Renewing your Florida massage therapy license involves understanding specific continuing education (CE) requirements. With over 30,000 licensed massage therapists in Florida sharing the same renewal date, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. This article provides a detailed overview of Florida's massage therapy continuing education requirements, especially for first-time renewals, addressing common questions and clarifying potential areas of confusion.
General Renewal Requirements
Every Florida massage therapist must renew their license every two years. The requirements include completing twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education. These hours must be completed since the last license renewal deadline. While the Florida Board of Massage Therapy doesn't explicitly use the terms "live" or "online," the general understanding is that twelve (12) hours can be completed online, and the remaining twelve (12) can be “live”.
Mandatory Courses
The mandatory courses include:
- Two (2) hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
- Two (2) hours of Florida Laws and Rules
- Two (2) hours of Professional Ethics
- One (1) hour of Human Trafficking Awareness
General Hours
After accounting for the mandatory courses, the remaining hours can be completed online and are typically referred to as "general hours." These hours should align with the scope of massage practice, as outlined by the Florida Board of Massage Therapy.
First-Time Renewal: Unique Requirements
If this is your first renewal after receiving your Florida license, your renewal requirements are slightly different. Here's what the Florida Board Rules (64B7-28.009) stipulate:
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Prorated Hours
You need to complete one (1) instruction hour for each month or partial month you were licensed.
Example:
If you received your license on 12/15/20, and the renewal deadline is August 31st, you would need to complete nine (9) continuing education hours because there are 9 months between the license issue date and the August 31st deadline.
Required Courses for First Renewal
The only courses you are required to complete are two (2) hours of Prevention of Medical Errors and one (1) hour of Human Trafficking Awareness. This requirement is not in addition to your required hours.
You are not required to take two (2) hour Florida Law and Rules and two (2) hours of professional ethics, as is required for regular license renewal.
Online Coursework
For your first renewal only, all courses may be completed in an online/ home study format.
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Approved Providers
All hours must be obtained through Florida Board-approved providers. Courses taken from NCBTMB approved providers are acceptable, as long as they fall within the scope of massage. NCBTMB providers are not required to submit your hours to CE Broker and you will need to self-report those hours.
Completion Timeline
Your hours must be completed after the date your Florida license was issued.
CE Broker: Tracking and Reporting
All of your CE hours must be submitted to CE Broker prior to renewal. Florida requires that board-approved continuing education providers submit completed hours on your behalf within 30 days. Don’t forget to put your correct license number on your continuing education exams so that your CE provider can submit your hours to CE Broker on your behalf.
The Department of Health, Division of Medical Quality Assurance, will review your continuing education records in the electronic tracking system at the time of renewal.
CE Broker Account Options
- FREE Basic Account: This account allows you to view your course history, including the course name, provider, completion date, and reported hours. You can also search for board-accepted CE courses and report completions instantly.
- Professional Account (Paid Subscription - Optional): This account provides premium tracking tools, including a dynamic CE compliance transcript that displays specific requirements, calculates completed requirements, and identifies outstanding requirements.
Common Questions and Clarifications
Many questions arise due to confusion between initial licensing, first-time renewal, and regular renewal requirements, or from misinformation received from other therapists. Here are some frequently asked questions and their clarifications:
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I live out of state and do not want to travel to Florida to complete my CE hours.
- Florida allows you to take courses from providers approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) per rule 64B7-28.010 (3)(a). If the NCBTMB provider does not have a Florida provider number, you must upload your certificate or transcript to CE Broker.
What if I am no longer practicing massage therapy in Florida?
- You can relinquish your license by sending a letter indicating your intent, along with your paper license, to the Board office. Alternatively, you can place your license on inactive status if you plan to return to the field.
Can I take all my hours online?
- Yes, the Board rules do not explicitly prohibit completing all hours online.
Is CPR a required subject for continuing education?
- No, CPR is no longer a required subject in the Continuing Education Rule.
Do live webinars count as "being in the presence" of an instructor?
Do I need a paid CE Broker account?
- No, a basic (free) account provides all the necessary tools to comply with the department’s reporting requirements.
How do I ensure my CE hours are submitted to CE Broker?
- All Florida board-approved providers are required to submit completed credits to CE Broker within 30 days, as long as you provide the correct license number.
Additional Resources
For detailed information about the licensure or renewal process, visit Licensing and Renewals and choose your profession. Click on Renewals, then select the “CE” tab.
- Help Center, FAQs, and Resources page: Provides answers to frequently asked questions, links, forms, and applications.
- Renewal Specialist: For specific inquiries about the renewal process, you may contact a renewal specialist.
Congruence with Massage Practice Act
Continuing education courses approved for Licensed Massage Therapists must align with the Massage Practice Act (Chapter 480 F.S.).
Out-of-State Telehealth Providers
The out-of-state telehealth provider registration is for health care practitioners licensed outside of Florida ONLY.
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