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Massage Therapy Law and Licensure and States Regulating Massage
Common Questions:
- Which states regulate the practice of massage therapy?
- What are the primary massage therapy certification exams?
- What are the requirements for practicing in a state that doesn't regulate massage?
- Do I need to go back to massage school if I move to a state where I am not licensed?
- Am I protected by a grandfather clause if the licensure laws change in the state that I am licensed?
- Where can I find massage therapy schools?
- If I am nationally certified for massage, what do I have to do to keep up-to-date?
- What does COMTA stand for?
- What is the NCE examination?
- Where can I find information about state board contacts and requirements for massage therapy?
- What kinds of massage regulations are in place in Canada?
Which states regulate the practice of massage therapy?
Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia regulate the practice of massage therapy. These state regulatory boards, education requirements and laws are summarized in the list below. Find out if your state has a board that administers massage practice laws. See: List of state boards with addresses and contact information.
In addition to state regulation of massage, quite a few cities, towns and counties also have their own laws regulating the practice of massage. Anyone practicing where there is a local law must meet the local licensing requirements, whether or not there is also a state law. If you live in a place where you are subject to a state law and a local law, you must satisfy both.
What are the primary massage therapy certification exams?
Different states have different requirements to become licensed in massage therapy. There are two types of certification tests offered by the NCBTMB:
- National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB)
- National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM)
State boards listed indicate what type of exam they require to practice. In these states, anyone who has passed the appropriate exam in one state can apply for licensing in another state without re-taking the test. In states that do not use the NCE, anyone applying for licensing must either take that state's test or apply for reciprocity, which is usually on a case-by-case basis. Reciprocity refers to the exchange, recognition or enforcement of licenses, privileges or obligations between states of the US or between nations.
Both exams contain material from the following content areas:
- General knowledge of body systems
- Detailed knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology
- Pathology
- Therapeutic massage assessment
- Therapeutic massage application
- Professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices
These are multiple-choice exams. In order to take the exams, a candidate must have received 500 hours of supervised instruction and graduated from an accredited school. Many aspects of massage school are based on preparing students for either the (NCETMB) or the (NCETM).
What are the requirements for practicing in a state that doesn't regulate massage?
The actual percentage of counties and cities that regulate massage is unknown; however, it is a small percentage, approximately 10% or 20% nationwide. To find out if your town or county regulates massage, you must inquire at the government office.
- For the county, go to the county seat - the town where the county government meets.
- For the city or town, go to city hall or town hall.
State laws regulating massage are fairly uniform - they all require some specified education in massage, and usually a test. But local and county laws can be unusual. They are sometimes enacted in response to problems or scandals that have occurred in that community in the past, and for that reason they may present a strange view of the practice of massage.
For example, some towns prohibit “outcall” massage, another name for house calls. They prohibit house calls because of concerns that massage therapists would provide sexual services to customers. Other towns require fingerprinting and certification from a doctor that you are free from venereal disease. Some therapists had to satisfy these requirements to get a license to practice in Chicago. Still others prohibit opposite-sex massage.
Many municipal laws are more standard, being patterned after the state laws. However, you should know that they sometimes include very high educational requirements. Municipal laws occasionally require more education than the state does.
Do I need to go back to massage school if I move to a state where I am not licensed?
Yes, you will, and perhaps for longer than you think. Most schools will not let you take only a “supplemental” program that fills in the gaps from your previous education, but instead require you to take their entire training. Because states often require not just a particular number of hours, but also a prescribed list of courses, it can be very difficult to cut-and-paste the courses you need to complete your eligibility. For this reason, many students who move from state to state find they must start massage school all over again.
Am I protected by a grandfather clause if the licensure laws change in the state that I am licensed?
The act of “grandfathering” refers to admitting those massage therapists already in the profession with credentials that do not meet the new law's requirements. Each state that passes a massage licensing law for the first time, or approves an increased educational requirement, must make a decision about grandfathering. Each state is free to create whatever grandfathering provisions it wishes or to not allow grandfathering at all.
