(1) A transfer program must be approved by the board prior to a massage school or massage program enrolling a transfer student through the use of transfer credits or clock hours.

(2) To qualify as a board approved transfer program, an authorized representative of the massage school or massage program must submit to the board a completed application packet provided by the department.

(3) Approval of a transfer program is valid for three years after initial approval and every five years for reapproval. The transfer program's initial approval expiration date will be aligned to the expiration date of the related massage school or massage program approval. The board may place restrictions on, or may revoke or suspend, approval of a transfer program that fails to comply with the requirements in this section or in RCW 18.108.028.

(4) Board approved massage schools or massage programs may operate transfer programs that accept an individual's credits or clock hours from other massage schools, massage programs, colleges or universities, subject to the following conditions:

(a) The massage school, massage program, college or university from where credits or clock hours are being transferred is:

(i) Accredited by a national or regional education accreditation organization;

(ii) Approved by a state authority with responsibility for oversight of educational or vocational programs; or

(iii) Approved by a state agency that regulates massage schools or massage programs and is a member of the federation of state massage therapy boards.

(b) The massage school, massage program, college or university from where credits or clock hours are being transferred provides an official transcript;

(c) Courses for which credits or clock hours are granted must be substantially equivalent in content and academic rigor to the courses and clock hours presently offered by the massage school or massage program. In order to determine substantial equivalency, the transfer program will evaluate the courses and clock hours and require transfer applicants pass written and practical tests administered by a board approved transfer program for each subject area listed in WAC 246-830-430 (1)(a) through (g).

(d) If components are missing or deficient from the massage school or massage program or the applicant cannot pass the required testing, the transfer program shall require the applicant to enroll and successfully complete those deficient components. Transfer programs may grant partial credit as appropriate; however, documentation of the massage school's or massage program's decision-making rationale must be maintained in the student's file; and

(e) Documentation of all previous formal education and training, as well as the test or tests used to grant credit or clock hours must be included in each student's permanent file.