(1) To pass upon the qualifications and fitness of applicants for licenses and reciprocal licenses.

(2) To promulgate regulations not inconsistent with this act and only as necessary to carry out this act.

(3) To examine, deny, approve, issue, revoke, suspend or renew licenses of massage therapists under this act and to conduct hearings in connection with those powers and duties.

(4) To submit annually a report to the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee of the Senate and the Professional Licensure Committee of the House of Representatives containing a description of the types of complaints received, status of the cases, board action which has been taken and length of time from the initial complaint to final board resolution.

(5) To submit annually to the Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, within 15 days after the Governor has submitted a budget to the General Assembly, a copy of the budget request for the upcoming fiscal year which the board previously submitted to the department.

(6) To establish standards of eligibility for license renewal. These standards shall include, but not be limited to, the demonstration of satisfactory completion of a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education related to the practice of massage therapy in accordance with board regulations. No credit may be given for courses in office management or practice building. The board may waive all or part of the continuing education requirement to a licensee who shows to the satisfaction of the board that the licensee was unable to complete the requirement due to illness, emergency or hardship.