Typically, existing practitioners can be grandfathered-in whenever a new law is passed. A typical provision would allow practitioners to be automatically licensed under the new law if they have been practicing for a specified number of years or if they can document performing a specified number of professional massages. If you are practicing in a state that implements licensing for the first time or upgrades its licensing requirement, you should obtain a copy of the new law and read for yourself the grandfathering provisions to make sure you qualify. If the law has no grandfathering provision, all practitioners must satisfy the new requirements in order to practice.
If I am nationally certified, what do I have to do to keep up-to-date?
Those who become nationally certified by taking the National Certification Exam are required to be recertified every four years. One method is to re-take the exam. The other method is to document 50 hours of continuing education, including at least two hours of professional ethics, as well as at least 200 hours of therapeutic massage sessions during the four-year period.
What does COMTA stand for?
In the below list, COMTA refers to the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation. This is the massage school accreditation program of the American Massage Therapy Association, one of three major professional associations for massage. The states that have the word COMTA in their descriptions below require attendance at an approved school in order to become licensed. See a comprehensive list of COMTA Accredited Schools.
What is the NCE examination?
NCE refers to the National Certification Exam, a standardized entry-level test for massage practitioners. States with the letters (NCE) after their names have adopted this test as their written licensing test. In these states, anyone who has passed the NCE in one state can apply for licensing in another state without re-taking the test. In states that do not use the NCE, anyone applying for licensing must either take that state's test or apply for reciprocity, which is usually on a case-by-case basis.
Alabama (NCE), Arizona (NCE), Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut (NCE), Delaware (NCE), District of Columbia (NCE), Florida (NCE), Hawaii, Illinois (NCE), Iowa (NCE), Louisiana (NCE), Maine (NCE), Maryland (NCE), Mississippi (NCE) Missouri (NCE), Nebraska (NCE), New Hampshire (NCE), New Jersey (NCE), New Mexico (NCE), New York, North Carolina (NCE), North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon (NCE), Rhode Island (NCE), South Carolina (NCE), Tennessee (NCE), Texas, Utah (NCE), Virginia (NCE), Washington (NCE), West Virginia (NCE), Wisconsin (NCE).
Where can I find information about state board contacts and requirements for massage therapy?
From looking at this list, you can see that variations from state to state make choosing a school very important. Choosing the wrong school can mean that when you want to move to another state, you have to start your education over again.
Alabama Massage Therapy Board
610 South McDonough St.
Montgomery, AL 36104
Tel: (334) 269-9990
Web: www.almtbd.state.al.us
Alabama Requirements
Education: 650 hours from accredited massage therapy school
CEU: 16 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy
1400 West Washington, Suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Tel: (602) 542-8604
Web: www.massageboard.az.gov
Arizona Requirements
Education: 500 hours from Board recognized school
CEU: 25 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy
PO Box 20739
Hot Springs, AR 71903
Tel: (501) 520-0555
Web: www.arkansasmassagetherapy.com
Arkansas Requirements
Education: 500 hours from an accredited massage therapy school
CEU: 3 hours annually
Exam: State exam (written and practical); in lieu of NCETMB
Colorado Massage Network has requirements on a city by city basis.
Visit the Colorado Massage Network web site to view a specific city of interest.
