Requirements for Board Approval of Continuing Education Provider and Programs

Requirements for Board Approval of Continuing Education Provider and Programs. A. For the purpose of renewing or reinstating an LMT license, credit for continuing education units (CEUs) will be awarded only for providers and programs registered and recognized by the Board. Each provider must make application for Board approval on forms provided by the Board, submit non-refundable fees in accordance with Chapter 2 for a biennial approval and demonstrate that the provider has met the requirements set forth by the Board. 1. The provider must retain a “sign-in sheet” with the signature of participants and copies of any promotional materials for at least four (4) years following each program. The provider must furnish each participant with a certificate or letter of attendance verifying that the program has been completed. The certificate or letter shall not be issued until completion of the program and shall contain the provider’s name and number, the title of the program and instructor, the date, the number of CEU hours, and the therapist’s name and license number. . A CEU certificate cannot be issued for other than the number of hours approved. 2. Each program presented for Mississippi CEU credits shall be relevant to and focus on a. massage theory, practice, methods, or b. the Mississippi Professional Massage Therapy Act and the MSBMT Rules and Regulations, or c. ethical principles pertaining to the practice of massage therapy, including such topics as i. a code of ethics, ii. management of the client / therapist relationship, iii. boundary functions iv. professional communication skills v. conflict resolution vi. cultural diversity issues, vii. other ethics topics as approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis, or d. the structure, function, kinesiology or pathologies of the human body relevant for a massage therapist, or e. methods, skills, and strategies for effective instruction and assessment for teachers, or f. human trafficking. 3. Programs shall comply with the following: a. Each program shall have stated Learning Objectives. b. Each classroom program shall have an instructor physically present with the learners for the entire length of the program. c. Each distance program shall have and the provider shall submit to the Board: i. For each on-line program, two (2) codes in order that the Board may access the Provider’s website to review all information relative to the distance program. ii. For each home-study program, two (2) printed copies or one (1) electronic copy of all reading material, and two (2) copies of other course materials (e.g., DVDs) in order that the Board may review all information relative to the distance program. iii. The results of a pilot program or a description of the means for determining the number of hours of continuing education requested for the proposed program. iv. The documented procedure of how the provider will validate the successful completion of the program, and a copy of the assessment methods. If the provider’s assessment method includes a written examination, it shall contain a minimum of five (5) questions for each hour of continuing education credit, and the questions shall assess the learner’s competence for the specific Learning Objectives. The format of the exam questions shall be essay, short-answer, or multiple-choice. Multiple-choice formats must include a minimum of four (4) answers, and the incorrect answers should represent logical errors in thinking that the learner who has not read the material could have made. v. A written statement advising who will be able to take the program (i.e., will it be limited to a particular group or will it be open to the general massage therapy profession). d. If the program includes training on the use of a hand-held electrical massage device, the program shall: i. state the device-specific model and manufacturer, ii. have specific Learning Objectives for the device-related portion of the program, iii. identify the resources used in the training for the device, iv. provide the assessment means used to verify the learner’s competence for the Learning Objectives for the device, v. the specific schedule for device-related instruction within the program, and vi. provide documentation and information on the instructor’s training / qualifications related to the device: 1) how the education was obtained, including the name and qualifications of the person providing the training, 2) the resources that were used in the education training, 3) the means used to assess the instructor’s comprehensive understanding of the use of the device, and 4) the approximate duration of the training. e. Mississippi CEU credits may be approved for programs which are for business, marketing or self-care at the discretion of the Board. No Mississippi CEU credits will be approved for programs which exceed the scope of knowledge for massage therapy practice as described in § 73-67- 7 (g). 4. Each program presented for Mississippi CEU credits shall be taught by a person who: a. holds a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a college or university which is accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education, or a substantially equivalent accrediting body of a foreign sovereign state, with a major in a subject directly related to the content of the programs to be offered; or, b. has completed at least three (3) years of professional experience in the practice of massage therapy; and provides documentation of having (i) within the last five years of practical experience, had a minimum of two (2) years teaching experience in the subject matter to be offered; or (ii) completed specialized training in the subject matter satisfactory to the Board and has a minimum of two (2) years of practical experience in the subject; or (iii) taught courses similar to the program a minimum of three (3) times in the past two (2) years before a professional convention, professional group’s organized meeting, or at a massage therapy school. 5. The provider must provide to the Board, in writing, the name and address of the person responsible for ensuring that each program meets the requirements of