The state of Texas performs a background check prior to issuing a license in the field of Massage Therapy. Per the posted rules:

Sec. 455.152. Ineligibility for Licensure

1. A person is not eligible for a license as a massage establishment, massage school, massage therapist, or massage therapy instructor if the person is an individual and has been convicted of, entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, or received deferred adjudication for an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code, or Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Penal Code, or another sexual offense.
2. A person convicted of a violation of this chapter is ineligible for a license as a massage establishment, massage school, massage therapist, or massage therapy instructor until the fifth anniversary of the date of the conviction.

If a student is found to be offering Massage Therapy services to the general public outside of school, and they are not exempt from the requirement of obtaining licensure, they will be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Contraindications

Lone Star College Massage Therapy students will be held to the same standards as a Massage Therapy client.

• All students must fill out a health questionnaire prior to the start of hands-on training. Students who have any medical condition that could potentially be a contraindication for Massage Therapy must provide documentation from a qualified healthcare practitioner stating that they are approved to participate in both the giving and receiving of Massage Therapy treatments. This is required for both physical and psychological conditions.
• Students suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance or having any form of contagious/communicable condition at any time during the course of the program may be prevented from participating or attending classes until they provide documentation that they are not at risk of exposing others, or are without symptoms for a period of no less than 24 hours.
• Students who have any acute injury that may make giving or receiving treatments inadvisable may be denied the opportunity to participate, or to even attend classes until the injury has been cleared by an appropriate healthcare provider.

The Lone Star College Massage Therapy Director will have final authority on these matters.

Please review the Health Occupation Programs Admissions Policy regarding minimum age requirement.

Program application and acceptance is required. Program application may be found at this link: https://fs22.formsite.com/bdrees/form3/index.html

Academic Standards

The student is responsible for taking courses in proper sequence and at the proper level. Questions regarding course order and certificate objectives should be referred to the Lone Star College Massage Therapy Director (LSCMT).

A minimum grade average of 75 (C) must be achieved in each course in order to progress to the next level of study. Refer to LSCMT syllabi for assignment, project and examination information associated with a specific course. The grade scheme below displays letter grade equivalents to earned point ranges.

• A = 93 – 100
• B = 85 – 92
• C = 75 – 84
• D = 67 – 74 (Unsatisfactory)
• F = 66 and Below

Minimum academic and attendance standards must be met in any class in order to remain in a satisfactory status, and progress within the program.

Attendance Policy

Information and experiences in the classroom and laboratory cannot be adequately obtained if a student is excessively absent or tardy. The LSCMT faculty understands that certain absences and tardies are unavoidable and at times unforeseen. However, it should be duly recognized that attendance for both academic and skills attainment categories is measured in course completion. Therefore, it is imperative to have sound knowledge of these expectations, and the consequences associated with missing days and showing up late to class.

• Attendance and promptness in each class and within the program is expected and mandatory.
• Absences are tracked by hour without regard to cause. An absence can occur during any instructional hour during the scheduled class period.
• Attendance, including tardies, absences, and other deficits will be recorded by the instructor of record.
• Any student that is tardy by 15 minutes or less will be awarded a 15-minute absence.
• Any tardy over 15 minutes will be rounded up to the next 30-minute increment.
• Time missed due to tardiness counts towards the maximum allowable limits for attendance deficiencies.
• Tardies can occur during any instructional hour, and during any part of the class. Examples include but are not limited to: taking personal phone calls during class time, extended restroom/comfort breaks, or physically in the building but not physically in the classroom or station when class starts.
• If satisfactory attendance is not maintained, the student will be placed on probation and notified in writing with a “Critical Incident” form.
• If a student meets or exceeds the maximum hours of allowable absences in a given semester (regardless of time made up), the student will either be awarded a failing grade for all affected courses, or be dropped from the program, depending on whether the courses affected include a prerequisite for future courses.
• If the student has not met or exceeded the maximum hours of allowable absences, the student will be required to make up any attendance deficiencies by attending designated make- up times, or by fulfilling other duties to be determined by either the director, or the instructor of record for any affected class.
• If at the commencement of the class, a student has a remaining attendance deficiency, they will receive an Incomplete as a grade for that class.
• If a student receives an Incomplete due to unresolved attendance deficiencies, the student will receive an opportunity to sign a contract of extension in order to be granted additional time to resolve any deficiencies. If the student does not agree to the terms of the contract, or does not comply with them, the Incomplete will be changed to a failing grade. If the attendance deficiency is resolved, their grade will be changed to what their academic performance within the class merited.
• Faculty members are responsible for tracking student attendance during their respective courses and documenting the number of hours absent. If the student feels there is a discrepancy with the attendance recorded by faculty, faculty attendance log will be used to aid in resolving the dispute with the faculty member and director.
• Students will not be allowed to matriculate to the next semester with attendance deficiencies from the previous semester without approval from the Program Director.

