Massage Therapy License Requirements by State

Massage therapy is licensed by most states, typically requiring 500-1,000 hours of approved education, a background check, and the MBLEx national exam. A handful of states have no state-level license and defer to local or municipal regulation. The exact hours, fees and exams are set by each state's board - here is the state-by-state breakdown, sourced from official licensing authorities.

Last updated August 7, 2026. Licensing rules change - confirm with the official board before applying.

National exam basics

The MBLEx (FSMTB) is the national exam accepted by the majority of states for massage therapy licensure.

Massage Therapy License requirements by state

Alabama1,000 hours of approved massage therapy educat…Alaska500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Arizona500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Arkansas625 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…California500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…ColoradoNot required for registration Connecticut500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Delaware500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…District of Columbia500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Florida500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Georgia500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Hawaii600 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Idaho500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Illinois500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Indiana500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Iowa500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…KansasRequirements & fees →Kentucky750 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Louisiana500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Maine500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Maryland500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Massachusetts500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Michigan500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Minnesota500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Mississippi600 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Missouri500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Montana500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Nebraska500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Nevada500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…New Hampshire600 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…New Jersey500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…New Mexico650 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…New York1,000 hours of approved massage therapy educat…North Carolina500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…North Dakota500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Ohio500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…OklahomaRequirements & fees →Oregon500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Pennsylvania600 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Rhode Island500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…South Carolina500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…South Dakota500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…TennesseeRequirements & fees →Texas500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Utah600 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…VermontRequirements & fees →Virginia500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Washington500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…West Virginia500 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…Wisconsin600 hours of approved massage therapy educatio…WyomingRequirements & fees →

FAQ

How many hours of education do I need?

Most licensing states require between 500 and 1,000 hours of board-approved massage therapy education, with 750 hours being a common standard.

Is the MBLEx required everywhere?

Nearly all licensing states use the MBLEx, though a few states administer their own written exam for initial licensure.

Can I move my license to another state?

Some states allow reciprocity or endorsement based on comparable standards, but most require you to meet that state's education and exam requirements.

Are there states that do not require a license?

Yes. A few states, such as Kansas, Tennessee, Vermont, and Wyoming, have no state-level massage license and leave regulation to cities and counties.