21 NCAC 30 .0702             CONTINUING EDUCATION DEFINITIONS

The following definitions apply to this Section:

(1)           Continuing education -- Learning experiences that develop, maintain, enhance, and expand the performance skills, interpersonal abilities, critical reasoning skills, ethical reasoning skills, knowledge, and attitudes of massage and bodywork therapists that enable them to render competent professional service to clients, the profession, and the public.

(2)           Distance learning -- Courses taken by home study that are produced by an approved provider, whether delivered by videotape, audiotape, printed materials, or computer-based means. The licensee shall demonstrate achievement of learning objectives and completion of course requirements to the provider before credit is given.

(3)           One "contact hour" of continuing education -- At least 50 minutes of any one clock hour during which the student participates in a learning activity in the physical presence of an instructor, or in a distance learning activity designed by an approved provider. One semester credit hour at a post-secondary institution shall be equivalent to 21 contact hours.

(4)           Professional ethics -- A system of conduct guided by principles that are intended to ensure the safe and effective practice of massage and bodywork therapy. Acceptable subject matter for required professional ethics courses may include: compliance with the Practice Act and Rules of the Board, management of the client/therapist relationship, boundary functions, professional communication skills, conflict resolution, cultural diversity issues, and standards of practice.

(5)           Business management -- Courses that enable licensees to learn business skills to apply to their practice.

(6)           Post secondary institution of higher learning – A degree granting institution accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(7)           Approved provider -- One that has been approved by any entity with which the Board has reached a contractual agreement for the approval of continuing education providers and courses. A list of accrediting entities with which the Board has entered into a contractual agreement is available on the Board's website at www.bmbt.org. The provider shall have this designation when the course begins and shall maintain this designation continuously until the course is completed. The Board shall not recognize any retroactive designation of provider approval. The provider shall follow all regulations set forth by its accrediting agency. The Board may also recognize a continuing education provider outside the United States or its territories that is a post-secondary institution of higher learning approved by the educational regulation authority of that foreign country.

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

Temporary Adoption Eff. February 15, 2000;

Eff. April 1, 2001;

Amended Eff. April 1, 2005;

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

Amended Eff. November 15, 2019; November 1, 2015.