Massage Therapy: Requirements and Continuing Education

Minimum Hours of Massage Therapy Training:

The applicant must have completed at least a six hundred fifty (650) hour program in massage therapy training.  The massage therapy training must meet the following minimum curriculum requirements:

1. 165 hours minimum of anatomy and physiology, to include:
   1. physiology;
   2. anatomy;
   3. kinesiology; and
   4. forty (40) hours minimum of pathology.
2. 150 hours minimum of training in massage therapy as defined in 16.7.1.7 NMAC.
   1. The massage therapy training shall include contraindications of massage therapy.
   2. A minimum of 100 hours of hands on training must be completed before the student is allowed to begin a clinical practicum as defined in 16.7.1.7 NMAC.
3. 75 hours minimum of general instruction to include.
   1. business;
   2. hydrotherapy;
   3. thirty (30) hours minimum of professional ethics;
   4. four hours of first aid; and
   5. four hours of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
4. Electives may include:
   1. additional massage therapy;
   2. related hands-on modalities;
   3. additional anatomy and physiology;
   4. clinical practicum (not to exceed 150 hours);
   5. counseling;
   6. herbology;
   7. homeopathy;
   8. nutrition;
   9. breathing and stretching techniques;
   10. theory; and
   11. other courses with prior board approval.  See 16.7.4.14 NMAC for instructions.
5. The total number of hours in the massage therapy program is a minimum of six hundred fifty (650) hours.
6. If an applicant is missing a core curriculum course or is missing a small portion of the core curriculum to complete the 650-hour requirement, the applicant may obtain the training course(s) from a New Mexico registered independent instructor, or from a New Mexico registered school, or from another massage therapy school that meets the requirements in 16.7.4.13 NMAC. [16.7.4.12 NMAC - N, 07-28-05; A, 06-08-06; A, 09-04-09]  

Specific Provisions For Permanent Licensure:

The applicant must meet all the requirements set forth in Sections 16.7.4.10 through 16.7.4.15 NMAC, in addition to the following requirements:

1. Jurisprudence examination:  The applicant for permanent licensure must successfully pass the board's jurisprudence examination as set forth in 16.7.10.8 NMAC.
2. National certification examination:  The applicant must successfully pass the national certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork (NCETMB), or the national examination for therapeutic massage (NCETM) as provided in 16.7.10.9 NMAC, and must make arrangements for the national examining agency to send official examination results, as defined in 16.7.4.7 NMAC, directly to the board, or
3. MBLEx:  The applicant must successfully pass the massage and bodywork licensing examination, and must make arrangements for the examining agency to send official examination results directly to the board.
4. Licensure fee:  Upon written notification, sent by the board by certified mail return receipt requested, that the applicant has met all other requirements for licensure, the applicant must submit the initial license fee as stated in the notification based on the fee structure set forth in Subsection A of 16.7.3.8 NMAC.
   1. The initial licensure fee must be paid in full before the permanent license will be issued.
   2. If the applicant fails to pay the initial license fee within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notification of approval, the application will be deemed withdrawn and subject to the provisions in 16.7.4.19 NMAC.

Requirements For Licensure By Credentials:

1. In addition to the requirements in Sections 16.7.4.10 through 16.7.4.15 and 16.7.4.17 NMAC, the applicant for licensure by credentials must provide verification of a current, valid massage therapy license in another state/territory of the United States, the District of Columbia or foreign nation.
   1. Verification of licensure or registration as a massage therapist must be sent directly to the board by the other licensing jurisdiction.
   2. The license to practice massage therapy must be in good standing.  A prior disciplinary action by another licensing jurisdiction, related to health, safety and welfare, or any other civil or criminal issues will be evaluated by the board on a case by case basis.  The review may lead to the issuance of a conditional or provisional license or to other disciplinary action up to and including denial of licensure.  
2. The applicant must have met educational and examination requirements in the other jurisdiction equal to or exceeding New Mexico’s educational and examination requirements. 

Specific Provisions For A Temporary License:

1. Qualifications for temporary license:
   1. The applicant for temporary license must meet all the requirements set forth in Sections 16.7.4.10 through 16.7.4.15 NMAC.
   2. The applicant for temporary license must not have previously sat for any national certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork (herein referred to as the NCETMB or the national exam).
   3. The applicant may obtain a temporary license while waiting to sit for the national examination.
   4. Upon submitting the application for licensure, the applicant for a temporary license must submit a temporary license fee, as set forth in Subsection D of 16.7.3.8 NMAC.
   5. The board may deny issuance of a temporary license for the same reasons a permanent license may be denied.   

Massage Therapy Instructor:

1. Requirements:
   1. The applicant must hold a valid massage therapist license in New Mexico.
   2. The applicant must have practiced massage therapy for a minimum of two (2) years during the three (3) years preceding the application for a massage therapy instructor registration.
2. Application requirements for registration:  At the time of application the applicant must provide the following:
   1. A completed application for massage therapy instructor registration, which must be legible and printed in black ink or typed.
      1. Incomplete application will be returned for completion.
      2. Faxed application and/or supporting documentation will not be accepted.
   2. Documentation verifying two (2) years of professional massage therapy experience during the three (3) years preceding the application must include a minimum of three (3) of the following documents:
      1. income tax forms documenting massage therapy practice;
      2. verifiable letters from clients confirming receipt of massage therapy services from the applicant;
      3. yellow page advertisement(s) that show dates of the advertisement(s);
      4. printed flyers or brochure advertisements including dates;
      5. proof of rent or lease of practice location or office space;
      6. proof of current association membership;
      7. proof of current professional insurance;
      8. copies of dated receipts for massage therapy practice-related supplies or furnishings that total a minimum of $500;
      9. verifiable letters from employers; and
      10. work log consisting of client’s names, addresses and/or phone numbers, appointment dates, and time periods worked on clients.
   3. Documentation of completion of 50 contact hours of instructional experience of professional teaching, or workshop instruction.
   4. The massage therapy instructor registration fee in accordance with of Subsection B of 16.7.3.8 NMAC.

