Live continuing education credits will not be due until six months after the end of the Executive Order for those renewing in 2020 and 2021.
Legislative Updates
Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 21-14 on August 9, 2021, which requires health-care workers, including massage therapists, to be fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccination by October 18, 2021.
The Pennsylvania Bureau of Professionals and Occupational Affairs announced that COVID-19 waivers and suspensions issued during the pandemic will expire in the coming weeks. Find out which wavers and their expiration dates will affect massage therapists.
Governor Brown announced that due to COVID-19’s Delta variant, vaccines will be required for all health-care providers, including massage therapists, who work in health-care settings.
Due to COVID-19, the Florida Board of Massage Therapy made an emergency rule regarding continuing education to allow online courses to be used to meet the 12-hour hands-on technique requirement. Find out which ABMP courses are approved for the 2019–2021 renewal cycle.
Illinois House Bill 0588 was signed into law this legislative session and requires massage establishments to post a human trafficking resource notice in bathrooms located within their businesses.
The Nebraska Administrative Code was updated and continuing education hours were amended. Previously, Nebraska massage therapists had to complete 24 hours of CE. The new rule only requires 16 hours of CE and is effective June 7, 2021.
House Bill No. 1263 passed this legislative session, and the included provisions require an amendment to the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy Rules and Regulations. You can submit commentary to the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy showing your support or opposition to the proposed rules no later than August 11, 2021.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries issued new guidance addressing how to verify employee vaccination status, how to protect unvaccinated staff, and when employees need to wear masks. Per the new guidance, individuals who work in the health-care industry, such as massage therapists, must continue to wear a mask while at work.
House Bill No. 6666 passed this legislative session and requires every business that employs a massage therapist to be under the management of a licensed massage therapist, hairdresser, cosmetician, esthetician, eyelash technician, or nail technician.