N.J. Admin. Code § 13:37A-2.1 - Application for licensure

(a) An applicant for licensure shall qualify for licensure by:

1. Successfully completing a course of study of at least 500 hours in massage and bodywork therapies; and

2. Successfully passing either:

i. An examination offered by NCBTMB;

ii. The NCCAOM Asian Bodywork Therapy examination; or

iii. The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the FSMTB.

(b) An applicant shall have completed the course of study required by (a) above no more than five years prior to submitting an application for licensure to the Board. A course of study completed more than five years prior to submission shall not qualify an applicant for licensure.

(c) An individual who applies for a license shall submit to the Board:

1. A completed application;

2. An official transcript, which indicates that the applicant has completed an associate degree in massage and bodywork or a course of study outlined in (d) below from a school accredited or approved by:

i. The New Jersey Department of Education;

ii. The New Jersey Department Labor and Workforce Development;

iii. The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education; or

iv. An agency of another state, which substantially meets the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Education, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development or the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education;

3. Proof that the applicant has successfully passed the written examination offered by the FSMTB, NCBTMB, or NCCAOM;

4. A completed Criminal History Certification of Authorization form;

5. Proof that the applicant has current certification in CPR, Firstaid, and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) from courses offered by the American Heart Association or a substantially similar course approved or offered by the American Red Cross, the National Safety Council, Coyne First Aid, Inc., the Health & Safety Institute, or ProTrainings;

6. Proof of coverage by a professional liability insurance policy in a minimum amount of $ 1,000,000 per occurrence and $ 3,000,000 aggregate per policy year; and

7. The application fee set forth at N.J.A.C. 13:37A-7.1.

(d) A course of study in massage and bodywork therapy of at least 500 hours shall include:

1. At least 90 hours of anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology;

2. Ethics and law;

3. Theory and practice (in-class instruction as to massage and bodywork theory and modalities and in-class demonstration and practice of massage and bodywork modalities);

4. Electives directly related to the practice of massage and bodywork therapy; and

5. At least 100 hours of clinical practice, performed on the premises of the school, that is supervised by a faculty member who is present on-site while services are being performed and is either a licensed massage and bodywork therapist or is legally authorized to perform massage and bodywork therapy in the state in which the school exists.

(e) For purposes of (d) above, one credit in a course taken in a college or university shall constitute 15 hours of course study.

(f) Hours completed during one area of a course of study in massage and bodywork therapy shall not be counted towards completion of another area of that course. For example, one hour spent performing massage, bodywork, and somatic therapy that is completed as part of theory and practice pursuant to (d)3 above shall not be counted towards the 100 hours of clinical practice required by (d)5 above.

(g) The Board shall issue a license to an applicant who qualifies pursuant to (a) above if the applicant is not disqualified for licensure pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 45:1-14 et seq.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:37A-2.1

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 450(b), effective 3/6/2017 Amended by 51 N.J.R. 217(a), effective 2/19/2019 Amended by 51 N.J.R. 1688(a), effective 11/18/2019 Amended by 56 N.J.R. 1724(a), effective 8/19/2024 Amended by 56 N.J.R. 2090(a), effective 10/21/2024