5765600 Health, Department of - Notice of Final Rulemaking - Requires massage therapists to obtain hands-on, massage-technique continuing education, complete CPR and first aid certification in person, and maintain valid CPR/first aid certification ...

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

 

NOTICE OF FINAL RULEMAKING

 

The Director of the Department of Health, pursuant to the authority set forth in § 302(14) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985, effective March 25, 1986 (D.C. Law 6-99; D.C. Official Code § 3-1203.02(14) (2012 Repl.)), and Mayor’s Order 98-140, dated August 20, 1998, hereby gives notice of the adoption of the following amendments to Chapter 75 (Massage Therapy) of Title 17 (Business, Occupations, and Professionals) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).

 

The purpose of this rulemaking is to require hands-on, massage-techniques continuing education for massage therapists and to clarify that the required first-aid and CPR certifications must be maintained and remain current throughout the licensure period.

 

This rulemaking was published in the D.C. Register as a proposed rulemaking on March 6, 2015 at 62 DCR 2778. No comments were received.  In further reviewing the rule, the Board of Massage Therapy (“Board”) determined that a further clarification is required with regard to the CPR certification, which should be completed in person rather than on line or through long-distance methods.  Accordingly, this rulemaking was published as a second proposed rulemaking on July 24, 2015 at 62 DCR 10024.  No comments were received and no changes were made.

 

These rules were adopted as final on September 17, 2015 and will be effective upon publication of the notice in the D.C. Register.

 

CHAPTER 75, MASSAGE THERAPY, OF TITLE 17 DCMR, BUSINESS, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONALS, is amended as follows:

 

Section 7506, CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, is amended as follows:

 

Subsection 7506.4 is amended to read as follows:

 

7506.4             An applicant for renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement of a license shall submit proof pursuant to § 7506.7 of having completed twelve (12) hours of approved continuing education credit during the two (2) -year period preceding the date the license expires which shall consist of the following:

 

(a)     Three (3) hours of professional ethics; and

 

(b)     Nine (9) hours of massage-related course work provided by a Board approved provider, of which six (6) hours shall be hands-on, massage-technique course(s) completed in a live classroom setting taught by an appropriate instructor.

 

Subsection 7506.6 is amended to read as follows: 

 

7506.6             To qualify for reinstatement of a license to practice massage therapy, an applicant shall submit proof pursuant to § 7506.7 of having completed the following:

 

(a)     Twelve (12) hours of approved continuing education during the two (2)-year period preceding the date the license expired in accordance with § 7506.4;

 

(b)     Four and one half (4.5) hours of approved continuing education credit for each year after the expiration of the license, with at least three (3) hours of hands-on, massage-technique course(s) completed in a live classroom setting taught by an appropriate instructor; and

 

(b)     One and one-half (1.5) hours of professional ethics for each year after the expiration of the license.

 

Section 7512, CARDIAC PULMONARY RESUSCITATION AND FIRST AID REQUIREMENTS, is amended as follows:

 

Subsections 7512.3 and 7512.4 are added to read as follows:

 

7512.3             A person licensed under this chapter shall maintain, without interruption or gap, valid and effective CPR and first-aid certifications for the duration of his or her massage therapy license issued under this chapter.

 

7512.4             A certification of the CPR training as required in this section shall be valid only if the training was completed in a live classroom setting taught by an appropriate instructor.

 

Section 7599, DEFINITIONS, is amended as follows:

 

Subsection 7599.1 is amended by adding the following definition:

 

Hands-on, massage-technique course – means a course, class, workshop, or training session in which one or more massage techniques are taught or provide the basis of the instruction, and the participants or attendees have the opportunity to emulate, practice, or learn massage techniques from the instructor.