Ala. Admin. Code 532, APPENDICES, app 3
The Alabama Board of Massage Therapy requires that potential providers (1) affirm the capability of meeting the Criteria for Providers; and 2) provide assurance of adhering to the Criteria for Providers established under 34-43-21(d)(1) and (2) of the Code of Ala. 1975. To provide affirmations and assurances the attached application and affidavits must be completed and signed by an authorized administrator, notarized and returned to the Board of Massage Therapy office. A complete application must accompany the title page and affidavit in order the Board to consider assigning a nontransferable provider number to the applicant. The following definitions and criteria should be used to complete the application process.
Definitions:
(1) Board Approved Continuing Education Provider: An individual; partnership; association; organization; educational institution; governmental agency; or licensed health care facility offering continuing education for massage therapists that meet Board criteria for approval.
(2) Board Approved Continuing Education Course: An activity that meets the definition of continuing education and has undergone approval by a Board approved provider of continuing education. A course or activity may be a program of multiple sessions or a single session lasting at least fifty (50) minutes (1.0 contact hour).
(3) Continuing Education: Planned, organized learning experiences designed to augment the knowledge, skill and attitudes for the enhancement of the practice of massage therapy.
(4) Continuing Education Contact Hour: Unit of measurement of continuing education that meets Board criteria for approval and lasts at least fifty (50) minutes.
(5) Continuing Education Earning Period: Two-year period of time during which contact hours must be accrued.
(6) Independent Study for Continuing Education: Self-directed learning experience carried out by the participant in an unstructured or structured setting including but not limited to, self-study, video, computer or on-line continuing education programs.
(7) Pre-Approved Provider: A Continuing Education Provider previously approved by a nationally recognized massage therapy association or organization
(8) Provider Number: A permanent, nontransferable number assigned by the Board to designate an approved provider.
CRITERIA FOR PROVIDERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES
Standards for Providers.
(1) The Board approved provider is accountable for
(a) Demonstrating capability to meet and adhere to Board established standards to assure the provision of quality continuing education activities for massage therapists; and
(b) The veracity and accuracy of continuing education provided; and
(c) Compliance with the standards set forth in this chapter.
Mission and Objectives
The mission and objectives for the continuing education provider unit shall be written and available for review.
(1) The mission is written and evidences commitment to continuing education, principles of adult learning and enhancement of the practice of massage therapy.
(2) The objectives emanate from the mission and are written in terms from which administrative and course outcomes can be measured.
Policies and Procedures shall:
(a) Be written, current and structured to facilitate the implementation of planned continuing education activities.
(b) Include:
(1) Assessment of need for continuing education activities,
(2) Fee assessments,
(3) Advertisements or announcements of activities,
(4) Instructor qualifications,
(5) Records maintenance,
(6) Course approval, and
(7) Processes for awarding contact hours
Reports and records shall:
(1) A permanent record is maintained regarding the approval status of the provider.
(2) Permanent records are maintained for all courses, course outlines, instructor qualifications, all course numbers assigned by the provider and contact hours awarded.
(3) Records of attendance of participants, courses attended and corresponding evaluations are maintained at least four years.
(4) Information provided on continuing education records of participants includes:
(5)(a) Name and address of the institution
(b) Name and social security number of the individual participant.
(c) Title of the program or activity.
(d) Completion date of the program or activity.
(e) Number of contact hours awarded
(f) Signature (or designated signature) of the contact person responsible for program/course.
(g) Statement of provider status and/or Board assigned provider number and board assigned or provider assigned course number.
(6) Records are made available to participants upon request.
Educational Facilities and Resources:
The provider shall have accessible and available, educational facilities, instructional aids and equipment for the planners, instructor(s) and learners consistent with the educational content, format, teaching methodology of each course.
(1) The facility is appropriate in size for the number of attendees.
(2) Physical facilities are selected with consideration of factors that are known to assist in achieving desirable learning outcomes; seating arrangements, appropriate lighting, sound control, safety and visual aids.
(3) Sufficient reference materials and other needed resources are available to enhance learning.
(4) Course outlines are maintained on file for at least four years and shall evidence the following:
(5)(a) Course title, sponsoring agency, date of presentation
(b) Outline of content and time frame
(c) Instructor qualifications to present the course
(d) Number of contact hours
(e) Requirements for satisfactory course completion
Instructor Qualifications.
The instructor(s) shall possess qualifications appropriate to the content of the activity.
(1) Educational credentials of the Instructor are appropriate to the target audience and the content.
(2) Experience correlates with the discipline being taught.
(3) Opportunity is given for participants in the course to evaluate instructor performance and knowledge.
(4) Instructor credentials are maintained on file for the period of time that the course is provided and for four years thereafter.
Requirements for Board Approval of Continuing Education Programs
Pursuant to 532-X-6-.02 of the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy Administrative Code, all prospective providers of continuing education courses in massage therapy or related topics must submit to the Board an application for approval of the courses(s) at least 60 days prior to the date on which the course is to be given. In order to receive Board approval as a provider, an applicant shall:
(1) Submit a completed Massage Continuing Education Provider Application with Approved Provider Supplemental Program/ Instructor Information. Copies of which may be obtained from the Board office at 610 S. McDonough Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 or by accessing the Board website at www.almtbd.alabama.gov.
(2) Sign and abide by written agreement to:
(a) Provide an identifiable person to be responsible for ensuring that each program represented under their Board of Massage provider number meets program requirements set forth below.