Requirements For Massage Therapy School Registration:

At the time of application the applicant will provide the following information to the board.

1. A completed, legible application for licensure, which must either be typed or printed in black ink.  Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant for completion.
2. A 650 hour curriculum that must meet the following minimum requirements,
   1. 165 hours minimum of anatomy and physiology, to include:
      1. physiology;
      2. anatomy;
      3. kinesiology; and
      4. 40 hours minimum of pathology.
   2. 150 hours minimum of massage therapy as defined in 16.7.1.7 NMAC.
      1. Shall include contraindications of massage therapy.
      2. A minimum of 100 hours of hands on training must be completed before a student may begin clinical practicum, as defined in Subsection G of 16.7.1.7 NMAC.
   3. 75 hours minimum of general instruction, to include:
      1. business;
      2. hydrotherapy;
      3. first aid - 4 hours;
      4. cardiopulmonary resuscitation - 4 hours;
      5. thirty (30) hours minimum of professional ethics.
   4. Electives may include:
      1. additional massage therapy;
      2. related hands-on modalities;
      3. additional anatomy and physiology;
      4. clinical practicum (not to exceed 150 hours);
      5. counseling;
      6. herbology;
      7. homeopathy;
      8. nutrition;
      9. breathing and stretching techniques;
      10. theory;
      11. other, with prior board approval.
3. Policies and procedures for board review, including but not limited to:
   1. enrollment and financial;
   2. cancellation/withdrawal and refund;
   3. grading method;
   4. attendance and make up;
   5. students conduct and discipline:
   6. dress code;
   7. hygiene protocol;
   8. draping procedures;
   9. evaluation forms;
   10. curriculum;
   11. advertising catalog;
   12. list of text books for all courses; and
   13. qualifications of instructors not registered with the board as massage therapy instructors.
4. Massage therapy school registration fee in accordance with Subsection C of 16.7.3.8 NMAC.  

Continuing Professional Education:

The board does not maintain a list of continuing education providers.  The licensee or registrant must determine where to obtain the required continuing education.

1. Massage therapy licensees:  As a condition for license renewal, each massage therapist licensed pursuant to the Massage Therapy Practice Act will be required to complete sixteen (16) contact hours of continuing education.
   1. Continuing education must be completed within the twenty-four (24) months immediately preceding the renewal date of October 31.
   2. Excess hours cannot be carried over to future renewals.
   3. Continuing education taken prior to the twenty-four month period will not be accepted.
   4. An automatic late renewal penalty fee, as provided in 16.7.3.8 NMAC, will be incurred if the continuing education submitted was taken after the twenty-four month period.
   5. Each licensee will maintain documentation of all completed continuing education, including contact information for the continuing education providers.  

Continuing Education Programs For Massage Therapists:

1. The board will accept the following types of continuing education which contribute directly to the licensee’s massage therapy practice:
   1. courses, seminars, workshops and classes in areas related to the practice of massage therapy such as: massage, bodywork, allied health care, psychology, anatomy, physiology, business, insurance, movement therapy, stress management, yoga, CPR, and first aid;
   2. courses of study offered by registered massage therapy schools; massage therapy instructors; massage, bodywork, or allied healthcare professional organizations, NCBTMB continuing education providers, and accredited colleges and universities;    
   3. publishing an article relating to massage therapy in a local, regional, or national publication.  No more than twelve (12) hours of continuing education credit shall be granted in any renewal period; 
2. Ethics requirement:  All massage therapists shall be required to complete a minimum of four (4) hours of ethics training as part of the 16-hour requirement for each renewal period.  Ethics courses must be taken from individuals or institutions listed in 16.7.11.9 NMAC. 
3. Technique courses must be hands on.    

Instructor registrants:  As a condition for registration renewal, each registered massage therapy instructor will be required to complete sixteen (16) contact hours of continuing education, in addition to the sixteen (16) contact hours required to maintain the massage therapy license, for a total of thirty-two (32) contact hours.  

1. Continuing education must be completed within the twenty-four (24) months immediately preceding the renewal date of October 31.
2. Excess hours cannot be carried over to future renewals.
3. Continuing education taken prior to the twenty-four month period will not be accepted.
4. An automatic late renewal penalty fee, as provided in 16.7.3.8 NMAC, will be incurred if the continuing education submitted was taken after the twenty-four month period.
5. Each registrant will maintain documentation of all continuing education completed,

Continuing Education Programs For Massage Therapy Instructors:

The board will accept the following types of continuing education which contribute directly to the registrants’ massage therapy practice and instructional skills:

1. courses, seminars, workshops and classes in areas related to pedagogy such as:  class presentation techniques, class materials preparations, communications skills, research, cultural diversity, and counseling.
2. courses of study offered by registered massage therapy schools, NCBTMB providers, registered massage therapy instructors, massage, bodywork, or allied health care professional organizations; accredited colleges and universities; or
3. publishing an article relating to massage therapy in a local, regional, or national publication.  No more than twelve (12) hours of continuing education credit shall be granted in any renewal period.