Massage Therapy National Apprentice Program Research By Tonia McGeorge LMT Reviewed by Fallon Helm LMT Alabama http://www.almtbd.alabama.gov/licensee.aspx Licensure Requirements The State of Alabama requires that anyone operating or advertising as a massage therapist ​ or offering massage therapy services be licensed by this Board. All business or establishments offering massage therapy services must be licensed unless specifically exempt. The Massage Therapist License requirements are a minimum of 650 hours from an accredited massage therapy school. Additionally, an applicant must have taken and passed either the NCBTMB exam or the MBLEx exam. Each Massage Therapist applicant must also produce evidence of a $1,000,000 Personal Liability Insurance coverage along with certified transcripts and verification of passing one of the approved exams. An Application request form is available under the FORMS section of this website, at the cost of $25.00 (Cashier’s Check or Money Order) per application package. The Massage Therapy Establishment License requirements are completion of the licensure application and producing evidence of professional liability insurance. The Massage Establishment application is under FORMS of this website. No Massage Apprentice programs in Alabama Alaska https://massagetherapylicense.org/state/alaska-massage-license.htmla ​ Massage Therapy Licensure in Alaska With the passage of House Bill 328, Alaska joins approximately 45 other states in regulating the massage therapy profession. Massage practitioners in some parts of the state (for example, Anchorage and Fairbanks) already work under licenses. Since July 1, 2015, massage therapy has been a licensed profession throughout the state of Alaska. The licensing mandate will be delayed for massage practitioners who are already working in the state and who hold credentialing through an approved third party. The Commission of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development reports, though, that even these practitioners must hold state licenses by July 1, 2017. HB 328 provided the statutory basis and sets basic requirements. The Alaska Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (the state’s professional organization) has worked with local governments to establish a State Board, which was appointed February 20, 2015. Alaska massage therapists may be licensed by examination or ​ endorsement. License by Examination Massage therapists who are new to the profession will be licensed by examination (http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists/FAQs.aspx). ​ ​ The license by examination process includes two main components: education and examination. Education: A prospective massage therapist will need to complete at least 500 hours of education through an approved massage therapy school. State statute defines “approved massage therapy school” as one that has been authorized by the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education or comparable out-of-state organization or that holds accreditation through a nationally recognized agency. The Board discussed accrediting agencies at their first meeting (http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists.aspx). A motion was made ​ ​ to approve the following: the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), Associated Bodywork and Massage Practitioners (ABMP), the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). State statute also allows for the possibility of licensure by examination following completion of an approved apprenticeship program. Applicants for licensure by examination will also need to have four hours of safety training; this must include coverage of blood borne pathogens/ universal precautions. Examination: The Board has approved examinations offered by two organizations: the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB). By agreement between the two credentialing organizations, the FSMTB is now the sole organization that provides an examination designed for initial massage therapy licensure or entry-level practice. The FSMTB examination, the MBLEx, is accepted in most states. It is multiple choice. Candidates may submit applications online or through the mail; registration must be accompanied by a $195 fee. The Authorization to Test (ATT) grants a 90 day eligibility window (https://www.fsmtb.org/). Examinations are scheduled at Pearson Vue testing centers around the nation; ​ ​ there is a testing center located in Anchorage. The NCBTMB (http://www.ncbtmb.org/) offers the Board Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and ​ ​ Bodywork (BCETMB). It is designed as one component of a Board Certification process intended for experienced practitioners. The NCBTMB has offered other examinations in the past. A prospective Alaska massage therapist may want to seek clarification about whether all NCBTMB examinations are accepted for licensure. License by Endorsement License by endorsement can be based on state licensure or certification that is acceptable to the Board. The ​ out-of-state license must be in good standing. Transitioning to Licensing Current massage therapists may be licensed without meeting all education and examination requirements. There are multiple requirements for transitional licensing. The first is to provide evidence of having operated, owned, or worked for a massage business prior to the effective date. The licensing agency will accept multiple forms of documentation including municipal licenses, professional association memberships, copies of income tax returns, or sworn statements by employers. A massage therapist who uses income tax records will need to document employment or ownership during only one of the five years preceding the July 1, 2015 effective date. A massage therapist who uses an employer statement must document that the employment took place during the five year period preceding July 1, 2015. Professional association membership can be accepted if the organization was established before 2000, has a code of ethics, and offers liability insurance as a membership benefit; the member will need to have been active for at least one year. Municipal licenses can be license qualifying if they were held on June 30, 2015. Additionally, the massage therapist must hold national certification unless he or she is licensed in another state on the basis of requirements at least on a par with those of Alaska. Additional Requirements: CPR Certification and Criminal Background Checks The minimum age for licensure is 18. All prospective massage therapists will need to complete CPR certification and clear criminal background checks; this is the case regardless of the method of licensure. The fingerprint-based background check will be carried out by the Alaska Department of Public Safety. A criminal history will not preclude licensure in all instances. However, crimes that are considered to involve “moral turpitude” are disqualifying. State statute does allow the Board to use discretion in licensing an individual who has been convicted of such a crime if it is determined that the circumstances are such that the professional is capable of safe, competent practice. Application Information Applicants will find the required forms on the website of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists.aspx). ​ ​ Additional Information The new Alaska Board of Massage Therapists is found on the web at http://commerce.state.ak.us/dnn/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardofMassageTherapists.aspx. Minutes are posted ​ online. The Licensing Examiner can be reached by telephone at (907) 465-3811. Questions can be directed to 'license at alaska.gov' The Alaska Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association is an additional resource. AMTA-Alaska served as the state's official contact pending establishment of the new Board (http://www.akamta.com/massage-licensing). ​ ​ Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education To be authorized to operate by the ACPE, an institution must, according to their website: ​ ​ ● submit an application ● pay appropriate fees ● provide required surety ● meet minimum standards regarding quality of education, ethical business practices, and fiscal responsibility as described in law (Alaska Statute 14.48 and Section 20 of the Alaska Administrative ​ ​ ​ Code Chapter 17). ​ ● These standards describe in the application packet. ● complete an on-site facility visit ● receive final approval by the Commission To begin the process, you will have to request an application packet from the commission. You can do this by email at [email protected] or call to request it at 907-465-6741. Once the application is complete and mailed back ​ ​ to the commission. It will review by the commission at one of their quarterly board meetings. You must turn in the application approximately 3 months before the meeting at which it will review. For instance, in order for it to review at the April meeting, the application must receive by January 15. The cost for initial authorization is $2500 and renewals can range from $500 to $2500, depending on your tuition receipts. Authorization is not transferable, so if you sell your school, the new owner must apply for a new authorization. National Accreditation Agencies The Alaska Board listed AMTA, ABMP, NCBTMB, and COMTA