On February 14 we notified you of Arkansas House Bill 1394 (HB1394), a bill to remove the tuberculosis (TB) test requirement to obtain or renew a massage therapy license.
Arkansas
Dept of Health
4815 W Markham Street, Slot #8
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-683-1448
Fax: 501-682-5640
Email: adh.massage@arkansas.gov
Title: Licensed Massage Therapist, Master Massage Therapist, Instructor
Requirement: 500 hours, pass either the MBLEx or NCBTMB and the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law examinations
Renewal: 18 hours/2 years
Arkansas House Bill 1394 (HB1394) is quickly moving through the legislature. HB1394 removes the requirement of a tuberculosis test for massage therapists to get licensed.
Arkansas HB 1562 has now been signed into law. The final version of the bill does not include Bowenwork exclusion or the registration requirement mentioned in our previous Legislative Update. The new law does extend the definition of prohibited sexual misconduct to include an express prohibition against “sexual activity with consent of or at the request of a client,” and also adds new options for late license renewal by licensees who are on active military duty.
AR S 145 was passed by the Arkansas state legislature and has been signed into law. The new law abolishes the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy and transfers all of the Board’s powers, duties, and functions, including rulemaking, licensing, and adjudications, to the Arkansas State Board of Health. The main provisions of the law go into effect on October 1, 2015.
AR S 145 was recently introduced in the Arkansas state legislature. The bill proposes to amend the Arkansas massage therapy law by abolishing the State Board of Massage Therapy and transferring all of the Board’s powers, duties, and functions, including rulemaking, licensing, and adjudications, to the Arkansas State Board of Health. We will keep you informed of important developments on this bill.
Two new bills introduced in the Arkansas legislature, HB 1562 and HB 1589, seek to exempt practitioners of Bowen therapy and Bowen techniques from the state’s massage licensure requirement. Under these bills, Bowen practitioners would not be required to hold a state massage license to practice in Arkansas as long as they are certified by a professional or credentialing agency which (1) requires a minimum level of training, demonstr
Governor Beebe has appointed members to the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy. The board, named below, is charged with the responsibility of implementing the law.
Gregg Benefiel, Mountain View.
Lisa Douglas, Forrest City.
Audra Findley, Russellville.
Naomi Hall, Little Rock.
Faye Weeks, Rudy.
Susie Williams, Little Rock.
Mary Kay Wurm, Hot Springs.
HB 1951 was signed into law by Governor Beebe on April 13, 2009. The bill amends the existing massage therapy law and seats new board members to the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy to oversee implementation.
Two changes to the scope of practice of massage therapists should be noted:
House Bill 1162, sponsored by Representative Pyle, would eliminate the Arkansas State Board Massage Therapy and transfers all duties of the board to the Department of Health. To read the entire bill, go to http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/2009/R/Bills/HB1162.pdf
Beginning July 1, 2008, the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy requires the passage of the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB: www.fsmtb.org), to qualify for licensure. The MBLEx replaces the state licensing examination.