1(1) 2Any person is qualified for licensure as a massage therapist under this act who:
16(a) 17Is at least 18 years of age or has received a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma;
36(b) 37Has completed a course of study at a board-approved massage school that meets standards adopted by the board; and
56(c) 57Has received a passing grade on a national examination designated by the board.
70(2) 71Every person desiring to be examined for licensure as a massage therapist must apply to the department in writing upon forms prepared and furnished by the department. Such applicants are subject to s. 104480.046(1)105.
106(3) 107An applicant must submit to background screening under s. 116456.0135117.
118(4) 119Upon an applicant’s passing the examination and paying the initial licensure fee, the department shall issue to the applicant a license, valid until the next scheduled renewal date, to practice massage.
150(5) 151The board shall adopt rules:
156(a) 157Establishing a minimum training program for apprentices.
164(b) 165Providing for educational standards, examination, and certification for the practice of colonic irrigation, as defined in s. 182480.033(6), 183by massage therapists.
186(c) 187Specifying licensing procedures for practitioners desiring to be licensed in this state who hold an active license and have practiced in any other state, territory, or jurisdiction of the United States or any foreign national jurisdiction which has licensing standards substantially similar to, equivalent to, or more stringent than the standards of this state.
241(6) 242Massage therapists who were issued a license before July 1, 2014, must submit to the background screening requirements of s. 262456.0135263by January 31, 2015.
267(7) 268The board shall deny an application for a new or renewal license if an applicant has been convicted or found guilty of, or enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a violation of s. 307796.07(2)(a)308which is reclassified under s. 313796.07(7)314or a felony offense under any of the following provisions of state law or a similar provision in another jurisdiction:
334(a) 335Section 336787.01, 337relating to kidnapping.
340(b) 341Section 342787.02, 343relating to false imprisonment.
347(c) 348Section 349787.025, 350relating to luring or enticing a child.
357(d) 358Section 359787.06, 360relating to human trafficking.
364(e) 365Section 366787.07, 367relating to human smuggling.
371(f) 372Section 373794.011, 374relating to sexual battery.
378(g) 379Section 380794.08, 381relating to female genital mutilation.
386(h) 387Former s. 389796.03, 390relating to procuring a person under the age of 18 for prostitution.
402(i) 403Former s. 405796.035, 406relating to the selling or buying of minors into prostitution.
416(j) 417Section 418796.04, 419relating to forcing, compelling, or coercing another to become a prostitute.
430(k) 431Section 432796.05, 433relating to deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution.
442(l) 443Section 444796.07(4)(a)3445., relating to a felony of the third degree for a third or subsequent violation of s. 462796.07, 463relating to prohibiting prostitution and related acts.
470(m) 471Section 472800.04, 473relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age.
493(n) 494Section 495825.1025(2)(b), 496relating to lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of an elderly or disabled person.
514(o) 515Section 516827.071, 517relating to sexual performance by a child.
524(p) 525Section 526847.0133, 527relating to the protection of minors.
533(q) 534Section 535847.0135, 536relating to computer pornography.
540(r) 541Section 542847.0138, 543relating to the transmission of material harmful to minors to a minor by electronic device or equipment.
560(s) 561Section 562847.0145, 563relating to the selling or buying of minors.
571(8) 572A person issued a license as a massage apprentice before July 1, 2020, may continue that apprenticeship and perform massage therapy as authorized under that license until it expires. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, which must occur before July 1, 2023, a massage apprentice may apply to the board for full licensure and be granted a license if all other applicable licensure requirements are met.
History.-s. 10, ch. 78-436; ss. 13, 15, 25, 30, 34, 52, 62, ch. 80-406; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 25, 47, ch. 82-179; s. 77, ch. 83-329; ss. 4, 12, 13, ch. 85-280; s. 61, ch. 87-225; s. 52, ch. 89-374; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 153, ch. 94-119; s. 152, ch. 97-264; s. 9, ch. 2014-20; s. 3, ch. 2014-139; s. 59, ch. 2015-2; s. 63, ch. 2016-10; s. 5, ch. 2016-24; s. 38, ch. 2020-133.