Connecticut Massage Therapy Licensure Department of
Public Health & Addiction Services
150 Washington Str.
Hartford, CT 06106
Tel: (860) 509-7603
Web: www.ct-clic.com
Connecticut Requirements
Education: 500 hours from a COMTA approved school
CEU: n/a
Exam: NCETMB
Delaware Board of Massage and Bodywork
Cannon Building
861 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite #203
Dover, DE 19904
Tel: (302) 744-4537
Web: www.dpr.delaware.gov/boards/massagebodyworks/
Delaware Requirements
Education: 500 hours to be a Licensed for Massage Therapist (LMT) + exam
300 hours to be a Certified Massage Technician
CEU: 24 hours annually
Exam: NCETMB for LMT
District of Columbia Board of Massage Therapy
Department of Health
717 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (877) 672-2174
Web: hpla.doh.dc.gov
District of Columbia Requirements
Education: 500 hours from Board approved school
CEU: 12 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Florida Board of Massage Therapy
Florida Department of Health,
Medical Quality Assurance
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin#C06
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Tel: (850) 245-4161
Web: www.doh.state.fl.us
Florida Requirements
Education: 500 hours from Board approved school
CEU: 25 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Georgia Board of Massage Therapy
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31271-3858
Applications / Payments to
PO Box 13446
Macon, GA 31208
Tel: (478) 207-1300
Web: www.sos.state.ga.us
Georgia Requirements
Education: 500 hours from Board approved school
CEU: TBD
Exam: TBD
Hawaii State Board of Massage Therapy
Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs
PO Box 3469
1010 Richards Street
Honolulu, HI 96801
Tel: (808) 587-3222
Web: www.hawaii.gov
Hawaii Requirements
Education: 570 hours and written state exam
CEU: n/a
Exam: State exam
Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation
Massage Therapy Licensure
320 West Washington Str., 3rd Floor
Springfield, IL 62786
Tel: (217) 782-8556
Web: www.idfpr.com
Illinois Requirements
Education: Minimum of 500 clock hours of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction (which include the states required subject matter and activities). Additionally, each student must maintain a minimum grade of 70%.
CEU: 24 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB or other approved certifying exam
Iowa Board of Massage Therapy Examiners
Department of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building, 5th Floor
321 E. 12th St.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075
Tel: (515) 281-6959
Web: www.idph.state.ia.us/licensure
Iowa Requirements
Education: 500 hours from accredited school
CEU: 24 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy
PO Box 1360
Frankfort, KY 40602
Tel: (502) 564-3296 ext. 240
Web: finance.ky.gov
Kentucky Requirements
Education: 600 hours
CEU: 24 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB or NCCA approved certifying exam
Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy
12022 Plank Road
Zachary, LA 70811
Tel: (225) 771-4090
Web: www.lsbmt.org
Louisiana Requirements
Education: 500 hours from accredited school
CEU: 12 hours annually
Exam: NCETMB, or written and oral exam
Maine Massage Therapy
Department of Professional and Financial Regulation,
Office of Licensing & Registration
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Tel: (207) 624-8613
Web: www.state.me.us
Maine Requirements
Education: 500 hours from a state approved school + CPR and First Aid
CEU: n/a
Exam: NCETMB
Maryland Massage Therapy Advisory Committee
4201 Patterson Avenue, 5th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21215-2299
Tel: (410) 764-4738
Web: www.mdmassage.org
Maryland Requirements
Education: 500 hours + 60 college credits and NCE - Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)
500 hours + NCE - Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP)
CEU: 24 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB or NCCAOM and state exam
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy
239 Causeway Street, Suite 500
Boston, MA 02114
Web: www.mass.gov (refer to this site for legislation updates)
Massachusetts Requirements
Legislation has been enacted to require state licensure of massage therapists, massage therapy schools and massage therapy businesses. Massage therapists should apply for and renew licenses in their local community.
