Good Therapists Can Find
Themselves in Trouble…
TOP 10 WAYS TO PROTECT
YOURSELF AND YOUR
BUSINESS FROM LEGAL
DIFFICULTIES
Presented by Karen G. Ford, M.S., LMT
Chair, Florida Board of Massage Therapy
#1 Don’t work without a License
 Only individuals who
hold a CLEAR/ACTIVE
license can practice
massage therapy in
Florida
 Practicing without an
active license is not
only a violation of the
Practice Act, but also
a criminal offense -- it
is unlicensed activity
#2 Know the Rules if you plan to operate your
own establishment.
 Separate licensure is
required for Massage
Establishments.
 Operating an
establishment without
a license is a criminal
offense.
 Allowing an
unlicensed therapist
to work for you is a
criminal offense
#3 Don’t work for an unlicensed establishment.
 It is a criminal offense to work at an
unlicensed establishment
 You will be liable for the cost of prosecution as
well as the fine for the offense – these costs
are significant
 Whether you are employed or an
independent contractor at a massage
establishment -- do not work there unless you
have a copy of the MM license before you
start work and at EVERY renewal
#4 Proofread any advertisement of your services
 Someone else’s error
could mean action taken
against your license:
 Check for accuracy
 Make sure it includes
correct license numbers
#5 Notify the Board if you move
 No current address is
a violation of the
Practice Act
 This can become a
crisis at renewal time
 Practicing on a
delinquent license is
a criminal offense
#6 Renew correctly and on time
 Renewal date is Aug, 31 every odd numbered year.
 12 CEU’s have to be done in a face-to-face setting,
relating to modalities.
 Required CEU’s

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2 Florida Laws update
2 Ethics
2 Prevention of Medical Errors
HIV/AIDS update
 The rest are optional, but still must be approved by
the Board
#7 Maintain your CE certificates
 CE requirements are
Audited
 Renewing your
license without
having proof of
completing the CE
requirements could
be considered fraud
#8 Don’t have sexual relations with clients
 Board of Massage
Therapy has a Zero
Tolerance policy.
 Zero Tolerance=
Suspension/Revocation
of Licensure.
#9 Tell the Board if you have legal issues
 Failure to disclose in a
criminal offense
 Can include:





DUI or drug related charges
Fraud
Theft
Assault
Domestic Violence
#10 Know the laws and rules.
 Ignorance of the law is not an
excuse
 Current statutes and rules can be
found on the Board Website
 Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) Rule 64B7

www.flrules.org
 Florida Statutes



http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes
Massage Therapy Practice Act C. 480
Health Care Regulation C. 456
Board Of Massage Therapy
Telephone: 850.245.4161
Fax: 850.921.6184
E-Mail: MQA_MassageTherapy@doh.state.fl.us
Website: www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa
Interested Party List:
E-mail the Board Office or enroll from the Board
website.