Section 64B7-32.003 - Minimum Requirements for Board Approved Massage Therapy Schools(1) In order to receive and maintain Board approval, in-state schools, and any satellite location of a previously approved in-state school, must:(b) Meet the requirements of and be licensed by the Department of Education pursuant to Chapter 1005, F.S., or be within the public school system of the State of Florida; and,(c) Offer a course of study that includes, all required hours in each subject area listed below in chart A, except that from March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025 some hours may be delivered as instruction hours as detailed in chart B. All hours must be completed at a rate of no more than 6 hours per day and no more than 30 hours per calendar week: Chart A Minimum Course of Study Requirements
Subject Area | Required Classroom Hours |
Anatomy and Physiology | 150 |
Basic Massage Therapy Theory and History | 100 |
Clinical Practicum Massage Therapy | 125 |
Allied Modalities Massage Therapy | 76 |
Business | 15 |
Theory and Practice of Hydrotherapy | 15 |
Florida Laws and Rules Governing Massage Therapy Practice (Chapters 456 and 480, F.S., and rule Division 64B7, F.A.C.) | 10 |
Professional Ethics | 4 |
HIV/AIDS Education | 3 |
Prevention of Medical Errors | 2 |
Chart B Minimum Course of Study Requirments (March 1, 2020 - December 31, 2025)
Subject Area | Required Classroom Hours | Total Required Hours (classroom and instruction) |
Anatomy and Physiology | 0 | 150 hours |
Basic Massage Theory and History | 75 | 100 hours |
Clinical Practicum | 125 | 125 hours |
Allied Modalities | 76 | 76 hours |
Business | 0 | 15 hours |
Theory and Practice of Hydrotherapy | 12 | 15 hours |
Florida Laws and Rules Governing Massage Therapy Practice (Chapters 456 and 480, F.S., and rule Division 64B7, F.A.C.) | 0 | 10 hours |
Professional Ethics | 0 | 4 hours |
HIV/AIDS Education | 0 | 3 hours |
Prevention of Medical Errors | 0 | 2 hours |
(d) Achieve a graduate passage rate not lower than 10 percentage points less than the average passage rate for graduates of comparable degree programs who are first-time examinees on a board approved examination during a calendar year. 1. If an in-state board approved massage therapy school's graduate passage rates do not equal or exceed required passage rates for two consecutive calendar years, the school will be placed on probationary status pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S. The board may require the program director to present a plan for remediation at a regularly scheduled meeting.2. The board will remove probationary status at a regularly scheduled meeting following release of the school's graduate passage rate by the board approved testing vendor and once the school achieves a graduate passage rate for any one calendar year that equals or exceeds the required passage rate.(2) An in-state board approved massage therapy school must notify the board within 90 days of: (a) Changes in curriculum;(d) Changes in approved signer;(e) Changes in ownership.(3) Approval of an in-state board approved massage therapy school shall be revoked or other action taken if the school: (a) Modifies its course of study to fall below minimum standards, or fails to require its students to complete its course of study in order to graduate;(b) Submits on behalf of an applicant for licensure documents containing information the school, through its owner, manager, faculty, or other employees or agents, knows to be false;(c) Violates any standard applicable to the school pursuant to licensure by the Department of Education;(d) Violates any applicable rule herein;(e) Does not achieve the required passage rate for any one calendar year during the two calendar years following placement on probationary status, pursuant to Chapter 120, F.S.(4) If an in-state board approved massage therapy school or any owner, manager, faculty, or other employee or agent is alleged to have violated any provision of Chapter 480, F.S., Chapter 64B7-32, F.A.C., or any part therein: (a) The board shall inform the school of any alleged violations in writing. The school shall respond in writing. The school may request an appearance before the board at the next scheduled meeting to explain any mitigating factors;(b) If the board determines that a school is in noncompliance, it may impose one of the following:1. Corrective action required which shall include the time period in which the school must comply; or2. Rescission of board approval.(c) The Board shall inform the Florida Department of Education of the action taken.(5) The Board shall review approval of an in-state board approved massage therapy school when a change in ownership occurs. If the Board determines that the school is in noncompliance with any provision of Chapter 480, F.S., and Chapter 64B7-32, F.A.C., or part therein, it may impose one of the following: (a) Corrective action required which shall include the time period in which the school must demonstrate compliance;(b) Revocation of board approval.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 64B7-32.003
Rulemaking Authority 480.033(3), 480.035(7) FS. Law Implemented 480.033(3), 480.041(1)(b) FS.
New 3-25-86, Amended 8-15-89, 12-22-92, Formerly 21L-32.003, Amended 10-20-96, Formerly 61G 11-32.003, Amended 8-16-98, 10-30-07, 4-25-10, 5-8-12, Amended by Florida Register Volume 44, Number 045, March 6, 2018 effective 3/21/2018, Amended by Florida Register Volume 46, Number 161, August 18, 2020 effective 8/31/2020, Amended by Florida Register Volume 47, Number 203, October 19, 2021 effective 11/4/2021, Amended by Florida Register Volume 48, Number 012, January 19, 2022 effective 2/2/2022, Amended by Florida Register Volume 49, Number 100, May 23, 2023 effective 6/5/2023, Amended by Florida Register Volume 49, Number 226, November 21, 2023 effective 12/3/2023.New 3-25-86, Amended 8-15-89, 12-22-92, Formerly 21L-32.003, Amended 10-20-96, Formerly 61G11-32.003, Amended 8-16-98, 10-30-07, 4-25-10, 5-8-12, 3-21-18, 8-31-20, 11-4-21, 2-2-22, 6-5-23, 12-3-23.