AMENDED BY ACT 2026-162, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2026. SEE ACT FOR REVISED LANGUAGE. (a) An individual desiring to be licensed as a massage therapist shall apply to the board on forms provided by the board. Unless licensed pursuant to subsection (b), an applicant for a license shall submit evidence satisfactory to the board that he or she has met all of the following requirements: (1) Successfully completed a course of instruction in massage therapy which meets the minimum criteria established by board rule for course content and hours of instruction. To perform therapeutic massage on an animal, a massage therapist shall have also graduated from a nationally approved program and completed at least 100 hours of postgraduate training and education in animal anatomy, pathology, and physiology for the specific type of animal upon which he or she will perform therapeutic massage. (2) Successfully passed a state board exam or a national standardized examination approved by the board. The board may approve other state exams on a case-by-case basis. (3) Completed a criminal history background check pursuant to Section 34-43A-13(c). The board may deny or discipline an applicant who has been convicted of a felony or of any crime arising out of or connected with the practice of massage therapy. (4) Paid all applicable fees. (5) Additional requirements as provided by rule. (b) Notwithstanding the requirements listed in subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2), the board may license an applicant who is licensed or registered to practice massage therapy in another state if the standards of practice or licensing of that state, at the time the applicant was originally licensed or registered, were equal to or stricter than the requirements imposed by this chapter. All applicants may be subject to an initial in-person board hearing at the discretion of the board. (c) Upon receipt of an application, the board shall notify the applicant that his or her application is complete and shall also notify the applicant upon the approval of his or her application. An application is not complete until all components of the application have been received and all criminal history information has been delivered to the board. If an application is proposed to be rejected, the applicant shall be entitled to a hearing on his or her application.
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