How to Get a Massage Therapy License

If you want to become a massage therapist in the United States, you’ll probably need a license. In this article, we’ll share the steps on how to get a massage therapy license and the benefits of getting licensed to become a massage therapist.

Not only does a license allow you to legally practice massage, but it also signals to potential clients that you’re qualified to offer massage services.

“The massage license is your very important, and well-earned, professional stamp,” says Mandi Martin, a licensed massage therapist (LMT) with over 20 years of experience, who has gone through the licensing process twice—once in Ohio and once in North Carolina, where she currently practices.

“Licensure establishes that you are, in fact, trained and educated to treat a number of mental and physical ailments through expert massage therapy,” she says.

However,  if you’re new to massage and wondering about pursuing massage therapy as a career, you may have many questions, like:

How do I find out how to get a massage therapy license? 

What do you need to become a massage therapist? 

How long does the process take? 

And, what’s the cost? 

Let’s take a deep dive into everything you need to know about how to get a massage therapy license, from licensing requirements to costs and timelines:

Which states require massage therapists to have a license?

First things first. Before we jump into how to get a massage therapy license, let’s quickly touch on the states that require  a license to practice.

“In most states now, you have to have a license to practice,” says Martin.

Currently, 45 states (plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) require massage therapists to obtain a license before they practice.

The five states that don’t require a massage therapy license are California, Wyoming, Kansas, Vermont, and Minnesota—although there may be cities or local jurisdictions within those states that require licensure.

One thing to note: while California and Vermont do not currently have  statewide licensing requirements, these two states do have other requirements to legally practice massage therapy. For example, in Vermont, massage therapists must register with the state—and, California has voluntary certification for massage professionals who meet the standards of the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC).

What are the requirements for a massage therapy license?

Licensing requirements vary from state to state. But, generally speaking, in order to successfully obtain a massage therapy license and officially become a massage therapist, you’ll need to:

Attend a board-certified massage school

The first step on how to get a massage therapy license is to attend massage school—and to ensure that the school you attend is an accredited program that’s approved by your state’s licensing board.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), there are a number of organizations that offer accreditation of massage programs and schools, such as:

• The Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA)
• The National Accrediting Commission of Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)
• The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
• The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

Before you register for a massage therapy program, it’s important to ensure that the school is accredited and counts towards your licensure; otherwise, you could put months of work into your school curriculum—only for you to get denied during the licensing process.

While educational requirements will vary by state, typically speaking, you’ll need to finish anywhere between 500 and 1,000 hours of curriculum and hands-on massage practice in order to graduate from massage school.

This may include instruction in subjects like:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Massage theory and practical application
• Ethics
• Massage-related business and law
• Related modalities

Some states also require additional/adjunct educational training to satisfy licensing requirements (like First Aid or CPR training).

Take a licensing exam

Once you’ve completed school, in most states, you’ll need to take a licensing exam before you can successfully obtain a massage therapy license.

Testing requirements vary from state to state—but the most common test is the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), which is governed by The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB).

The MBLEx contains 100 multiple-choice questions.

The exam is broken down as follows:

• 11% on anatomy and physiology
• 12% on kinesiology
• 14% on pathology, contraindications, areas of caution, and special populations
• 15% on benefits and effects of soft tissue manipulation
• 17% on client assessment, reassessment, and treatment planning
• 16% on ethics, boundaries, laws, and regulations
• 15% on guidelines for professional practice

Another noteworthy fact about the MBLEx is that it is a computer-adaptive test (CAT). That means every time you get an answer right, the difficulty for the next question increases. On the flip side, if you get a question wrong, the next question will be at a lower difficulty level.

In order to pass the exam, you will need to answer a certain percentage of high difficulty questions correctly.

To find out what exam you’ll need to take in your state, visit the American Massage Therapy Association’s State Regulations (AMTA) webpage.

Apply for massage therapy licensure

Once you complete massage therapy school, satisfy your state’s licensure requirements, and pass your licensing test, you’ll need to apply for your license.

Again, this process varies by state, so when you’re ready to apply for your license, you’ll want to check with your state’s licensing board. In order to apply for and obtain your license, you may be required to submit proof that you’ve met the state’s licensing requirements—for example, school transcripts, proof of supervised hours, and passing test scores.

Keep in mind that specific titles for massage therapy roles vary from state to state. For example, if you decide to move and need to get licensed in a different state, your title might slightly change. “I was a ‘licensed massage therapist’ in Ohio, and technically am a ‘licensed massage bodywork therapist’ here in North Carolina,” explains Martin.

Keep your massage therapy license valid

Now that we’ve explained how to get a massage therapy license, we’ll go over how to keep your license valid.

Once you have your license and are legally practicing massage therapy, it’s essential to keep your license current.

The requirements for keeping your massage license current will differ by state, and it generally involves paying an annual fee. Additionally, in some states, you may need to complete continuing education credits, or CEs, each year to keep your license valid.

According to Martin, in North Carolina, licensed massage therapists are  required to complete 24 hours of approved continuing education every two years.

What about massage therapy certification?

In addition to getting your massage therapy license, you might also consider getting certified.

While certification is required in some areas (for example, some cities in California require massage therapists to have a CAMTC certification in order to legally practice), most certifications are voluntary.

However, massage therapy certifications can be a great way to go deeper on a specific type of bodywork and market yourself as a specialist—which could help you attract more clients and charge a higher rate.

Some massage-related certifications you may want to consider include:

• Stone Massage Therapist certification
• Certification Exam for Structural Integration (CESI)
• Medical Massage Therapy certification
• Sports Massage certification
• Scandinavian Mobilization Therapy certification

FAQs on how to get a massage therapy license

Have more questions about how to get a massage therapy license? Here’s some additional FAQs to support you on your journey to become a massage therapist:

What is the massage therapist license cost?

While the actual cost of a massage therapy license is minimal (it varies by state, but typically costs somewhere between $100 and $200), there is a much larger cost to fulfill the requirements of licensure—like massage school and testing, which can be thousands of dollars.

How long does it take to get a massage therapy license? 

How long it takes to get a massage therapy license will depend on a variety of factors, including how quickly you finish school and take the exam. However, on average, it can take anywhere between a few months to a few years (for people studying part-time).

Do I need a license to open a massage business? 

If you live in a state that requires a massage therapy license, you need a license in order to practice. Additionally, if you’re opening up your own business, you may also need to obtain a business license in your city or state.

Sources

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. Massage Therapy State Licensing Requirements.

American Massage Therapy Association. Starting Your Massage Career.

Sater-Wee, D. (2024). American Institute of Alternative Medicine. How to Get a Massage Therapy License.

Massage Practice Exams. The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx).

The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. MASSAGE & BODYWORK LICENSING EXAMINATION CONTENT OUTLINE.

California Massage Therapy Council. FAQs.

Indeed. (2023). A Guide to Massage Therapist Licenses and Certifications.

Martin, Mandi. Personal Interview. 2024.

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