Mississippi Board of Massage Therapy
PO Box 12489
Jackson, MS 39236-2489
Tel: (601) 856-6127
Web: www.msbt.state.ms.us
Mississippi Requirements
Education: 700 hours from an accredited school + CPR and First Aid
CEU: 12 hours from CEU Board approved program + CPR annually
Exam: NCETMB
Missouri State Board of Therapeutic Massage
Division of Professional Registration
3605 Missouri Blvd.
PO Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Tel: (573) 522-6277
Web: pr.mo.gov/massage.asp
Missouri Requirements
Education: 500 hours from a Board approved school
CEU: 12 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Nebraska Massage Therapy Board
Health and Human Services Regulation & Licensing - Credentialing Division
PO Box 94986
Lincoln, NE 68509-4986
Tel: (402) 471-2115
Web: www.hhs.state.ne.us
Nebraska Requirements
Education: 1000 hours and practical exam
CEU: 24 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Nevada Board of Massage Therapy
1755 E. Plumb Lane, Suite 252
Reno, NV 89502
Tel: (775) 688-1888
Web: massagetherapy.nv.gov
Nevada Requirements
Education: 500 hours of schooling
CEU: TBD
Exam: NCETMB or NCCA
New Hampshire Office of Program Support, Licensing & Regulative Services
Board of Massage Therapy
129 Pleasant Ave.
Concord, NH 03301
Tel: (603) 271-4814
Web: www.dhhs.state.nh.us
New Hampshire Requirements
Education: 750 hours + CPR
CEU: 12 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
New Jersey Board of Nursing
Massage, Bodywork & Somatic Therapy Examing Committee
124 Halsey Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Tel: (973) 504-6430
Web: www.state.nj.us
New Jersey Requirements
Education: 500 hours
CEU: n/a
Exam: NCETMB or diploma from state approved school
New Mexico Massage Therapy Board
2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Tel: (505) 476-4870
Web: www.rld.state.nm.us
New Mexico Requirements
Education: 650 hours + state exam & NCE
CEU: 16 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB and State exam
New York State Board of Massage Therapy
Office of the Professions
Division of Professional Licensing Services
89 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12234-1000
Tel: (518) 474-3817 ext. 150
Web: www.op.nysed.gov
New York Requirements
Education: 1000 hours
CEU: n/a
Exam: State exam
North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
PO Box 2539
Raleigh, NC 27602
Tel: (919) 546-0050
Web: www.bmbt.org
North Carolina Requirements
Education: 500 hours from a Board approved school + NCE
CEU: 25 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
North Dakota State Board of Massage
PO Box 218
Beach, ND 58621
Tel: (701)842-4895
Web: www.ndboardofmassage.com
North Dakota Requirements
Education: 750 hours + practical exam & NCE
CEU: 18 hours annually
Exam: State exam, NCETMB
Ohio State Medical Board
Massage Licensing Division
77 South High St., 17th floor
Columbus, OH 43266-0315
Tel: (614) 466-3934
Web: www.med.ohio.gov
Ohio Requirements
Education: 600 hours
CEU: n/a
Exam: State exam
Oregon Board of Massage
748 Hawthorne Ave., NE
Salem, OR 97301
Tel: (503) 365-8657
Web: www.oregonmassage.org
Oregon Requirements
Education: 500 hours
CEU: 25 hours biennially + current CPR
Exam: NCETMB and practical exam
Rhode Island Department of Health
Division of Professional Regulation
3 Capitol Hill, Room 104
Providence, RI 02908-5097
Tel: (401) 222-2827
Web: www.health.ri.gov
Rhode Island Requirements
Education: 500 hours from a COMTA school
CEU: n/a
Exam: NCETMB
South Carolina Board of Massage / Bodywork Therapy
110 Center View
PO Box 11329
Columbia, SC 29211-1329
Tel: (803) 896-4490
Web: www.llr.state.sc.us
South Carolina Requirements
Education: 500 hours from an accredited school
CEU: 12 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy
PO Box 7251
107 W. Missouri
Pierre, SD 57501
Tel: (605) 224-8803
Web: www.state.sd.us/doh/Massage/
South Dakota Requirements
Education: 500 hours and NCE
CEU: 16 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Tennessee Massage Licensure Board
Cordell Hull Building, 1st Floor
227 French Landing, Suite 300
Heritage Place Metro Center
Nashville, TN 37243
Tel: (615) 532-3202 ext. 3211
Web: www2.state.tn.us/health/Boards/massage
Tennessee Requirements
Education: 500 hours and NCE
CEU: 25 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Texas Department of State Health
