(1) "Approved massage therapy education program" means a supervised educational program in a school approved by the Commission on Higher Education. The program must meet minimum qualifications, including course content as approved by the board in regulation.

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(2) "Approved massage therapy school" means a facility that offers an educational program that meets minimum requirements for training and curriculum as determined by the board pursuant to this chapter and related regulations.

(3) "Board" means the South Carolina Massage Therapy Board under the administration of the department.

(4) "Client" means a person who receives massage therapy from a licensed massage therapist in exchange for compensation.

(5) "Client-therapist relationship" means a relationship between a licensed massage therapist and a client in which the licensed massage therapist owes a continuing duty to the client to render massage therapy services consistent with the licensed massage therapist’s training, experience, and scope of practice.

(6) "Currently enrolled student" means a student who is enrolled and actively participating in an approved massage therapy school or an approved massage therapy education program.

(7) "Department" means the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

(8) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

(9) "Entity" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, or other business entity or association as approved by the board.

(10) "Hydrotherapy" means the use of water, vapor, or ice for treatment of superficial tissues.

(11) "Licensed massage therapy supervisor" means a licensed massage therapist who has been in good standing for at least two years and who supervises a currently enrolled student. The licensed massage therapy supervisor shall be on premises observing the student and shall be available to the student for consultation and instruction.

(12) "Licensure" means the procedure by which an individual applies to the department and is granted approval to practice massage therapy, or the procedure by which an establishment applies to the department and is granted approval to operate as a massage therapy establishment or a sole practitioner establishment.

(13) "Massage device" means a mechanical device that mimics or enhances the action of the hands by means of vibration.

(14) "Massage therapist" means an individual licensed as required by this chapter, who administers massage therapy for compensation.

(15) "Massage therapy" means the application of a system of structured touch to the soft tissues of the human body with the hand, foot, knee, arm, or elbow, whether or not the structured touch is aided by hydrotherapy, thermal therapy, a massage therapy device, or application to the human body of an herbal preparation. Massage therapy includes, but is not limited to, bodywork modalities as approved by the board.

(16) "Massage therapy establishment" means an entity with a physical site or premise, licensed as required by this chapter, in which licensed massage therapists are employees or contractors practicing massage therapy on clients.

(17) "Sole practitioner establishment" means a licensed massage therapist who is licensed pursuant to this chapter, who is not an employee or contractor of the sole practitioner establishment, and who provides massage therapy to clients at a specific location including, but not limited to, a rental space, home office space, or outcall or onsite space.

(18) "Thermal therapy" means the use of ice or a heat lamp or moist heat on superficial tissues.