Massage Laws and Legislation for the United States and Canada

Thirty-eight states, the District of Columbia and four Canadian provinces currently offer some type of credential to professionals in the massage and bodywork field - usually licensure, certification or registration.

To view requirements click on a state or province listed below.

Note: Even if your state or province is listed here, check with city or county officials for information about local requirements and ordinances.

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Alabama close [x] Alabama Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,400 Phone (334) 269-9990 Web Site http://www.almtbd.state.al.us/ Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 650 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 16 every 2 years	Arkansas close [x] Arkansas Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,791 Phone (501) 520-0555 Web Site http://www.arkansasmassagetherapy.com/ Title Massage Therapist or Master Massage Therapist or Massage Therapy Instructor Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered MBLEx Renewal Fee $30 each year for MT; $40 each year for MMT; $45 each year for Instructor CEUs Required 6 each year
Arizona close [x] Arizona Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 8,700 Phone (602) 542-8604 Web Site http://www.massageboard.az.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 700 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $75 every 2 years CEUs Required 25 every 2 years	California close [x] California Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: N/A Phone (650) 352-4533 Web Site http://www.californiahealthfreedom.com Title Freedom of Access laws in effect. Contact state or local entity for information. Type of Credential N/A Required Education N/A Written or Practical Exam N/A Exam Administered N/A Renewal Fee N/A CEUs Required N/A
Connecticut close [x] Connecticut Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 3,914 Phone (860) 509-7603 Web Site http://www.dph.state.ct.us Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $200 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 4 years	Delaware close [x] Delaware Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,091 Phone (302) 744-4500 Web Site http://www.dpr.delaware.gov Title Massage Technician or Massage Therapist Type of Credential Certification or License Required Education 300 hours for CMT/200 hours for Temporary CMT/500 hours for LMT Written or Practical Exam Written or Practical Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 12 every 2 years for CMT/24 every 2 years for LMT
Florida close [x] Florida Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 28,555 Phone (850) 245-4161 Web Site http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/massage Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $155 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years with a course in HIV/AIDS	Georgia close [x] Georgia Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 4,915 Phone (478) 207-2440 Web Site http://www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/massage Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $75 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years
Hawaii close [x] Hawaii Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 7,028 Phone (808) 586-2694 Web Site http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/pvl/boards/massage Title Massage Therapist or Massage Apprentice Type of Credential License or Permit Required Education 570 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered State exam Renewal Fee $120 every 2 years CEUs Required 0	Idaho close [x] Idaho Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: N/A Phone N/A Web Site http://www3.state.id.us Title Freedom of Access laws in effect. Contact state or local entity for information. Type of Credential N/A Required Education N/A Written or Practical Exam N/A Exam Administered N/A Renewal Fee N/A CEUs Required N/A
Illinois close [x] Illinois Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 8,010 Phone (217) 785-0800 Web Site http://www.idfpr.com Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $175 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years	Indiana close [x] Indiana Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: N/A Phone (317) 234-3031 Web Site http://www.in.gov/pla/2262.htm Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Certification Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam N/A Exam Administered N/A Renewal Fee N/A CEUs Required N/A
Iowa close [x] Iowa Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,292 Phone (515) 281-6959 Web Site http://www.idph.state.ia.us/licensure Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $120 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years	Kentucky close [x] Kentucky Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,551 Phone (502) 564-3296, ext. 240 Web Site http://www.finance.ky.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 600 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years
Louisiana close [x] Louisiana Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,051 Phone (225) 771-4090 Web Site http://www.lsbmt.org Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Oral Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $125 each year CEUs Required 12 each year	Maine close [x] Maine Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,431 Phone (207) 624-8613 Web Site http://www.maine.gov/professionallicensing Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $25 each year CEUs Required 0
Maryland close [x] Maryland Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 3,411 Phone (410) 764-4738 Web Site http://www.mdmassage.org Title Massage Therapist or Massage Practitioner Type of Credential Certification or Registration Required Education 500 hours for RMP/500 hours plus 60 college credits for CMT Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or NCCAOM Renewal Fee $200 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years	Massachusetts close [x] Massachusetts Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: N/A Phone (617) 727-1747 Web Site http://www.mass.gov/dpl/boards/mt/index.htm Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee N/A CEUs Required N/A
Minnesota close [x] Minnesota Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: N/A Phone (651) 201-3728 Web Site http://www.state.mn.us Title Freedom of Access laws in effect. Contact state or local entity for information. Type of Credential N/A Required Education N/A Written or Practical Exam N/A/ Exam Administered N/A Renewal Fee N/A CEUs Required N/A	Mississippi close [x] Mississippi Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,143 Phone (601) 919-1517 Web Site http://www.msbmt.state.ms.us/msbmt/msbmt.nsf Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Registered Required Education 700 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $192 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 each year
Missouri close [x] Missouri Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 4,048 Phone (573) 522-6277 Web Site http://pr.mo.gov/massage.asp Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or NCCAOM Renewal Fee $200 every 2 years CEUs Required 12 every 2 years	Nebraska close [x] Nebraska Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,107 Phone (402) 471-2115 Web Site http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/crl/crlindex.htm Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 1,000 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $27 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years
