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Georgia Board of Massage Therapy
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Expressions from the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy
The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy and its staff would like to express our sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the individuals who fell victim to a series of mass shootings which took place at several spas on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. The loss of a loved one is never easy, particularly when the loss is the result of such horrific events.
Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with you in these trying times.
Until such time that the public health emergency is no longer in effect, the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will conduct all board meetings via teleconference. Meeting schedules can be found in the "Board & Exam Information" section of the website.
NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING: June 11, 2021 at 9:00 AM.
Dial: 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 927 1026 1989
Passcode: 067496
PRACTICE UPDATE!
By Executive Order of Governor Brian P. Kemp, the Public Health State of Emergency is still in effect. The order allows all licensed massage therapists in the state of Georgia to resume operations accordingly. It is important to be familiar with the entire order but please pay close attention to the information specifically addressing massage therapy. To review the current, Renewal of Public Health State of Emergency please visit Governor Kemp's website. The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy strongly encourages licensees to adhere to the terms of the Executive Order in support of ensuring the health, safety and welfare of each licensee as well as the general public.
To report issues of noncompliance with the executive order, call the state coronavirus hotline at
844-442-2681.
In response to Governor Kemp’s recommendation that state employees work remotely, the Professional Licensing Boards Division has implemented telework options for its staff. Effective March 16, 2020 the Professional Licensing Boards Division will be closed to visitors.
Until such time that the public health emergency is no longer in effect, the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will conduct all board meetings via teleconference. Meeting schedules can be found in the Board & Exam Information section of the website. Please monitor the Board website for information on how to join the open session of the meetings.
Constituents are encouraged to utilize web resources (www.sos.ga.gov/plb/) for online transactions and to locate answers to frequently asked questions. For additional information you may contact the call center at (404) 424-9966. Board inquiries and official documents may be submitted in an email or in PDF format to [email protected] and staff members will respond as soon as possible.
We are all in uncharted territory with the global onset of COVID-19. Many positives arise during times of crisis; however, some see a crisis as an opportunity to scam, mislead, and take advantage of individuals.
Our office has learned that misinformation about licensing is being disseminated in an effort to exploit and create fear in our licensees and others.
Please stay alert. Be informed. Rely on the resources that you know are trustworthy for information and confirmation. If you hear or are included in a discussion about possible license revocation, suspension, deactivation, or exorbitant fines, please verify what you are hearing. Contact the Professional Licensing Board to report this. Visit the Board’s website for correct and accurate information.
NEED TO FIND OUT IF A MASSAGE THERAPY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM LOCATED IN GEORGIA IS RECOGNIZED BY THE GEORGIA BOARD OF MASSAGE THERAPY?
Select the "Licensure Search" button to the right of this page. On the web page that follows select the option that says click "here to search for a Facility." Type in the name of the school in the "Busines s/Company Name" field then click "Search" to receive a list of search results.
Recognized massage therapy educational programs will be identified in the search results by name, license number (that begins with RMP- followed by a six digit number), and the profession under which the program is recognized.
To identify out of state massage therapy educational programs that may be accepted by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy you are encouraged to visit the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) website to determine if the school had an assigned school code at the time you attended and graduated from the program. If it did, you must then ensure that the program meets the requirements of Board Rules Chapter 345-8 (three rules) and is approved by the U. S. Department of Education in the state where it is located. If the aforementioned requirements are met, you may be eligible for licensure in Georgia.
ONLINE APPLICATION AVAILABLE FOR INITIAL LICENSURE
Please Note: The online application is ONLY available to individuals who have never held a license to practice massage therapy in the state of Georgia or any other state, jurisdiction or territory. DO NOT attempt to complete the online application if you have held a license to practice massage therapy. If you apply incorrectly, you will be assessed another application fee.
If preferred, applicants may download a paper application and submit it along with the fee any supporting documents by mail.
INFORMATION FOR VETERANS, MILITARY & SPOUSES
Veterans, military service members, transitioning service members and Military Spouses of the armed forces of the United States, including the National Guard, may be eligible for expedited application processes and preference points. Please click here for additional details.
Continuing Education Requirements for Georgia Massage Therapists
As of September 22, 2015, all massage therapists licensed to practice in the state of Georgia are required to:
- Register and report their continuing education coursework and submit proof of completion of continuing education experiences into CE Broker®; and,
- Record all continuing education taken to satisfy the requirements of license renewal BEFORE you apply to renew the license.
In light of aforementioned recording requirements, licensees must at a minimum create their NO COST, BASIC LIMITED ACCESS ACCOUNT in CE Broker® and record any completed continuing education activities. Click here for more details on how to register for your free account.
1) A massage therapy license is required to obtain a license for a massage therapy business in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 36-60-6(c).
2) If you wish to remain abreast of potential rule amendments, it is suggested that you subscribe to the Interested Parties List. (Select the link. The process only takes a matter of minutes.)
3) Applicants and licensees must submit proof of liability insurance coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and professional liability. The coverage and amounts must be no less than $1 million per occurrence, with not less than a minimum annual aggregate of $3 million for all occurrences, as determined by the Board [O.C.G.A. § 43‐24A‐8(b)(8) & 43-24A-14(c)].
Sadly, the state of Georgia has one of the highest human trafficking rates in the nation and as a result, individuals who engage in this illegal and evil industry may seek to use the massage therapy profession as a cover for their criminal acts.
If you witness any signs of human trafficking within the massage therapy profession, to include but not limited to labor and sex trafficking, do not endanger your life and the life of the victims by personally intervening. Instead, keep track of your observations and report them to the authorities. Click here for information on how to report signs of human trafficking.
Additional information on this subject may be found in the "Education & Other Information" section of this website.
INTERESTED IN BEING PLACED ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA?
Please submit any requests to speak or appear and/or add any topics or items for discussion to the Board office in writing a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled meeting date to: Georgia Board of Massage Therapy, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217. If the request or item for discussion is received according to the specified time frame, it will be considered for an agenda item. If the item is not received accordingly, it may be held until the next scheduled in-person meeting of the Board.
***NOTE*** If a request is relative to an incomplete application or complaint case which has not yet been considered by the Board, the request to appear may be tabled until the Board has rendered an initial decision on the complete application or complaint case.
IDENTIFICATION CARD
An Identification Card is perhaps the most visible and recognizable symbol of your profession.
The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy is offering licensed Massage Therapists the opportunity to purchase a durable plastic Identification Card for $50. Click here for more information.