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Senate committee approves state-run massage licensing exam after hours of testimony and debate
Summary
Senators on the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Monday voted to advance Senate Bill 168, which would authorize Arkansas to offer a state-developed licensing exam for massage therapists instead of the national MBLEX exam.
Senators on the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Monday voted to advance Senate Bill 168, which would authorize Arkansas to offer a state-developed licensing exam for massage therapists as an alternative to the national MBLEX exam.
The bill’s sponsor, Senator Terry Rice, D‑District 5, told the committee the measure is intended to expand the state’s pool of licensed massage therapists and make licensure more affordable for students and rural residents. "I want everyone to have affordable massage therapy that is currently lacking personnel," Rice said during his presentation.
Supporters said a state exam could be cheaper for candidates and better tailored to Arkansas education requirements. Julie Eckert, a master massage therapist who helped draft the bill’s recommendations, described the national exam as “computer adaptive,” saying that format sometimes yields…
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