Bill Text: CA AB1147 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Massage therapy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-09-18 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 406, Statutes of 2014. [AB1147 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB1147-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 1147 INTRODUCED
BILL TEXT
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gomez
FEBRUARY 22, 2013
An act to amend Section 4601 of the Business and Professions Code,
relating to healing arts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1147, as introduced, Gomez. Massage therapy.
Existing law, until January 1, 2015, provides for the voluntary
certification of massage therapists by the California Massage Therapy
Council. Existing law specifies the requirements for the council to
issue to an applicant a certificate as a massage therapist,
including, but not limited to, successfully completing curricula in
massage and related subjects totaling a minimum of 500 hours, or the
credit unit equivalent, a minimum of 250 hours of which shall be from
a school approved by the council, and the other 250 hours may be
secured as specified.
This bill would instead increase that minimum of hours to 505
hours, or the credit unit equivalent, a minimum of 250 hours of which
would be required to be from a school approved by the council, and
the other 255 hours secured as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 4601 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
4601. (a) The council shall issue a certificate under this
chapter to an applicant who satisfies the requirements of this
chapter.
(b) (1) In order to obtain certification as a massage
practitioner, an applicant shall submit a written application and
provide the council with satisfactory evidence that he or she meets
all of the following requirements:
(A) The applicant is 18 years of age or older.
(B) The applicant has successfully completed, at an approved
school, curricula in massage and related subjects, totaling a minimum
of 250 hours or the credit unit equivalent, that incorporates
appropriate school assessment of student knowledge and skills.
Included in the hours shall be instruction addressing anatomy and
physiology, contraindications, health and hygiene, and business and
ethics, with at least 100 hours of the required minimum 250 hours
devoted to these curriculum areas.
(C) All fees required by the council have been paid.
(2) New certificates shall not be issued pursuant to this
subdivision after December 31, 2015. Certificates issued pursuant to
this section or subdivision (a) or (c) of Section 4604 on or before
December 31, 2015, shall, after December 31, 2015, be renewed without
any additional educational requirements, provided that the
certificate holder continues to be qualified pursuant to this
chapter.
(c) In order to obtain certification as a massage therapist, an
applicant shall submit a written application and provide the council
with satisfactory evidence that he or she meets all of the following
requirements:
(1) The applicant is 18 years of age or older.
(2) The applicant satisfies at least one of the following
requirements:
(A) He or she has successfully completed the curricula in massage
and related subjects totaling a minimum of 500
505 hours or the credit unit equivalent. Of this
500 505 hours, a minimum of 250 hours shall be
from approved schools. The remaining 250 255
hours required may be secured either from approved or
registered schools, or from continuing education providers approved
by, or registered with, the council or the Department of Consumer
Affairs. After December 31, 2015, applicants may only satisfy the
curricula in massage and related subjects from approved schools.
(B) The applicant has done both of the following:
(i) Successfully completed, at an approved school, curricula in
massage and related subjects totaling a minimum of 250 hours that
incorporates appropriate school assessment of student knowledge and
skills. Included in the hours shall be instruction addressing anatomy
and physiology, contraindications, health and hygiene, and business
and ethics, with at least 100 hours of the required minimum 250 hours
devoted to these curriculum areas.
(ii) Passed a massage and bodywork competency assessment
examination that meets generally recognized psychometric principles
and standards, and that is approved by the board. The successful
completion of this examination may have been accomplished before the
date the council is authorized by this chapter to begin issuing
certificates.
(3) All fees required by the council have been paid.
(d) The council shall issue a certificate to an applicant who
meets the other qualifications of this chapter and holds a current
and valid registration, certification, or license from any other
state whose licensure requirements meet or exceed those defined
within this chapter. The council shall have discretion to give credit
for comparable academic work completed by an applicant in a program
outside of California.
(e) An applicant applying for a massage therapist certificate
shall file with the council a written application provided by the
council, showing to the satisfaction of the council that he or she
meets all of the requirements of this chapter.
(f) Any certification issued under this chapter shall be subject
to renewal every two years in a manner prescribed by the council, and
shall expire unless renewed in that manner. The council may provide
for the late renewal of a license.
(g) (1) The council shall have the responsibility to determine
that the school or schools from which an applicant has obtained the
education required by this chapter meet the requirements of this
chapter. If the council has any reason to question whether or not the
applicant received the education that is required by this chapter
from the school or schools that the applicant is claiming, the
council shall investigate the facts to determine that the applicant
received the required education prior to issuing a certificate.
(2) For purposes of paragraph (1) and any other provision of this
chapter for which the council is authorized to receive factual
information as a condition of taking any action, the council shall
have the authority to conduct oral interviews of the applicant and
others or to make any investigation deemed necessary to establish
that the information received is accurate and satisfies any criteria
established by this chapter.
(h) The certificate issued pursuant to this chapter, as well as
any identification card issued by the council, shall be surrendered
to the council by any certificate holder whose certificate has been
suspended or revoked.
