Georgia Secretary of State Press Office

Actions Taken by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy at its December 13-14 Meeting

Macon, Ga.—The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy held its bi-monthly meeting on Thursday, December 13 and Friday, December 14, 2007.

The Board voted to accept the following public consent agreements:

Meredith T. Barnhart, St. Simons Island: Public Consent Agreement for Licensure, Massage Therapist License

The Board voted to post the following rules for amendment:

345-4 License Renewal, Continuing Education, Inactive status and Reinstatement of License:
- Discussion regarding the required continuing education hour’s inconsistent wording in this rule’s subparagraphs. Twenty-four hours of continuing education are required, obtained within one year of the date of a reinstatement application for both rule 345-4-.04(4)(b) Inactive Status and rule 345-4-.05(3)(c) Reinstatement of a License.
- In addition, in rule 345-4-.05(3) (d), the word “healthcare” is to be inserted between the words “licensed” and “professionals” in the first line of the paragraph to be consistent with other rules regarding references accepted by the Board.

Proposed rule amendments will be posted at: www.sos.georgia.gov/plb/massage/proposed_rules.htm.

The Board also met with Debra Persinger, Ph.D., Executive Director, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards to discuss Board membership in the organization and acceptance of the organization’s certification exam as an alternate recognized exam for licensure. The Board voted to accept the exam but tabled further discussion of membership. In addition, the Board voted to review two additional entities’ certification exams.

The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will hold its next meeting Friday, February 22, 2007, at 9 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards in Macon.

For Immediate Release January 02, 2008	FFI Contact: Matt Carrothers Director of Media Relations 404-656-4269

Actions Taken by the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy at its December 13-14 Meeting Macon, Ga.—The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy held its bi-monthly meeting on Thursday, December 13 and Friday, December 14, 2007. The Board voted to accept the following public consent agreements: Meredith T. Barnhart, St. Simons Island: Public Consent Agreement for Licensure, Massage Therapist License The Board voted to post the following rules for amendment: 345-4 License Renewal, Continuing Education, Inactive status and Reinstatement of License: Discussion regarding the required continuing education hour’s inconsistent wording in this rule’s subparagraphs. Twenty-four hours of continuing education are required, obtained within one year of the date of a reinstatement application for both rule 345-4-.04(4)(b) Inactive Status and rule 345-4-.05(3)(c) Reinstatement of a License. In addition, in rule 345-4-.05(3) (d), the word “healthcare” is to be inserted between the words “licensed” and “professionals” in the first line of the paragraph to be consistent with other rules regarding references accepted by the Board. Proposed rule amendments will be posted at: www.sos.georgia.gov/plb/massage/proposed_rules.htm. The Board also met with Debra Persinger, Ph.D., Executive Director, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards to discuss Board membership in the organization and acceptance of the organization’s certification exam as an alternate recognized exam for licensure. The Board voted to accept the exam but tabled further discussion of membership. In addition, the Board voted to review two additional entities’ certification exams. The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy will hold its next meeting Friday, February 22, 2007, at 9 a.m. at the Professional Licensing Boards in Macon.