Section 4731.15 | Regulating massage therapy and cosmetic therapy.
(A)(1) The state medical board also shall regulate the following limited branches of medicine: massage therapy and cosmetic therapy, and to the extent specified in section 4731.151 of the Revised Code, naprapathy and mechanotherapy. The board shall adopt rules governing the limited branches of medicine under its jurisdiction. The rules shall be adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.
(2) As used in this chapter:
(a) "Cosmetic therapy" means the permanent removal of hair from the human body through the use of electric modalities approved by the board for use in cosmetic therapy, and additionally may include the systematic friction, stroking, slapping, and kneading or tapping of the face, neck, scalp, or shoulders.
(b) "Massage therapy" means the treatment of disorders of the human body by the manipulation of soft tissue through the systematic external application of massage techniques including touch, stroking, friction, vibration, percussion, kneading, stretching, compression, and joint movements within the normal physiologic range of motion; and adjunctive thereto, the external application of water, heat, cold, topical preparations, and mechanical devices.
(B) A certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine issued by the state medical board is valid for a two-year period, except when an initial certificate is issued for a shorter period or when division (C)(2) of this section is applicable. The certificate may be renewed in accordance with division (C) of this section.
(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, all of the following apply with respect to the renewal of certificates to practice a limited branch of medicine:
(a) Each person seeking to renew a certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine shall apply for biennial renewal with the state medical board in a manner prescribed by the board. An applicant for renewal shall pay a biennial renewal fee of one hundred dollars.
(b) At least six months before a certificate expires, the board shall provide a renewal notice to the certificate holder.
(c) At least three months before a certificate expires, the certificate holder shall submit the renewal application and biennial renewal fee to the board.
(2) The board shall implement a staggered renewal system that is substantially similar to the staggered renewal system the board uses under division (A) of section 4731.281 of the Revised Code.
(D) All persons who hold a certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine issued by the state medical board shall provide the board notice of any change of address. The notice shall be submitted to the board not later than thirty days after the change of address.
(E) A certificate to practice a limited branch of medicine shall be automatically suspended if the certificate holder fails to renew the certificate in accordance with division (C) of this section. Continued practice after the suspension of the certificate to practice shall be considered as practicing in violation of sections 4731.34 and 4731.41 of the Revised Code.
If a certificate to practice has been suspended pursuant to this division for two years or less, it may be reinstated. The board shall reinstate the certificate upon an applicant's submission of a renewal application and payment of the biennial renewal fee and the applicable monetary penalty. With regard to reinstatement of a certificate to practice cosmetic therapy, the applicant also shall submit with the application a certification that the number of hours of continuing education necessary to have a suspended certificate reinstated have been completed, as specified in rules the board shall adopt in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The penalty for reinstatement shall be twenty-five dollars.
If a certificate has been suspended pursuant to this division for more than two years, it may be restored. Subject to section 4731.222 of the Revised Code, the board may restore the certificate upon an applicant's submission of a restoration application, the biennial renewal fee, and the applicable monetary penalty and compliance with sections 4776.01 to 4776.04 of the Revised Code. The board shall not restore to an applicant a certificate to practice unless the board, in its discretion, decides that the results of the criminal records check do not make the applicant ineligible for a certificate issued pursuant to section 4731.17 of the Revised Code. The penalty for restoration is fifty dollars.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 15, 2014 – House Bill 483 - 130th General Assembly [ View September 15, 2014 Version ]
- September 29, 2015 – House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly [ View September 29, 2015 Version ]
- September 29, 2017 – Amended by House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly [ View September 29, 2017 Version ]
- October 17, 2019 – Amended by House Bill 166 - 133rd General Assembly [ View October 17, 2019 Version ]
- April 12, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 442 - 133rd General Assembly [ View April 12, 2021 Version ]