TITLE 16               OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LICENSING

CHAPTER 7         MASSAGE THERAPISTS

PART 12               LICENSE/REGISTRATION RENEWAL

 

16.7.12.1               ISSUING AGENCY:  Regulation and Licensing Department, Massage Therapy Board

[16.7.12.1 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.1 NMAC, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.2               SCOPE:  This part applies to licensees and registrants.

[16.7.12.2 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.2 NMAC, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.3               STATUTORY AUTHORITY:  This part is adopted pursuant to the Massage Therapy Practice Act, Section 61-12C-17 and 61-12C-18.

[16.7.12.3 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.3 NMAC, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.4               DURATION:  Permanent.

[16.7.12.4 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.4 NMAC, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.5               EFFECTIVE DATE:  June 24, 2005, unless a later date is cited at the end of a section.

[16.7.12.5 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.5 NMAC, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.6               OBJECTIVE:  This part is to establish the requirements for renewal of massage therapy licenses, massage therapy instructor registrations, and massage therapy school registrations; the inactive status and reactivation of inactive massage therapy licenses and massage therapy instructor registrations.

[16.7.12.6 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.6 NMAC, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.7               DEFINITIONS:  [RESERVED]

[16.7.12.7 NMAC - N, 06-24-05; A, 09-30-05; A, 09-04-09]

[Refer to 16.7.1.7 NMAC]

 

16.7.12.8               GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR ALL LICENSEES AND REGISTRANTS:

                A.            Administrative provisions relative to the renewal process:

                    (1)     Licenses and registrations expire on an annual or biennial basis on October 31. The specific annual or biennial schedule for each license or registration type is further detailed in 16.7.4.20 NMAC, with the understanding that an instructor’s registration renewal date must coincide with his/her massage therapy license renewal date (see Paragraph (1) of Subsection A of 16.7.6.8 NMAC).

                    (2)     A current license or registration renewal form shall be mailed to the last known address on file with the board.

                    (3)     Each licensee and registrant must inform the board of any change in contact information, such as address or telephone number.

                    (4)     Failure to receive the renewal notice shall not relieve the licensee or registrant from the responsibility of renewing the license or registration by the renewal date.

                    (5)     The licensee or registrant shall complete the renewal application form in the manner stated on the form.  The form must be submitted with the requested documentation and required fee(s) as set forth in 16.7.3 NMAC.

                    (6)     Incomplete renewal applications will be returned to the licensee or registrant for completion, which might result in the assessment of late penalty fees.

                B.            Grace period provisions:

                    (1)    Renewal applications for licenses or registrations postmarked or hand-delivered after October 31 must also be accompanied by the late renewal penalty fee established in 16.7.3 NMAC.  If October 31 falls on a weekend, a renewal postmarked or hand-delivered on the next business day will be considered timely.

                    (2)    After the renewal date of October 31, there is a sixty-day grace period ending December 30 of the same year during which the license or registration may still be renewed, and during which the licensee or registrant may still practice or provide the services authorized by the license or registration.

                    (3)     Massage therapists and massage therapy instructors who have not renewed their licenses or registrations with a postmark date of December 30, or the next business day if December 30 falls on a weekend in the same year as their renewal cycle, will automatically be placed on inactive status as of December 31 of that year.

                    (4)     Massage therapy schools that have not renewed their registrations with a postmark date of December 30, or the next business day if December 30 falls on a weekend, will automatically expire and become null and void immediately.

[16.7.12.8 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.8 NMAC, 06-24-05; A, 09-30-05]

 

16.7.12.9               GENERAL PROVISIONS ONLY FOR MASSAGE THERAPISTS AND INSTRUCTORS:

                A.            Inactive status issues for massage therapists and massage therapy instructors:

                    (1)     Massage therapists and massage therapy instructors whose licenses or registrations have been placed on inactive status may not provide the services authorized by the license or registration.

