SECTION .0600 ‑ MASSAGE AND BODYWORK THERAPY SCHOOLS

21 NCAC 30 .0601             BOARD APPROVAL

(a)  Any postsecondary school of higher education, whether in this State or another state or territory that offers a certificate, diploma, or degree program in massage and bodywork therapy may make application for Board approval. Every school shall submit an application to be considered for approval, whether or not such school has been licensed, approved, or accredited by another regulatory agency, accreditation commission, or trade association. A school that operates in more than one location shall submit a separate application for each location.

(b)  The Board shall grant approval to postsecondary schools of higher education that meet the standards set forth in this Section. Such approval authorizes the school to offer a certificate, diploma, or degree program in massage and bodywork therapy that prepares individuals to become Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapists in this State. The approval shall be for a period of one year unless increased pursuant to Paragraph (c) of this Rule. The Board shall maintain a list of approved schools.

(c)  In order to maintain approval status, each school shall submit a report by April 1 of the year the school's approval expires. This report shall be on a form provided by the Board, that shall require documentation of authority to operate pursuant to Rule .0610 of this Section if granted by any entity other than this Board, student enrollments, and any changes in curriculum, instructional staff, or key administrative staff. If a school has remained in compliance with all Board rules for a period of five consecutive years and has no disciplinary action taken against it by the Board for a period of five consecutive years, the Board shall increase the period of approval for that school from one to two years.

(d)  An approved school shall notify the Board in writing within 30 days of any change in the school's location address, ownership, controlling interest, key administrative staff, facilities, instructional staff, or curriculum.

(e)  The school approval term begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. For the purposes of this Section, this term shall be considered the fiscal year.

(f)  If a Board-approved school has not met the requirements for renewal by June 30 preceding the new fiscal year, its approval status shall be deemed expired.

(g)  Approval shall be reinstated by the Board if a school whose approval has expired pursuant to Paragraph (f) of the Rule completes its renewal process by July 31 of the fiscal year. A school that has had its approval reinstated by July 31 shall be considered to have maintained its approval status on a continuous basis, pursuant to Paragraph (i) of this Rule.

(h)  The Board shall not renew the approval of a school that has not met the approval standards by July 31 of the year in which the school is scheduled to renew.

(i)  Pursuant to G.S. 90-629(4), "successful completion of a course of study at a Board-approved school" means that the applicant graduated from a school that maintained its approval status with the Board on a continuous basis during the applicant's time of enrollment.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-626(9); 90-631;

Temporary Adoption Eff. February 15, 2000;

Eff. April 1, 2001;

Amended Eff. October 1, 2007;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. November 12, 2014;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2017.