Make-Up Time

1. Students are required to make-up all attendance deficiencies. This must occur at the school, in person, and make-up will include assignments to cover content missed. Final authority on which make-up activities are deemed satisfactory resides with the Director of the program.
2. Each student is responsible for tracking make-up completed, which requires having an instructor or the Director sign off on all make-up hours completed, at the time of completion. The instructor of record is responsible for reconciling all completed make-up hours for their classes against recorded deficiencies.
3. The LSCMT department requires taking a minimum of 30-minutes for lunch. Failure to comply will result in disciplinary action. Appropriate time for lunch will be deducted from attendance for that day. Reduced or missed lunches will not be considered as make-up time, or be allowed towards letting the class leave early.

Maximum Allowable Limits for Attendance Deficiencies

1. A Critical Incident form will be completed, and a student will be placed on attendance probation once they have accumulated 10% worth of attendance deficiencies for any individual class, or the program as a whole, regardless of completed make-up time.
2. A student will receive a failing grade once they have accumulated 20% worth of attendance deficiencies for any individual class, or the program as a whole, regardless of completed make-up time.

Dress Code and Personal Hygiene

Compliance with the professional standards within the profession is required from the students at all times, which includes maintaining a professional appearance and demeanor while practicing to enter the profession. The dress code for the Massage Therapy program will be in effect at all times. Whether participating in a lecture class or lab, making up time, or at an externally held community event, adherence to the dress code is mandatory. The current approved dress code attire consists of:

• Solid colored scrubs, without any other designs or accent colors.
• When scrubs are not required, pants/jeans may be worn with an appropriate top.
• No athletic wear, shorts, skirts, tank tops, mid-drift or other revealing clothing is acceptable.
• Closed-toed / heeled shoes with rubber soles with socks. NO SANDALS.
• All clothing should be in clean presentable condition at all times, with no stains, holes, or rips.
• Jewelry (earring studs only).
• Hats, baseball caps, and other head dressings are not allowed; however, sweatbands and bandannas are allowed during the practice of massage.
• Uniforms / clothing must be appropriately sized, and must not be “form fitting”. All body areas must be appropriately covered. Undergarments should not be visible.
• Appropriate Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) may be required during the practice of massage.

Due to the close personal contact involved with administering massage treatments, professional level hygiene standards must be adhered to at all times. The expectations for all students in the LSCMT program are:

• Students are expected to bathe on a daily basis.
• Use of personal hygiene items (deodorant, mouthwash, etc.) is strongly advised.
• Excessively strong fragrances (cologne/perfume, cigarette/marijuana smoke, etc.) are discouraged.
• Regular hand-washing is expected during the practice of Massage.
• Nails (kept short and properly cared for).
• Hair (kept neat, clean, pulled back, and professional looking).

If a student arrives without proper attire or appropriate hygiene, they will receive reduced participation points for the day. Depending on the regularity and/or severity of the occurrence, the instructor or director may choose not to allow the student to remain in attendance, and send them home to resolve the issue(s). If the student’s ability to remain in attendance is denied, they will have an opportunity to return after the issue has been addressed. Any time missed due to being out of compliance with either the dress code or hygiene policies will be marked as absent, and the participation grade for that particular class will be adjusted accordingly. Any attendance deficiency caused by the occurrence must be made up, and will count towards the maximum allowable attendance deficiency limit for the affected class(es).

Frequent violations of these policies will result in further disciplinary action being taken.

In order to receive a certificate in Massage Therapy, a student must:

1. Fulfill all the course requirements required, while abiding by all rules listed in the program student handbook.
2. Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all courses required for the certificate.
3. Perform a minimum amount of massage treatments on the public in the Internship – the capstone course for the program.

At this time, transfer students are not accepted from other programs.