                    (2)     Massage therapists and massage therapy instructors who practice with an inactive license or registration are subject to disciplinary action by the board.

                    (3)     The inactive status period shall last two years, beginning on the December 30 that the license or registration is placed on inactive status.

                    (4)     The licensee or registrant must monitor the period of inactive status.

                    (5)     The board will NOT send any notices of the upcoming expiration of inactive status to the licensees or registrants.

                B.            Reactivation from inactive status - therapists and instructors only:

                    (1)     Massage therapy licenses and massage therapy instructor registrations will expire if not reactivated within two years from the date the license or registration was placed on inactive status.

                    (2)     The required reactivation form must be requested from the board office a minimum of one month prior to the expiration of the inactive status period.

                    (3)     The licensee or registrant shall complete and return the completed reactivation form with the required proof of completion of continuing education as set forth in 16.7.11 NMAC, along with the reactivation fee and late renewal penalty fee as set forth in 16.7.3.NMAC.

                    (4)     The reactivation application and required enclosures must be postmarked or hand-delivered to the board office no later than two years from the December 30 of the year in which the license or registration was placed on inactive status.  Failure to do so will cause the license or registration to expire, lapse, and become null and void.

                    (5)     Reactivation applications received with a postmark date or hand-delivered after December 30 will be returned to the expired licensee or registrant because the license may no longer be reactivated.

[16.7.12.9 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.8, 9, and 10 NMAC, 06-24-05; A, 09-30-05]

 

16.7.12.10             MASSAGE THERAPISTS:

                A.            Massage therapists will renew their licenses on or before the renewal date of October 31 of the biennial renewal cycle first established when their initial licenses were issued.

                B.            Some massage therapists will renew on the odd-numbered year, while others will renew on the even-numbered year.

                C.            The general provisions in 16.7.12.8, 16.7.12.9, and 16.7.12.10 NMAC explain the policy and procedure for massage therapist license renewal.

                D.            Massage therapists must meet the continuing education requirements and must maintain documentation of continuing education as set forth in 16.7.11 NMAC.

[16.7.12.10 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.10 NMAC, 06-24-05, A, 09-30-05]

 

16.7.12.11             MASSAGE THERAPY INSTRUCTORS:

                A.            Prerequisite requirements:  The registrant must hold a current active New Mexico massage therapy license.

                B.            Instructor registration renewal:  The general provisions in 16.7.12.8, 16.7.12.9, and 16.7.12.10 NMAC explain the policy and procedure for massage therapy instructor registration renewal.

                    (1)     Each instructor’s registration comes up for renewal at the same time the registrant's massage therapy license comes up for renewal.

                    (2)     Registrants will renew their registration on or before October 31 of the registrant’s biennial renewal year.  If October 31 falls on a weekend, a renewal postmarked or hand-delivered on the next business day will be considered timely.

                    (3)     Registrants must meet the continuing education requirements and must maintain documentation of continuing education as set forth in 16.7.11 NMAC.

                    (4)     Independent instructor registrants will be responsible for submitting their massage therapy training curriculum with their renewal.

                    (5)    School based instructor registrants who teach at a registered massage therapy school are not required to submit a curriculum with their renewal.

[16.7.12.11 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.9 NMAC, 06-24-05; A, 09-30-05]

 

16.7.12.12             MASSAGE THERAPY SCHOOLS:

                A.            Massage therapy school registrations shall be renewed annually by October 31 or by the next business day if the October 31 falls on a weekend.

                B.            The general provisions in 16.7.12.8 NMAC explain the general policy and procedure for massage therapy school renewal.

                C.            Registrants will submit a curriculum of the massage therapy training program annually to the board to document compliance with the course requirements set forth in 16.7.5 NMAC.