Nevada close [x] Nevada Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 3,003 Phone (775) 688-1888 Web Site http://www.massagetherapy.nv.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $150 each year CEUs Required 12 each year	New Hampshire close [x] New Hampshire Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,400 Phone (603) 271-0277 Web Site http://www.dhhs.nh.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 750 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 12 every 2 years
New Jersey close [x] New Jersey Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 761 Phone (973) 504-6430 Web Site http://www.state.nj.us Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Certification Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or NCCAOM Renewal Fee $120 every 2 years CEUs Required 20 every 2 years	New Mexico close [x] New Mexico Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,807 Phone (505) 476-4870 Web Site http://www.rld.state.nm.us Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 650 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $125 every 2 years CEUs Required 16 every 2 years
New York close [x] New York Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 14,630 Phone (518) 474-3817, ext. 150 Web Site http://www.op.nysed.gov/massage.htm Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License or Registration Required Education 1,000 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered State exam Renewal Fee $55 every 3 years CEUs Required 0	North Carolina close [x] North Carolina Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 5,502 Phone (919) 546-0050 Web Site http://www.bmbt.org Title Massage and Bodywork Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 25 every 2 years
North Dakota close [x] North Dakota Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 617 Phone (701) 872-4895 Web Site http://www.ndboardofmassage.com Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 750 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $100 each year CEUs Required 18 each year	Ohio close [x] Ohio Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 10,056 Phone (614) 466-3934 Web Site http://www.med.ohio.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 750 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered State exam Renewal Fee $50 every 2 years CEUs Required 0
Oregon close [x] Oregon Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 5,622 Phone (503) 365-8657 Web Site http://www.oregonmassage.org Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 25 every 2 years	Rhode Island close [x] Rhode Island Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 906 Phone (401) 222-2827 Web Site http://www.health.state.ri.us/hsr Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $50 each year CEUs Required 0
South Carolina close [x] South Carolina Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,934 Phone (803) 896-4830 Web Site http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/massagetherapy Title Massage/Bodywork Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $175 every 2 years CEUs Required 12 every 2 years	South Dakota close [x] South Dakota Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 556 Phone (605) 271-7103 Web Site http://www.state.sd.us.doh/Massage Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education Grandfathering with a minimum 100 hours until July 1, 2008 Written or Practical Exam N/A Exam Administered N/A Renewal Fee $65 each year CEUs Required 8 every 2 years
Tennessee close [x] Tennessee Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 4,106 Phone (615) 235-2111 Web Site http://health.state.tn.us Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $110 every 2 years CEUs Required 25 every 2 years	Texas close [x] Texas Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 26,314 Phone (512) 834-6616 Web Site http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/massage Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $106 every 2 years CEUs Required 12 every 2 years
Utah close [x] Utah Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 4,437 Phone (801) 530-6628 Web Site http://www.dopl.utah.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License and Apprentice Required Education 600 hours for LMT/ 1,000 hours and apprenticeship for AMT Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $52 every 2 years CEUs Required 0	Virginia close [x] Virginia Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 4,785 Phone (804) 367-4515 Web Site http://www.dhp.virginia.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Certification Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $70 every 2 years CEUs Required 25 every 2 years
Washington close [x] Washington Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 13,551 Phone (360) 236-4700 Web Site http://www.doh.wa.gov/massage Title Massage Practitioner Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $25 each year CEUs Required 16 every 2 years	Washington D.C. close [x] Washington, D.C. Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 712 Phone (877) 672-2174 Web Site http://www.dchealth.dc.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $111 every 2 years CEUs Required 12 every 2 years
West Virginia close [x] West Virginia Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 1,240 Phone (304) 558-1060 Web Site http://www.wvmassage.org Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential License Required Education 500 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB or MBLEx Renewal Fee $100 every 2 years CEUs Required 24 every 2 years	Wisconsin close [x] Wisconsin Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,766 Phone (608) 266-2112 Web Site http://drl.wi.gov Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Certification Required Education 600 hours Written or Practical Exam Written Exam Administered NCETMB Renewal Fee $53 every 2 years CEUs Required 0
British Columbia close [x] British Columbia Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 2,200 Phone (604) 736-3404 Web Site http://cmtbc.bc.ca Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Registration Required Education 3,000 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered AIT Renewal Fee CAN $330 a year CEUs Required 24 every 2 years	Newfoundland/Labrador close [x] Newfoundland/Labrador Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 152 Phone (709) 739-7181 Web Site http://www.nlmtb.ca Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Registration Required Education 2,200 hours Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical Exam Administered NLMTB Renewal Fee $300 every 3 years CEUs Required 30 every 3 years
Ontario close [x] Ontario Number of credentialed practitioners in this state: 7,680 Phone (416) 489-2626 Web Site http://www.cmto.com Title Massage Therapist Type of Credential Registration Required Education 2 to 3 years full time Written or Practical Exam Written and Practical  Exam Administered OSCE Renewal Fee CAN $425 a year CEUs Required 30 every 3 years

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