The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will host a public hearing on September 5, 2008 at the Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31217.
The main feature of the proposed rule amendment is the removal of existing language regarding the Board review of continuing education providers, along with the addition of new language regarding the acceptance of continuing education providers approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
While approving continuing education can be cumbersome, ABMP feels this change will limit the choice in continuing education programs and will encourage the board to accept any continuing education approved by an association or certification board. This would include ABMP, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), and NCBTMB among others.
The rule proposal would also eliminate licensure by reciprocity and remove the qualification of being nationally certified to be able to qualify licensure under the endorsement qualifications. Both amendments would increase the portability of massage for therapists moving to Georgia and ABMP applauds the board's decision.