Maryland Statutes
Subtitle 3 - Licenses and Registrations
Section 6-302 - Qualifications

(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
        (2)    “Contact hour” means 50 minutes of actual instructional time per each 60–minute hour.
        (3)    “Credit hour” means a minimum of:
            (i)    15 contact hours, during which the instructional time was provided through actual class time, exclusive of registration, study days, and holidays;
            (ii)    30 contact hours, during which the instructional time was provided through supervised laboratory or studio time, exclusive of registration, study days, and holidays; or
            (iii)    45 contact hours, during which the instructional time was provided through supervised practica, internships, and cooperative education placements, when learning was documented.
    (b)    To qualify for a license, an applicant shall be an individual who:
        (1)    Is of good moral character;
        (2)    Is at least 18 years old;
        (3)    Has graduated from an institution of higher education, as defined in § 10–101 of the Education Article and approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, with at least 60 credit hours of education in a curriculum:
            (i)    Endorsed by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation or an equivalent entity that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy; and
            (ii)    Approved by the Board;
        (4)    Has completed:
            (i)    A minimum of 24 credit hours in basic and applied science courses related to health care as part of the 60 credit hours required under item (3) of this subsection; or
            (ii)    If the 60 credit hours the applicant completed to comply with item (3) of this subsection did not include 24 credit hours in basic and applied science courses related to health care, 24 credit hours or 360 contact hours of basic and applied science courses related to health care through advanced massage therapy continuing education courses approved by the Board;
        (5)    Has completed 600 contact hours of education in a Board–approved program for the study of massage therapy that includes the following areas of content:
            (i)    Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology;
            (ii)    Massage theory, techniques, and practice;
            (iii)    Contraindications to massage therapy;
            (iv)    Professional ethics;
            (v)    Pathology; and
            (vi)    Research;
        (6)    Has passed an examination approved by the Board; and
        (7)    Submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 6–303 of this subtitle.
    (c)    To qualify to be registered, an applicant shall be an individual who:
        (1)    Is of good moral character;
        (2)    Is at least 18 years old;
        (3)    Has graduated from a program for the study of massage therapy:
            (i)    That has been approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission;
            (ii)    That has a curriculum that has been endorsed by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation or an equivalent entity that is an accrediting agency or organization that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy;
            (iii)    That has been approved by the Board; and
            (iv)    That requires at least 600 contact hours of classroom instruction that includes the following areas of content:
                1.    Anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology;
                2.    Massage theory, techniques, and practice;
                3.    Contraindications to massage therapy;
                4.    Professional ethics;
                5.    Pathology; and
                6.    Research;
        (4)    Has passed an examination approved by the Board; and
        (5)    Submits to a criminal history records check in accordance with § 6–303 of this subtitle.
    (d)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Board may waive any requirement of this subtitle for an applicant who is licensed, certified, or registered to practice massage therapy in another state.
        (2)    The Board may grant a waiver under paragraph (1) of this subsection only if the applicant:
            (i)    Pays the application fee set by the Board; and
            (ii)    Provides adequate evidence that the applicant:
                1.    Has completed educational requirements that the Board determines to be equivalent to the Board–approved educational requirements in this State;
                2.    At the time the applicant became licensed, certified, or registered in the other state, passed in that state or any other state an examination that the Board determines to be equivalent to the examination required in this State; and
                3.    Is of good moral character.