CHAPTER 133
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS
[Prior to 6/26/02, see 645—Ch 132]
645—133.1(152C) Definitions. For the purpose of these rules, the following definitions shall apply:
“Active license” means a license that is current and has not expired.
“Approved program/activity” means a continuing education program/activity meeting the standards set forth in these rules.
“Audit” means the selection of licensees for verification of satisfactory completion of continuing education requirements during a specified time period or the selection of providers for verification of adherence to continuing education provider requirements during a specified time period.
“Board” means the board of massage therapy.
“Continuing education” means planned, organized learning acts acquired during initial licensure designed to maintain, improve, or expand a licensee’s knowledge and skills in order for the licensee to develop new knowledge and skills relevant to the enhancement of practice, education, or theory development to improve the safety and welfare of the public.
“Hands-on training” means learning techniques that manipulate the soft tissue of the body.
“Hour of continuing education” means at least 50 minutes spent by a licensee in actual attendance at and completion of an approved continuing education activity.
“Inactive license” means a license that has expired because it was not renewed by the end of the grace period. The category of “inactive license” may include licenses formerly known as lapsed, inactive, delinquent, closed, or retired.
“Independent study” means a subject/program/activity that a person pursues autonomously that meets standards for approval criteria in the rules and includes a posttest.
“License” means license to practice.
“Licensee” means any person licensed to practice as a massage therapist in the state of Iowa.
“Presenter” means person(s)/instructor(s) providing continuing education training.
645—133.2(152C) Continuing education requirements. Each biennium, each person who is licensed to practice as a massage therapist in this state shall be required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education. A biennium is a two-year period beginning with the date the license was granted.
	133.2(1) The biennial continuing education compliance period shall run concurrently with each two-year renewal period. The renewal period begins on the date the initial license is granted and ends two years later on the day before the anniversary date of that initial license.
	133.2(2) Requirements for new licensees. Those persons licensed for the first time shall not be required to complete continuing education as a prerequisite for the first renewal of their licenses. Continuing education hours acquired anytime from the initial licensing until the second license renewal period may be used.
	133.2(3) Hours of continuing education credit may be obtained by attending and participating in a continuing education activity meeting the requirements of this chapter. These hours must be in accordance with these rules.
	133.2(4) No hours of continuing education shall be carried over into the next renewal period. A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation.
	133.2(5) The cost of continuing education is the responsibility of each licensee.
[ARC 2778C, IAB 10/26/16, effective 11/30/16]
645—133.3(152C,272C) Continuing education criteria.
	133.3(1) General criteria. A continuing education activity which meets all of the following criteria is appropriate for continuing education credit if the continuing education activity:
	a. 	Constitutes an organized program of learning which contributes directly to the professional competency of the licensee;
	b. 	Pertains to subject matters which integrally relate to the practice of the profession;
	c. 	Is conducted by individuals who have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals should be considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program. At the time of audit, the board may request the qualifications of presenters;
	d. 	Fulfills stated program goals, objectives, or both; and
	e. 	Provides proof of attendance to licensees in attendance, including:
	(1)	Date, location, course title, presenter(s);
	(2)	Number of program contact hours; and
	(3)	Certificate of completion or evidence of successful completion of the course from the course sponsor.
	133.3(2) Specific criteria. A licensee shall obtain a minimum of 16 hours of continuing education credit every two years. A minimum of 8 hours of the 16 hours must be hands-on training. A maximum of 8 hours of the 16 hours may be independent study. Licensees may obtain continuing education hours of credit by:
	a. 	Attending workshops, conferences, or symposiums.
	b. 	Accessing online training, such as viewing interactive conferences, attending webinars, or completing online training courses.
	c. 	Teaching curriculum at a school of massage therapy or presenting professional continuing education programs that meet the criteria listed in this subrule. One hour of credit will be awarded for each hour of presentation. A course schedule or brochure must be maintained for audit. A maximum of 4 hours may be awarded under this paragraph per biennium.
	d. 	Completing academic courses that directly relate to the professional competency of the licensee. Official transcripts indicating successful completion of academic courses that apply to the field of massage therapy will be necessary in order for the licensee to receive the following continuing education credits:
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic trimester hour = 12 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic clock hour = 1 continuing education hour of credit
	e. 	Teaching in an approved college, university, or graduate school. The licensee may receive the following continuing education credits:
1 academic semester hour = 15 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic trimester hour = 12 continuing education hours of credit
1 academic quarter hour = 10 continuing education hours of credit
	f. 	Authoring research the results of which are published in a recognized professional publication. The licensee shall receive 5 hours of credit per page.
	g. 	Taking courses directly beneficial to business practices necessary for operating a massage practice. Content areas include, but are not limited to, business management, financial management, accounting, tax preparation, marketing, human relations, communication skills, business ethics, and massage ethics.
	h. 	Taking courses related to personal skills topics, such as career burnout, communication skills, human relations, and other like topics.
	i. 	Completing programs which enhance a supplemental or complementary skill set directly related to promoting the public health while providing massage therapy. Content areas include, but are not limited to, CPR, first aid, contraindication training, sanitation, and geriatric care.
	j. 	Completing mandatory reporter training pursuant to Iowa Code sections 232.69 and 235B.16. One hour of credit will be awarded for each hour of completed mandatory reporter training.
	k. 	Passing a board-approved national examination administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork within the biennial continuing education compliance period. A copy of the applicant’s official notification may be used by the board as verification.
[ARC 2778C, IAB 10/26/16, effective 11/30/16; ARC 6827C, IAB 1/25/23, effective 3/1/23]
645—133.4(152C,272C) Audit of continuing education report. Rescinded IAB 10/8/08, effective 11/12/08.
645—133.5(152C,272C) Automatic exemption. Rescinded IAB 10/8/08, effective 11/12/08.
645—133.6(152C,272C) Continuing education exemption for disability or illness. Rescinded IAB 10/8/08, effective 11/12/08.
645—133.7(152C,272C) Grounds for disciplinary action. Rescinded IAB 10/8/08, effective 11/12/08.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 21, 147, 152C and 272C.
[Filed 9/15/00, Notice 6/28/00—published 10/4/00, effective 11/8/00]
[Filed 6/5/02, Notice 1/23/02—published 6/26/02, effective 7/31/02]
[Filed 7/3/03, Notice 4/16/03—published 7/23/03, effective 8/27/03]
[Filed 6/15/05, Notice 4/27/05—published 7/6/05, effective 8/10/05]◊
[Filed 12/9/05, Notice 9/28/05—published 1/4/06, effective 2/8/06]
[Filed 3/14/07, Notice 1/3/07—published 4/11/07, effective 5/16/07]
[Filed 9/7/07, Notice 7/4/07—published 9/26/07, effective 10/31/07]
[Filed 9/19/08, Notice 8/13/08—published 10/8/08, effective 11/12/08]
[Filed ARC 2778C (Notice ARC 2503C, IAB 4/27/16), IAB 10/26/16, effective 11/30/16]
[Filed ARC 6827C (Notice ARC 6597C, IAB 10/19/22), IAB 1/25/23, effective 3/1/23]
◊	Two or more ARCs