(b) Retain a "sign-in" sheet with the signature of participants, license number of each participant with the name of the course, date, location and CEU provider number and copies of any promotional materials for at least four years following the course.
(c) Provide each participant with a certificate of attendance verifying the program has been completed. The certificate shall not be issued until completion of the program and shall contain the provider's name and number, title of program and program number, instructor, date, number of contact hours of credit, the licensee's name and license number.
(d) Notify the Board of any significant changes relative to the maintenance of standards as set forth in these rules.
(3) Each program presented by a Board approved provider shall:
(a) Have stated learning objectives;
(b) Be instructed by a person who meets at least one of the following criteria:
(i) Holds a minimum of a bachelor's degree 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, with a major in a subject directly related to the content of the program to be offered, or
(ii) Has graduated from a school of massage which has a curriculum equivalent to requirements in this state and was approved by a state licensing authority, a nationally recognized massage therapy association or a substantially equivalent accrediting body, or the Board, and has completed two years of professional experience in the practice of massage, and
(iii) Has, within the last five years of practical experience, had a minimum of two years teaching experience in the subject matter to be offered, or
(iv) Has taught the same courses on this approved subject a minimum of 3 times in the past 2 years before a professional convention, professional group or at a massage therapy school, or
(v) Has completed specialized training in the subject matter and has a minimum of two years of practical experience in the subject, or
(4) Is licensed as a massage therapist in another state or foreign sovereign state having standards of education substantially similar to or more stringent than those required for licensure in Alabama and has practiced massage therapy for a minimum of 10 years, and
(a) Has, within the last five years of practical experience, had a minimum of two years teaching experience in the subject matter to be offered, or
(b) Has taught the same courses on this approved subject a minimum of 3 times in the past 2 years before a professional convention, professional group or at a massage therapy school, or
(c) Has completed specialized training in the subject matter and has a minimum of two years practical experience in the subject, or
(5) Has taught at a school of massage which has a curriculum equivalent to requirements in this state and was approved by a state licensing authority, a nationally recognized massage therapy association or a substantially equivalent accrediting body, or the Board for a minimum of two years, and
(a) Has, within the last five years of practical experience, had a minimum of two years teaching experience in the subject matter to be offered, or
(b) Has taught the same courses on this approved subject a minimum of 3 times in the past 2 years before a professional convention, professional group or at a massage therapy school, or
(c) Has completed specialized training in the subject matter and has a minimum of two years of practical experience in the subject.
(d) Provided, however, that approved courses in areas other than massage theory, history and techniques may be instructed by a person who meets at least one of the following criteria:
(i) Holds a minimum of a bachelor's degree 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, with a major in a subject directly related to the content of the program to be offered, or
(ii) Has, within the last five years of practical experience, had a minimum of two years teaching experience in the subject matter to be offered, or
(iii) Has taught the same courses on this approved subject a minimum of 3 times in the past 2 years before a professional convention, professional group or at a massage therapy school, or
(iv) Has completed specialized training in the subject matter and has a minimum of two years of practical experience in the subject.
(6) The Board retains the right and authority to audit and/or monitor programs given by any provider. The Board will rescind provider status or reject individual programs given by a provider if the provider has disseminated any false or misleading information in connection with the continuing education program, or if the provider has failed to conform to and abide by the written agreement and rules of the Board.
(7) One hour of continuing education is defined as no less than 50 uninterrupted minutes of learning.
(8) Presenters/moderators, instructors of courses shall not receive credit for courses they present
(9) Whenever an instructor and his/her course have obtained approval by the Board, the instructor may teach the course at any time, in whole or in part, so long as the materials being taught do not deviate from course materials originally approved, there is no change of instructor, and the documentation of attendance clearly indicates the original course approval number and the hours of credit given for this version of the course. Therefore, the number of continuing education hours awarded for the course may be the original number of hours approved, or less. An increase of the number of continuing education hours awarded will require submission of forms for approval of a course.
(10) A Board approved provider must revise and update all course materials that are affected by changes occurring during the biennial renewal period. The Board will rescind approval of any provider or course that is found to be obsolete, erroneous, and/or outside the scope of practice, or if the Board determines the provider has violated the Board's rules. The revised course materials must be submitted with the biennial renewal form.
(11) Provider numbers must be renewed biennially. If the renewal form is not received by the Board on or before the anniversary date of the biennial year, the provider must submit in a new application and, if approved, receive a new provider number.
ALABAMA BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY
610 MCDONOUGH STREET
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 36104
334/269-9990
APPLICATION FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDERS
INSTRUCTIONS
The Alabama Board of Massage Therapy approves continuing education for massage therapists based on the following criteria:
Continuing Education means participation in an approved program or learning experience that is designed to facilitate continued competency including ethical and legal practice in the therapeutic massage and bodywork profession through participation in a learning process than enhances the licensee's current knowledge, skills and abilities through courses, seminars, workshops and classes in areas related to the practice of massage therapy such as: massage, bodywork, allied health care fields (including psychology and medicine), anatomy and physiology, business, insurance, movement therapy, stress management, yoga, CPR and advanced first aid as described in the Alabama Administrative Code 34-43-21.
Please answer all questions on the provider form. If the question is not relevant to you or your organization please state so. There is no charge for provider status, however we request that you submit to our Board every six months the programs that you provided.
Providers are generally approved for not more than two years. When the provider agreement expires it is the responsibility of the provider to obtain another application in a timely manner.
If you have questions you may reach our office at the number listed above.
Ala. Admin. Code 532, APPENDICES, app 3
Author: Keith Warren
Statutory Authority: