(a) An applicant who is applying for licensure as a massage and bodywork therapist under this chapter shall submit evidence, verified by oath and satisfactory to the Board, that such person:

(1) Is at least 18 years of age;

(2) Has completed 500 hours of supervised in-class study as a student in a school which trains massage or bodywork therapists, or as a student in an approved program of massage or bodywork therapy; the school or program of training must include a curriculum of no less than:

a. 100 hours of anatomy and physiology;

b. 300 hours of technique and theory of massage or bodywork therapy;

c. 75 hours of elective courses in the field of massage therapy;

d. 25 hours of ethics, law and contraindications;

(3) Has achieved the passing score on a written, standardized, nationally-prepared and administered examination in massage or bodywork therapy; the passing score shall be as established by the testing agency. If the testing agency has not established a passing score, the Board in conjunction with the Division shall establish the passing score;

(4) Has passed a state-certified examination in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training; and possesses current CPR certification. An exception from current CPR certification shall be allowed for persons who have lower limb amputee status;

(5) Has not engaged in any of the acts or offenses that would be grounds for disciplinary action under this chapter;

(6) Has no disciplinary proceedings or unresolved complaints pending against that person in any jurisdiction where the applicant has previously been or currently is licensed to practice massage and/or bodywork therapy;

(7) Has not been the recipient of any administrative penalties regarding that person’s practice of massage and bodywork therapy, including but not limited to fines, formal reprimands, license suspensions or revocation (except for license revocations for nonpayment of license renewal fees), probationary limitations and/or has not entered into any “consent agreements” which contain conditions placed by a Board on that person’s professional conduct and practice, including any voluntary surrender of a license. The Board may determine, after a hearing, whether such administrative penalty is grounds to deny licensure;

(8) Shall not have any impairment related to drugs or alcohol or a finding of mental incompetence by a physician that would limit the applicant’s ability to undertake that applicant’s practice in a manner consistent with the safety of the public;

(9) Has not been convicted of a crime that is substantially related to the practice of massage and bodywork. However, after a hearing or review of documentation demonstrating that the applicant meets the specified criteria for a waiver, the Board, by an affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum, may waive this paragraph (a)(9), if it finds all of the following:

a. For waiver of a felony conviction, more than 5 years have elapsed since the date of the conviction. At the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.

b. For waiver of a misdemeanor conviction or violation, at the time of the application the applicant may not be incarcerated, on work release, on probation, on parole or serving any part of a suspended sentence and must be in substantial compliance with all court orders pertaining to fines, restitution and community service.

c. The applicant is capable of practicing massage and bodyworks in a competent and professional manner.

d. The granting of the waiver will not endanger the public health, safety or welfare;

(10) Has not been convicted of a felony sexual offense; and

(11) Has submitted, at the applicant’s expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain the following:

a. A report of the applicant’s entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement from the State Bureau of Identification that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.

b. A report of the applicant’s entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. § 534). The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Board of Massage and Bodywork shall be the screening point for the receipt of said federal criminal history records.

c. An applicant may not be licensed to practice as a massage therapist until the applicant’s criminal history reports have been produced. An applicant whose record shows a prior criminal conviction may not be licensed by the Board unless a waiver is granted pursuant to paragraph (a)(9) of this section.

(b) Where the Board has found to its satisfaction that an applicant has been intentionally fraudulent, or that false information has been intentionally supplied, it shall report its findings to the Attorney General for further action.

(c) Where the application of a person has been refused or rejected and such applicant feels that the Board has acted without justification; has imposed higher or different standards for that applicant than for other applicants or licensees; or has in some other manner contributed to or caused the failure of such application, the applicant may appeal to the Superior Court.

(d) The Board shall grant a license to an applicant, who was previously licensed as a massage therapist in this State, and who has let that applicant’s license lapse due to a failure to timely renew said license, subject to the applicant meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, and the continuing education requirements as provided for in the Board’s rules and regulations.

(e) Foreign-trained applicants must provide evidence of training and supervision essentially comparable to that cited in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(f) All individuals licensed to practice as massage therapists in this State shall be required to be fingerprinted by the State Bureau of Identification, at the licensee’s expense, for the purposes of performing subsequent criminal background checks. Licensees shall submit by January 1, 2014, at the applicant’s expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain a criminal background check.

70 Del. Laws, c. 582, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 74 Del. Laws, c. 289, §§ 1, 2; 78 Del. Laws, c. 363, § 7.