                D.            After the grace period, which ends on December 30, an owner/operator of a massage therapy school who has not renewed the school’s registration shall no longer maintain, manage or operate the "massage therapy school" as defined in 16.7.12.7 NMAC or in Section 61-12C-3.F of the Massage Therapy Practice Act, or offer education, instruction, or training in "massage therapy" as defined in Section 61-12C-3.E of the Massage Therapy Practice Act.

                E.             The registration shall expire, lapse and become null and void if not timely renewed.

[16.7.12.12 NMAC - Rp, 16.7.12.10 NMAC, 06-24-05; A, 09-30-05]

 

16.7.12.13             APPROVED RENEWAL APPLICATION:  Upon approval of the licensee's or registrant's renewal application, the board will issue a renewal license or registration to the licensee or registrant.

[16.7.12.13 NMAC - N, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.14             RENEWAL LICENSE OR REGISTRATION DISPLAY:  The renewal license or registration shall be displayed by the licensee or registrant in a conspicuous place in the licensee's or registrant's principal practice location or place of business.

[16.7.12.14 NMAC - N, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.15             EXPIRATION OF LICENSE OR REGISTRATION:

                A.            If a massage therapist or instructor does not reactivate his/her license or registration by the end of the inactive status period, the license or registration will automatically expire without notice from the board and become null and void.

                B.            If a massage therapy school has not renewed its registration by the end of the sixty-day (60) grace period, the registration will automatically expire without notice from the board and will become null and void.

                C.            Expired licenses and registrations cannot be reactivated.

                D.            Licensees and registrants formerly licensed or registered by the board whose registrations have expired must make application to the board and comply with the same requirements as any previously unlicensed or unregistered applicant.

                E.             A former licensee or registrant with an expired license or registration may not provide or offer to provide massage therapy services, instruction, education or training in massage therapy as defined in Section 61-12C-3.E of the Massage Therapy Practice Act or in Part 1 and Part 4 of the board's rules and regulations.  Practicing or providing the services formerly authorized by the expired license or registration is a violation of the law and is subject to disciplinary action by the board.

[16.7.12.15 NMAC - N, 06-24-05]

 

16.7.12.16             UNLICENSED PRACTICE PROHIBITED:

                A.            Massage therapists, massage therapy instructors, and massage therapy schools may not render or attempt to render massage therapy services, instruction as a massage therapy instructor, or training and instruction as a massage therapy school without the required current and valid license or registration issued by the board as provided in NMSA 1978, Section 61-12C-27 of the Massage Therapy Practice Act.

                B.            In accordance with the Uniform Licensing Act, Section 61-1-3.2, NMSA 1978 (2003 Repl. Pamp), any person, company, firm, or entity who is not licensed or registered by the board is subject to disciplinary actions and proceedings by the board if it is determined that he, she, or it, has been offering or providing massage therapy, offering or providing massage therapy instruction; or offering or providing educational training in massage therapy in New Mexico without a valid New Mexico license or registration.

                C.            The board may impose a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) against any person, company, firm, or entity that violates the Massage Therapy Practice Act by practicing without a valid New Mexico license.

                D.            In addition, the board may assess the person, company, firm, or entity engaging in the unlicensed practice of massage therapy, massages therapy instruction, or massage therapy education, the administrative costs, including investigative costs and the costs of conducting a hearing.

                E.             Reports of unlicensed practice may be reported to the board for investigation by phone, fax, mail, or e-mail.  An approved complaint form is available from the board office or downloadable from the board's website at www.rld.state.nm.us/b&c/massage.

[16.7.12.16 NMAC - N, 06-24-05]

 

HISTORY OF 16.7.12 NMAC:

Pre-NMAC History:  The material in this part is derived from that previously filed with the State Records Center and Archives under:

Rule 11, License/Massage Therapy School Renewals, 9-3-93.

 

History of Repealed Material:

16 NMAC 7.12, License/Registration Renewal; Registration - Repealed 12-24-99

16.7.12 NMAC, License/Registration Renewal - Repealed 06-24-05