Massage Therapy Licensing Program
1100 W. 49th St.
Austin, TX 78756-3138
Tel: (512) 834-6616
Web: www.dshs.state.tx.us/massage
Texas Requirements
Education: 300 hours
CEU: 12 hours biennially
Exam: State exam (written and practical)
Utah Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing
Board of Massage Therapy
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84145
Tel: (801) 530-6628
Web: www.dopl.utah.gov
Utah Requirements
Education: 600 hours from Board approved school + NCE
CEU: n/a
Exam: NCETMB and Utah Massage Law and Rule Examination
Virginia Board of Nursing
Department of Health Professions
6606 West Broad St., 5th floor
Richmond, VA 23230
Tel: (804) 662-9909
Web: www.dhp.virginia.gov
Virginia Requirements
Education: 500 hours from a Board approved school
CEU: n/a
Exam: NCETMB
Washington State Department of Health
Massage Therapy Program
PO Box 47867
Olympia, WA 98504-7868
Tel: (360) 236-4700
Web: www.doh.wa.gov/massage
Washington Requirements
Education: 500 hours
CEU: 16 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board
200 Davis Str., #1
Princeton, WV 24740
Tel: (304) 487-1400
Web: www.wvmassage.org
West Virginia Requirements
Education: 500 hours or NCBTMB certification
CEU: 25 hours biennially
Exam: NCETMB
Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing
Massage Therapy Board
1400 E. Washington Ave.
Madison, WI 53703
Tel: (608) 266-2112
Web: drl.wi.gov/prof/massage
Wisconsin Requirements
Education: 600 hours + exam
CEU: n/a
Exam: State exam and NCETMB
From looking at this list, you can see that variations from state to state make choosing a school very important. Choosing the wrong school can mean that when you want to move to another state, you have to start your education over again.
What kinds of regulations are in place in Canada?
The provinces in Canada that regulate massage are Ontario (2,200 hours), BC (3,000 hours), Newfoundland (2,200 hours) and Labrador (2,200 hours). For more information use the following Canadian contacts:
Massage Therapist Association of Alberta
Box 24031
RPO Plaza Centre
Red Deer, AB T4N 6X6
Phone: (403) 340-1913
Fax: (403) 346-2269
Massage Therapists' Association of British Columbia
#205 - 640 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5V 1G4
Phone: (888) 413-4467
Massage Therapy Association of Manitoba
Riverview PO Box 63030
Winnipeg, MB R3L 2V8
Phone: (204) 254-0406
Fax: (204) 837-4369
New Brunswick Massotherapy Association
PO Box 21009
Fredericton, NB E3B 7A3
Phone: (506) 459-5788
Fax: (506) 465-0003
Newfoundland and Labrador Massage Therapists' Association
PO Box 23212 Churchill Square
St. John's, NF A1B 4J9
Phone: (709) 726-4006
Fax: (709) 754-0123
Massage Therapists' Association of Nova Scotia
PO Box 33103
Quinpool Post Office
Halifax, NS B3L 4T6
Phone: (902) 429-2190
Ontario Massage Therapist Association
2 Calton Street East, Suite 1304
Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3
Phone: (800) 668-2022
Fax: (416) 979-1144
Prince Edward Island Massage Therapy Association
P.O. Box 1882
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7N5
Phone: (902) 368-8140
Fax: (416) 368-6524
Massage Therapist Association of Saskatchewan
PO Box 7841
Saskatoon, SK S7K 4R5
Phone: (306) 384-7077
Fax: (306) 384-7175
Related Reading
- Comprehensive List of Massage Schools
- Massage School Prerequisites
- Massage Therapy School Tuition + Financial Aid
- Massage School Accreditation
Source
Answers provided by our online advisor for massage, Martin Ashley, J.D., L.M.T., the author of Massage: A Career At Your Fingertips.
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