(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 with:
(i) At least 60 credit hours of education at an institution of higher education, as defined in § 10–101 of the Education Article, as approved by the Board and the Maryland Higher Education Commission, of which a minimum of 24 credit hours shall have been in basic and applied science courses related to health care accredited by an accrediting agency or organization that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy; or
(ii) 1. At least 60 credit hours of education at an institution of higher education, as defined in § 10–101 of the Education Article, and as approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission; and
2. 24 credit hours or 360 contact hours of advanced massage therapy continuing education as approved by the Board in basic and applied science courses related to health care;
(4) 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;
(5) Has passed an examination approved by the Board; and
(6) 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 and accredited by an accrediting agency or organization that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy; and
(ii) That has been approved by the Board and 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.