Alabama § 34-43A-8 - Application for License; Licensing Requirements.

§ 34-43A-8. Application for License; Licensing Requirements.

(a) An individual desiring to be licensed as a massage therapist shall apply to the department on forms provided by the department. Unless licensed pursuant to subsection (b), an applicant for a license shall submit evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she has met all of the following requirements:

(1) Successfully completed a course of instruction in massage therapy which meets the minimum criteria established by committee rule for course content and hours of instruction. To perform therapeutic massage on an animal, a massage therapist shall have also graduated from a nationally approved program and completed at least 100 hours of postgraduate training and education in animal anatomy, pathology, and physiology for the specific type of animal upon which he or she will perform therapeutic massage.

(2) Successfully passed a state exam or a national standardized examination approved by the committee. The committee may approve other state exams on a case-by-case basis.

(3) Completed a criminal history background check pursuant to Section 34-43A-13(c). The department may deny or discipline an applicant who has been convicted of a felony or of any crime arising out of or connected with the practice of massage therapy.

(4) Paid all applicable fees.

(5) Additional requirements as provided by rule.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements listed in subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2), the department may license an applicant who is licensed or registered to practice massage therapy in another state if the standards of practice or licensing of that state, at the time the applicant was originally licensed or registered, were equal to or stricter than the requirements imposed by this chapter.

(c) Upon receipt of an application, the department shall notify the applicant that his or her application is complete and shall also notify the applicant upon the approval of his or her application. An application is not complete until all components of the application have been received and all criminal history information has been delivered to the department. If an application is proposed to be rejected, the applicant shall be entitled to a hearing on his or her application.