In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Approval” means the status granted to a massage therapy education program that is in compliance with the regulations of the Board. “Board-recognized massage therapy accreditation agency (BRMTA)” means an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDOE). “Clinical faculty” means a clinical faculty member of a program who is licensed or registered to practice massage therapy in the State of Maryland. Clinical Learning Experience. “Clinical learning experience” means faculty planned and guided learning activities designed to assist students to: Meet course objectives; and Apply massage therapy knowledge and skills in the direct care of clients. “Clinical learning experience” includes: Direct care of clients within the relevant practice setting; and Clinical support activities such as student clinics. “Conditional approval” means a limited-time status that: Is imposed by the Board if the Board finds evidence that the curriculum has failed to meet or maintain the regulations or requirements, or both, set by the Board; and Allows the curriculum to continue to operate subject to the curriculum conforming to the Board’s requirements and recommendations within a time period set by the Board. “Controlling institution” means an organization that offers a massage therapy education curriculum. “Cooperating clinical entity” means an entity that provides the facilities and clinical resources for clinical learning experiences in massage therapy, with the massage therapy faculty or the clinical massage therapy faculty of the program responsible for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of these experiences. “Endorsement” means having a curriculum approved by: COMTA; or An equivalent entity that accredits both institutions of higher education and programs offering instruction in massage therapy. “Initial approval” means the approval period from the first admission of massage therapy students to the program through the first full implementation of the curriculum and graduation. “Licensed massage therapist” means an individual who is licensed by the Board to practice massage therapy. “Massage therapy faculty” means an individual who is employed to teach the practice of massage therapy full-time or part-time in a massage therapy education program. “MBLEx” means the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination, a national entry-level licensure exam, governed and administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). “MHEC” means Maryland Higher Education Commission. Program. “Program” means a massage therapy educational program. “Program” includes: A college; or A school. “Regional massage therapy education accrediting agency” means an accrediting agency that operates in a specific geographic region of the United States and accredits post-secondary institutions and primary and secondary schools. “Registered massage practitioner” means an individual who is registered by the Board to practice massage therapy in a setting that is not a health care setting. “USDOE” means the United States Department of Education.