Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/720675
Government Relations by Laura Embleton Massage Therapy Licensure Now Required in Oklahoma Qualifying for Licensure After May 1, 2017 (New Applicants) All new applicants for licensure will be required to provide proof of 500 hours of massage education and proof that they have passed a nationally recognized competency examination approved by the board. Additionally, all applicants must be at least 18 years of age, must provide proof of professional liability insurance, and must disclose any prior criminal proceedings taken against the applicant. The Oklahoma licensure law also has provisions for exemptions and endorsement of licenses from other jurisdictions. ABMP is glad that we were able to advocate on behalf of our members in Oklahoma for reasonable licensure. To learn more about legislative initiatives in your state, please visit Regulation & Advocacy under the Career Development section of www.abmp.com for updates. 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Contact her at DS 4 September October 2016 Oklahoma, one of only fi ve states in the country that did not regulate the profession of massage therapy prior to this year, passed Senate Bill 687, creating statewide licensure. Under the new law, beginning May 1, 2017, all massage therapists practicing in Oklahoma need to hold a state massage therapist license. The law also establishes minimum training requirements, defi nes scope of practice, provides procedures for professional discipline, preempts local regulation of massage therapists, and requires that massage therapy schools must be licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools. Many changes were made to the bill during the legislative process that addressed ABMP's initial concerns. Importantly, a workable grandfathering provision was added to the bill, and the hours of massage therapy education required to obtain a license (after the grandfathering period) was reduced from 750 hours to 500 hours. Although the law places the regulation of massage therapy under the state Cosmetology Board, the bill created a fi ve-member Advisory Board on Massage Therapy, which will include three professional massage therapists and one massage school administrator or faculty member and will be equipped to address issues specifi c to the massage profession. Before anyone can apply for a license, the board must fi rst draft and issue the regulations implementing the law and must create the application form. ABMP will let Oklahoma members know when the regulations have been issued and applications have been made available. Qualifying for Licensure Before May 1, 2017 (Grandfathering) After applications become available, and through May 1, 2017, massage practitioners will be able to qualify for a state license by providing one of the following: 1. Documentation that the applicant has completed and passed a nationally recognized competency examination in the practice of massage therapy, or 2. An affi davit of at least fi ve (5) years of work experience in the state, or 3. A certifi cate and transcript of completion from a massage school with at least 500 hours of education. Additionally, all applicants must be at least 18 years of age, must provide proof of professional liability insurance, and must disclose any prior criminal proceedings taken against the applicant.