<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<chapter num="04" heading="Advertising" title_num="10" subtitle_num="65">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Scope.">
    <text>This chapter governs advertising by licensees or registrants of the Board of Massage Therapy Examiners in Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Advertising” means calling to the attention of the public the services one has to offer.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>“Board” means the Board of Massage Therapy Examiners.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Licensee” means an individual who is licensed by the Board to practice massage therapy.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“Registrant” means an individual who is registered by the Board to practice massage therapy in a setting that is not a health care setting.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Advertising.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>A licensee or registrant may advertise massage services subject to the provisions of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>The licensee or registrant shall state in the advertisement that the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Licensee is a “State of Maryland licensed massage therapist”; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Registrant is a “State of Maryland registered massage practitioner”.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>An advertisement shall state at a minimum the:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Licensee’s or registrant’s practice or business name;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Licensee’s or registrant’s name;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Licensee’s or registrant’s status as a licensee or registrant; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>Practice or business address and telephone number.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="D.">
      <text>An advertisement may not include statements that:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>Contain misrepresentations of facts;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Misrepresent any professional qualifications, education, experience, or affiliation; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>Make representations or implications that the licensee or registrant is willing to provide services that are illegal under the laws or regulations of Maryland or the United States.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="E.">
      <text>An individual who is a registrant or a business entity that employs or contracts with registrants may not advertise that the individual or business entity provides health-related therapeutic massage services.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="F.">
      <text>An individual may not advertise that the individual practices massage therapy in Maryland if:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The individual is otherwise qualified to practice massage therapy in any other state or country that has substantially similar requirements for authorization to practice massage therapy and the individual is in this State for not more than 7 days;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>The individual's application for a license or registration is pending before the Board.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="G.">
      <text>An individual whose license or registration has been suspended or revoked by the Board may not advertise or initiate any advertising during the period of suspension or revocation.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Solicitation.">
    <text>A licensee or registrant may not engage in solicitation, including, but not limited to, in-person, telephone, electronic, or direct mail solicitation, that:</text>
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>Amounts to fraud, undue influence, intimidation, or over reaching; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Contains statements which would be improper under Regulation .03C of this chapter.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" heading="Accountability.">
    <text>A licensee or registrant shall be accountable under this chapter if the licensee or registrant uses an agent, partnership, professional association, health maintenance organization, or any other entity or means to implement actions prohibited by this chapter.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".06" heading="Penalties for Violation.">
    <text>A violation of this chapter may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant under Health Occupations Article, Title 6, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Health Occupations Article, §§6-101, 6-102, 6-206, and 6-401, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date:</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter recodified from COMAR 10.43.19 to COMAR 10.65.04 under new Subtitle, Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, Advertising, effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .01 amended effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .02B amended effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .03 amended effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .04 amended effective August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .05 amended effective August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Regulation .06 amended effective January 2, 2017 (43:26 Md. R. 1446); August 5, 2024 (51:15 Md. R. 710)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>