louisiana

The Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy is now accepting the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure.

Oregon

The Oregon Board of Massage Therapy is now requiring the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org) as a qualification for licensure. A rules hearing will be held on August 22, 2008 at 9 a.m. by the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists, 748 Hawthorne Avenue NE, Salem OR 97306

Georgia

The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will host a public hearing on September 5, 2008 at the Secretary of State’s Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31217. The main feature of the proposed rule amendment is the removal of existing language regarding the Board review of continuing education providers, along with the addition of new language regarding the acceptance of continuing education providers approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

Arkansas

Beginning July 1, 2008, the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy requires the passage of the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org), to qualify for licensure. The MBLEx replaces the state licensing examination.

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