(a) The board shall establish procedures and criteria for the issuance of licenses to persons and establishments engaged in massage for compensation.

(b) No person or establishment shall be issued a license until the applicant and each person engaged in massage at such massage establishment has provided evidence satisfactory to the board that:

(1) The applicant is eighteen (18) years of age or older;

(2) The applicant has not been convicted of the offense of prostitution or sexual misconduct;

(3) The applicant has:

(A) Successfully completed the curriculum or curricula of one (1) or more post-secondary academic institutions for massage, bodywork or somatic therapy as defined by board regulations, totaling five hundred (500) hours or more, such institutions being approved by the board pursuant to § 63-18-115, and either authorized by the Tennessee higher education commission, or its equivalent in other states, or approved, or under the governance of, the Tennessee board of regents;

(B) Received a passing score on a competency examination approved by the board;

(C)

(i) Any person who has completed a program of study as required by subdivision (b)(3)(A) in a post-secondary academic institution located in Tennessee and receives a diploma or certificate prior to September 1, 2005, shall be issued a license without completing the examination requirement of this section;

(ii) Any person who meets the requirements of subdivision (b)(3)(C)(i) shall have until January 1, 2006, to apply for such a license;

(iii) Persons licensed under this subdivision (b)(3)(C) shall not be considered to have national certification and shall not hold themselves out to be nationally certified; and

(4) All required fees have been paid.

(c) Notwithstanding the requirements of this part, no establishment license is required for the office of a physician licensed under chapter 4, 6, or 9 of this title if a massage for compensation is provided within that office by a licensed massage therapist.