(1) A massage therapist applicant holding a massage license in another state or foreign jurisdiction may be granted a Washington massage license if:

(a) The board determines the other state's or foreign jurisdiction's education and training requirements are substantially equivalent to Washington's. Substantial equivalency means a course of study at a massage school or massage program that requires a minimum of five hundred hours approved by the equivalent licensing agency or agencies in the state or foreign jurisdiction in which it is located at the time of applicant's graduation;

(b) The applicant has a massage license in good standing as verified by the appropriate jurisdiction; and

(c) If there is a gap in practice of three or more years immediately prior to applying for a license by endorsement, the applicant must provide documentation of twenty-four hours of hands on delivery of massage therapy services.

(2) If an applicant does not meet the requirements of this section, then the applicant may fulfill the remaining education and training requirements as outlined in WAC 246-830-037.

(3) The applicant must have successfully passed one of the following examinations:

(a) Federation of State Massage Therapy Board massage and bodywork licensing examination;

(b) National certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork; or

(4) The applicant must satisfy the requirements in WAC 246-830-020 (1)(a) through (h).

(1) A massage therapist applicant holding a massage license in another state or foreign jurisdiction may be granted a Washington massage license if:

(a) The board determines the other state's, territory's, or foreign jurisdiction's education and training requirements are substantially equivalent to Washington's. Substantial equivalency means a course of study at a massage school or massage program that requires:

(i) A minimum of six hundred twenty-five hours of education and training, to be completed in no fewer than twenty-four weeks and approved by the equivalent licensing agency or agencies in the state, territory, or foreign jurisdiction in which it is located at the time of applicant's graduation; or

(ii) A minimum of five hundred hours of education and training, and approved by the equivalent licensing agency or agencies in the state, territory, or foreign jurisdiction in which it is located at the time of applicant's graduation, at least two years of experience, and documentation of at least twenty-four hours of continuing education within two years prior to making application.

(b) The applicant has a massage license in good standing as verified by the appropriate jurisdiction; and

(2) If an applicant does not meet the requirements of this section, then the applicant may fulfill the remaining education and training requirements as outlined in WAC 246-830-037.

(3) The applicant must have successfully passed one of the following examinations:

(a) Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards massage and bodywork licensing examination;

(b) National certification examination for therapeutic massage and bodywork; or

(4) The applicant must satisfy the requirements in WAC 246-830-020 (1)(a) through (h).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.108.085 (1)(a), 18.108.025 (1)(a), chapter 18.108 RCW and 2020 c 76. WSR 21-02-012, § 246-830-035, filed 12/24/20, effective 9/1/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.108.025 (1)(a), 18.108.085 (1)(a), 43.70.041 and chapter 18.108 RCW. WSR 17-14-062, § 246-830-035, filed 6/29/17, effective 7/30/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. WSR 98-05-060, § 246-830-035, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.108.025(1). WSR 94-13-181, § 246-830-035, filed 6/21/94, effective 7/22/94.]

PDFWAC 246-830-035

Licensing for out-of-state applicants.

PDFWAC 246-830-035

Licensing by endorsement for out-of-state applicants.