30 Miss. Code. R. 2501-9.1 - Instructor Qualifications

Any person involved in the instruction of students must be licensed by the Board as an Instructor in all Mississippi Board approved schools of massage therapy, during any part of the 700 hours required by MSBMT. Every instructor must be a licensed massage therapist in good standing with this Board unless exempt from this provision by § 73-67-5 or the exceptions for CPR, First Aid or HIV/AIDS training, Law, Business, Pathology, Anatomy and Physiology, or Kinesiology lecture instructors who must have other qualifications as specified below.

A. A massage therapist desiring to be licensed as a massage therapy instructor under Category A, B, H, L, or M shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the applicant meets the following general requirements:

1. is a graduate from a qualified school of massage therapy; and

2. is a licensed massage therapist in good standing with the Board with a license status of active, inactive, or retired; and

3. has lawfully practiced massage therapy for at least three (3) years; and

4. has completed a Board approved course of at least 20 hours in teaching skills for adult education.

B. A person desiring to be licensed under Category M as a massage therapy instructor shall specify each specific therapy technique or modality, clinic, or palpatory anatomy/kinesiology. The Board of Massage Therapy will list the approved subjects on the applicant's instructor license for Category M. The applicant shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy in the following:

1. For teaching basic massage theory, Swedish and/or relaxation therapy, deep tissue or clinical practicum-related modality the applicant meets the requirements of Rule 9.1.A.

2. For teaching palpatory anatomy/kinesiology or a specific therapy technique or modality shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the applicant meets the requirements of Rule 9.1. A and has completed at least two (2) times the hours of education in the subject matter.

C. A person desiring to be licensed as an instructor of pathology, anatomy lecture, physiology lecture, kinesiology lecture or ADDS/HIV and infectious disease awareness (Category A) shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the individual either:

1. has a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a college or university which is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education, or a substantially equivalent accrediting body of a foreign sovereign state, with a major in pathology, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, sports medicine, exercise physiology, nursing, education with a concentration in biology or a substantially equivalent major; or

2. shall meet the requirements of Rule 9.1.A if a massage therapist, and has accumulated a minimum of 270 classroom hours of discrete science courses related to the human body. Acceptable courses are pathology, anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, palpatory anatomy, or AIDS/HIV and infectious disease. Each course must be documented in a transcript from a Board-approved school of massage therapy and/or from a college or university which is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or a substantially equivalent accrediting body of a foreign sovereign state. As documented on a transcript, one college or university semester credit shall be converted to fifteen (15) classroom hours for lecture courses and to thirty (30) classroom hours for laboratory courses. As documented on a transcript, one college or university quarter credit shall be converted to ten (10) classroom hours for lecture courses and to twenty (20) classroom hours for laboratory courses. Only courses that were successfully completed with a grade of "C" or higher will be accepted; or

3. is a licensed physician (MD), osteopath or chiropractor.

D. A person desiring to be licensed as an instructor of business practices and marketing (Category B) shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the individual either:

1. if a massage therapist, meets the requirements of Rule 9.1. A, and has at least three (3) years of experience as a full-time practicing massage therapist and owner/operator of a massage therapy establishment; or

2. has a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a college or university which is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education, or a substantially equivalent accrediting body of a foreign sovereign state, with a major in business, marketing, or a substantially equivalent major.

E. A person desiring to be certified as an instructor of Mississippi Law, Rules and Regulations pertaining to massage therapy (Category L) shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the individual either:

1. if a massage therapist, meets the requirements of Rule 9.1. A; or

2. is licensed to practice law in Mississippi, as evidenced by a certificate from the Supreme Court of Mississippi that the individual is a member in good standing of the bar of that Court.

F. A person desiring to be licensed as an instructor of hydrotherapy, safety, hygiene and/or sanitary practices (Category H) shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the individual either:

1. if a massage therapist, meets the requirements of Rule 9.1.A; or

2. has specialized training satisfactory to the Board; or

3. has a minimum of a bachelor's degree from a college or university which is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the US Department of Education, or a substantially equivalent accrediting body of a foreign sovereign state, with a major in nursing, or a substantially equivalent major.

G. A person desiring to be approved as an instructor of CPR, First Aid or AIDS/HIV and infectious disease awareness (Category C) shall produce evidence satisfactory to the Board of Massage Therapy that the individual is certified by the Red Cross, The American Heart Association, or another organization recognized by the Board, as an instructor in these topics. Individuals who will teach only CPR and First Aid are not required to be a MSBMT licensed instructor as long as their credentials are on file at the school.

H.

1. Temporary Instructor License may be granted for a period of ninety (90) days when a school can show proof of an emergency need including but not limited to the following conditions:

a. The unexpected resignation or termination of an instructor immediately preceding the scheduled class.

b. The absence of an instructor due to illness, bereavement, relocation, or military deployment.

c. Increase in class enrollment that dictates additional staff to meet the Instructor/Student ratio requirements.

2. The Temporary Instructor License application must include the following:

a. certification from all states in which the applicant holds a license and/or educational credentials in the area of instruction.

b. payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order in the amount of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) payable to MSBMT. Corporate checks are accepted from Mississippi licensed massage therapy schools in good standing. Unless otherwise indicated, the temporary instructor may be provided full licensure after obtaining approval from the Board with no additional fee required.

3. Renewals will not be granted for a temporary instructor license.

I. Instructor certificates must be prominently displayed in the Board approved school where instructing.

J. If a licensed instructor is teaching at two (2) or more Board approved schools, a separate certificate must be prominently displayed at each location.

K. The Board licenses instructors and has the right of acceptance or revocation for cause.

L. All instructor licenses are valid for a two (2)-year period that expires on June 30^th of even years. Schools may submit instructor renewals; however, the instructor is responsible for ensuring that the renewal is filed in a timely manner. No instruction may be provided under an expired license. A $100 late fee will be charged on instructor renewals filed after June 30^th. Renewals may be accomplished by either online renewal or by paper renewal:

1. If by online method, the renewal may be initiated between April 1^st and June 30^th of 2017 and in subsequent even years. No additional areas of instruction will be licensed via the online renewal method.

2. If by paper form, the renewal applications must be submitted on forms prescribed by the Board and must be submitted by June 15^th of 2017 and in subsequent even years. The licensee must renew by this method to seek approval of any additional areas of instruction not authorized on the current license.

Notes

30 Miss. Code. R. 2501-9.1

Miss Code Ann.§ 73-67-35, as amended; § 73-67-7, as amended; § 73-67-15(1) (s), as amended

Amended 12/1/2014 Amended 6/30/2017 Amended 12/25/2021