SECTION .0700 - CONTINUING EDUCATION

21 NCAC 30 .0701 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

(a) For the purposes of this Section, "approved continuing education" means a course offered as follows:

(1) Continuing Education:

(A) Includes attendance and participation at a live presentation by an approved provider pursuant to Rule .0702(7) of this Chapter such as a workshop, seminar, conference, or in-service educational program. It may also include participation in other continuing education activities that require a formal assessment of learning, such as an evaluation or survey. Examples include distance learning, electronic, or Web-based courses;

(B) There are no maximum contact hours in this category; however, distance learning shall not comprise more than 12 contact hours in this category; and

(C) Documentation shall include a certificate of completion or similar documentation including the name of the course, date, author/instructor, sponsoring organization, location, and number of contact hours attended.

(2) Academic Coursework:

(A) Includes participation in on-site or distance learning academic courses from a university, college, or vocational technical adult education course in anatomy, physiology, pathology, psychology, pharmacology, massage and bodywork therapy or business management;

(B) There are no maximum contact hours in this category; and

(C) Documentation shall include an original transcript indicating completion of the course, date, and a description of the course from the school catalogue or course syllabus.

(3) Small Group Study:

(A) Includes on-site, in-person review and discussion, by at least two licensed practitioners, of professional medical journal articles, clinical videotapes or audiotapes related to the practice of massage and bodywork therapy;

(B) There is a maximum of two contact hours in this category; and

(C) Documentation shall include title, author, publisher, time spent, and date of completion. The licensee shall must complete the Small Group Study Form provided by the Board on its website at www.bmbt.org and include a statement that describes how the review and discussion relates to the licensee's current or anticipated roles and responsibilities.

(4) Mentorship Agreement:

(A) Participation as a Mentee;

(i) Participation in a formalized mentorship agreement with a mentor currently licensed by the Board with at least two years of professional experience and as defined by a signed contract between the mentor and mentee provided by or approved by the Board that outlines goals and objectives and designates the plan of activities that are to be met by the mentee. These activities must be related to massage and bodywork therapy skills, knowledge, or practice;

(ii) There is a maximum of five contact hours in this category; and

(iii) Documentation shall include name of mentor and mentee, copy of signed contract, dates, hours spent and focus of mentorship activities, and outcomes of mentorship agreement.

(B) Participation as Mentor:

(i) Participation in a formalized mentorship agreement with a mentee as defined by a signed contract between the mentor and mentee that designates the responsibilities of the mentor and goals and objectives that are to be met by the mentee. These activities must be related to massage and bodywork therapy skills, knowledge, or practice;

(ii) There is a maximum of five contact hours in this category; and

(iii) Documentation shall include name of mentor and mentee, copy of signed contract, dates, hours spent and focus of mentorship activities, and outcomes of mentorship agreement.

(5) Professional Writing:

(A) Publication or written acceptance for publication of a book, chapter, or article evaluated by experts in and related to massage and bodywork therapy;

(B) During the year written or edited a licensee may earn;

(i) 15 contact hours as author of a book;

(ii) 10 contact hours as author of a chapter;

(iii) Five contact hours as author of an article; or

(iv) Five contact hours as listed editor of a book.

(C) Documentation shall consist of full reference for publication including title, author, editor, and date of publication; or copy of acceptance letter, if not yet published; and

(D) Credit for submitted items shall be given for one licensure period only.

(6) Presentation and Instruction:

(A) Presentation for the first time of an academic course, workshop, or seminar related to massage and bodywork therapy;

(B) There is a maximum of five contact hours in this category; and

(7) Professional Meetings and Activities:

(A) Consistent with Rule .0703 of this Section, participation in board or committee work with agencies or organizations to promote and enhance the practice of massage and bodywork therapy;

(B) There is a maximum of five contact hours in this category; and

(C) Documentation shall include the name of the committee or board, the name of the agency or organization, purpose of service, and description of licensee's role. Participation and hours shall be documented in writing by an officer or representative of the organization or committee.

(8) Research and Grants:

(A) Development of or participation in a research project or grant proposal related to massage and bodywork therapy;

(B) A licensee may earn one contact hour for each three hours spent working on a research project or grant proposal. There is a maximum of five contact hours in this category; and

(C) Documentation includes verification stating the name of the research project, dates of participation, major hypotheses or objectives of the project, and licensee's role in the project or name of grant proposal, name of grant source, purpose and objectives of the project, and verification from the grant author regarding licensee's role in the development of the grant if the licensee is not the author.

(b) Distance learning, as defined in Rule .0702 of this Section, shall not comprise more than 12 hours of the required continuing education hours per licensure period.

(c) Licensees shall document that they have completed at least three contact hours of continuing education in professional ethics as defined in Rule .0702 of this Section, out of the minimum of 24 hours of approved continuing education required for license renewal. This may be obtained through supervised classroom instruction or distance learning.

(d) Business management, as defined in Rule .0702 of this Section, shall not comprise more than eight hours of the minimum 24 hours of approved continuing education required for license renewal.

(e) Licensees shall ensure that each continuing education course for which they claim credit on their application for renewal of licensure complies with this Section.

(f) The Board shall audit licensees at random to assure compliance with these requirements.

History Note: Authority G.S. 90-626(9); 90-630.5;

Temporary Adoption Eff. February 15, 2000;

Eff. April 1, 2001;

Amended Eff. November 1, 2008; September 2, 2005;

Readopted Eff. October 1, 2015;

Amended Eff. November 15, 2019.