South Carolina § 40-30-110 - Qualifications for license.

§ 40-30-110. Qualifications for license.

(A) To be licensed as a massage therapist, an individual must:

(1) be at least eighteen years of age and have either received a high school diploma or graduate equivalency diploma, or completed a program that has been approved by the board to satisfy this requirement;

(2) have successfully completed:

(a) six hundred fifty hours of an approved massage therapy education program at an approved massage therapy school having a curriculum that includes course content approved by the board; or

(b) an approved massage therapy education program that is substantially equivalent to the education required in subitem (a);

(3) have successfully passed the Federation of State Massage Therapy Board (FSMTB) or any other board-approved examination; and

(4) speak the English language as a native language or demonstrate an effective proficiency in the English language, in the manner prescribed by and to the satisfaction of the board. If English is not an individual's native language, or if an individual does not demonstrate an effective proficiency of the English language in a manner prescribed by and to the satisfaction of the board, then the board may require proof that the applicant has received a passing score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Spoken English (TSE) offered by TOEFL/TSE Services, or another service approved by the board. The costs of the TOEFL, TSE, or other service approved by the board shall be paid by the applicant.

(B) If an individual qualifies to be licensed as a massage therapist under subsection (A), then the individual must submit:

(1) a completed application on a form prescribed by the board, accompanied by a two inch by two inch current photograph, and all applicable fees;

(2) an official transcript demonstrating successful completion of the education required pursuant to subsection (A) and proof of passing the FSMTB or other board-approved examination; and

(3) evidence of an effective proficiency in the English language, if applicable.

(C) In addition to other requirements established by law and for the purpose of determining an applicant's eligibility for licensure to practice massage therapy, the board shall require a state criminal history records check, supported by fingerprints, by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The results of these criminal records checks must be reported to the board. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is authorized to retain fingerprints for certification purposes and for notification to the board regarding criminal charges. The costs of conducting a state criminal history records check and national criminal records check shall be paid by the applicant.

(D) Information received pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential, except that information relied upon in denying licensure may be disclosed as necessary to support administrative action.

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 387, SECTION 1; 2013 Act No. 41, SECTION 4, eff June 7, 2013; 2022 Act No. 151 (S.227), SECTION 2, eff May 13, 2023.

Effect of Amendment

The 2013 amendment rewrote the section.

2022 Act No. 151, SECTION 2, rewrote the section.