(A) To be licensed as a massage therapist, an individual must:

(1) be at least eighteen years of age and have either received a high school diploma or graduate equivalency diploma, or completed a program that has been approved by the board to satisfy this requirement;

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 40-30-110

  • Approved massage therapy education program: means a supervised educational program in a school approved by the Commission on Higher Education. See South Carolina Code 40-30-30
  • Approved massage therapy school: means a facility that offers an educational program that meets minimum requirements for training and curriculum as determined by the board pursuant to this chapter and related regulations. See South Carolina Code 40-30-30
  • Board: means the South Carolina Massage Therapy Board under the administration of the department. See South Carolina Code 40-30-30
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Licensure: means the procedure by which an individual applies to the department and is granted approval to practice massage therapy, or the procedure by which an establishment applies to the department and is granted approval to operate as a massage therapy establishment or a sole practitioner establishment. See South Carolina Code 40-30-30
  • Massage therapist: means an individual licensed as required by this chapter, who administers massage therapy for compensation. See South Carolina Code 40-30-30
  • Massage therapy: means the application of a system of structured touch to the soft tissues of the human body with the hand, foot, knee, arm, or elbow, whether or not the structured touch is aided by hydrotherapy, thermal therapy, a massage therapy device, or application to the human body of an herbal preparation. See South Carolina Code 40-30-30
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

(2) have successfully completed:

(a) six hundred fifty hours of an approved massage therapy education program at an approved massage therapy school having a curriculum that includes course content approved by the board; or

(b) an approved massage therapy education program that is substantially equivalent to the education required in subitem (a);

(3) have successfully passed the Federation of State Massage Therapy Board (FSMTB) or any other board-approved examination; and

(4) speak the English language as a native language or demonstrate an effective proficiency in the English language, in the manner prescribed by and to the satisfaction of the board. If English is not an individual’s native language, or if an individual does not demonstrate an effective proficiency of the English language in a manner prescribed by and to the satisfaction of the board, then the board may require proof that the applicant has received a passing score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Spoken English (TSE) offered by TOEFL/TSE Services, or another service approved by the board. The costs of the TOEFL, TSE, or other service approved by the board shall be paid by the applicant.

(B) If an individual qualifies to be licensed as a massage therapist under subsection (A), then the individual must submit:

(1) a completed application on a form prescribed by the board, accompanied by a two inch by two inch current photograph, and all applicable fees;

(2) an official transcript demonstrating successful completion of the education required pursuant to subsection (A) and proof of passing the FSMTB or other board-approved examination; and

(3) evidence of an effective proficiency in the English language, if applicable.

(C) In addition to other requirements established by law and for the purpose of determining an applicant’s eligibility for licensure to practice massage therapy, the board shall require a state criminal history records check, supported by fingerprints, by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and a national criminal records check, supported by fingerprints, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The results of these criminal records checks must be reported to the board. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is authorized to retain fingerprints for certification purposes and for notification to the board regarding criminal charges. The costs of conducting a state criminal history records check and national criminal records check shall be paid by the applicant.

(D) Information received pursuant to this section shall be kept confidential, except that information relied upon in denying licensure may be disclosed as necessary to support administrative action.

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