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 24 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.
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 24 hours of continuing education credit every two years. Twelve hours must be obtained in Category A and 12 hours may be in either Category A or B. A licensee may choose to obtain all 24 hours in Category A.
	a. 	Category A specific continuing education requirements.
	(1)	A minimum of 12 hours of the 24 hours shall be:
	1.	Direct, hands-on training attended personally by the licensee;
	2.	Related to the actual practice of massage/bodywork therapy;
	3.	Sponsored by a local, state, national or international professional organization or chapter of massage/bodywork therapy, or a professional, hands-on school of massage/bodywork therapy that meets or exceeds the standards set forth in 645—Chapter 132;
	4.	Presented by a massage/bodywork therapist with a minimum of five years of clinical experience in massage/bodywork therapy. The individuals presenting the continuing education activity must have specialized education, training and experience by reason of which said individuals are considered qualified concerning the subject matter of the program.
	(2)	Excluded content areas for continuing education in Category A are any massage/bodywork techniques that do not directly make physical contact with the body and that are outside the scope of practice in accordance with the definition of massage therapy set forth in rule 645—131.1(152C), including but not limited to: Reiki, Barbara Brennan Healing Sciences, reflexology, bloodletting, and ear candling.
	b. 	Category B specific continuing education requirements.
	(1)	A maximum of 12 hours of the 24 hours may be in either of the following:
	1.	Content areas that are programs of learning which contribute directly to professional competency and enhance the practice of the licensee.
	2.	Content areas that are hands-on training programs.
	(2)	Programs that are taken in Category B do not have to be sponsored by organizations noted in 133.3(2)“a”(1)“3” and instructors do not have to have a minimum of five years of clinical experience in massage/bodywork therapy.
	(3)	A licensee may receive credit on a one-time basis, not to exceed two hours of continuing education credit every two years, for delivery of course(s) in a massage school setting, if the following criteria are met:
	1.	The course(s) is part of a curriculum approved by the board as outlined in 645—132.4(152C);
	2.	The licensee is qualified to teach the course(s) as outlined in 645—132.3(152C);
	3.	The school provides an official written statement that verifies the following:
	●	Course title and number of credit hours;
	●	Inclusive dates the course was taught by the licensee;
	●	Teaching qualifications of the licensee.
	(4)	A maximum of six hours may be obtained in independent study courses in the areas of massage/bodywork techniques, ethics, mandatory reporter training, and practice management.
	(5)	A licensee shall obtain two hours of credit in CPR for every two-year renewal period.
	(6)	Only the number of hours obtained during the two-year renewal period to meet mandatory reporter training requirements may be utilized in the renewal period. No hours shall be carried over into the next biennium.
	(7)	Excluded content areas for continuing education in Category B include, but are not limited to, any program or training that is outside the scope of practice of massage therapy in accordance with the definition of massage therapy set forth in rule 645—131.1(152C) or that does not enhance professional competency relating to the field of massage/bodywork therapy. Bloodletting and ear candling are excluded content areas.
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]
◊	Two or more ARCs