StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Arkansas

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$370
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination), Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology, Body Art, and Massage Therapy Section

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Rules Section 3-8(b), governing enrollment in a massage therapy school/apprenticeship (a prerequisite to licensure), requires proof the applicant is 18 years of age or older. Applicants must undergo a state and federal (FBI) criminal background check including fingerprinting, conducted through the Identification Bureau of the Arkansas State Police, and pay any associated fees themselves. A pre-licensure criminal-background waiver petition process is available under Act 990 of 2019. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Rules for Massage Therapy in Arkansas, Section 3-9: applicants must complete and graduate with a minimum of 500 in-classroom hours of massage therapy classes from a Department-accepted school, with each course passed at 75% or higher. Arkansas also offers a Massage Therapist apprenticeship pathway under the Earn and Learn Act of 2021 (Section 3-11) as an alternative to school-based hours. [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). Arkansas accepts the MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB (all administered by FSMTB or NCBTMB respectively) in lieu of a Department-prepared state exam, per Rules Section 4-2. The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee, paid directly to FSMTB, not the Arkansas Department of Health. [1]

  4. 4

    Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Examination

    Pass the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Examination (fee: $25). In addition to a national exam (MBLEx/NCETM/NCETMB), all applicants must pass a Department examination verifying knowledge of the Arkansas Massage Therapy Act and rules. A $25.00 fee applies to each re-take if the law exam must be retaken. [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology, Body Art, and Massage Therapy Section. [2]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Arkansas Department of Health, Cosmetology, Body Art, and Massage Therapy Section issues your Massage Therapist License for Arkansas.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] None specified
License fee [2] $80
Renewal fee [2] $80
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [1] $265
Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Examination [2] $25
Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Exam fee [2] $25
Late renewal penalty [2] $25

The Certificate of Training pathway (for in-state school graduates who passed a national exam) totals $105.00: an $80.00 License Fee plus a $25.00 Law Exam Fee — the Department does not itemize a separate 'application' fee beyond these two, so application is null. Applicants also pay for a state/federal fingerprint-based criminal background check directly to the Arkansas State Police/FBI at an amount the Department does not publish. Renewal is $80.00 (non-refundable), with a $25.00 late penalty fee for renewals postmarked after the deadline.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 18 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Rules Section 4-5: every massage therapy license (active or inactive) is valid for two years and expires on the licensee's birthday. Renewal requires at least 18 hours of approved continuing education. Renewal applications postmarked after the first day of the month preceding the licensee's birthday month incur a $25.00 late fee; a license is expired if the renewal application is postmarked after the birthday itself.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact).

Rules Section 5 (Reciprocity, Temporary Licensure and Military Licensure), implementing Act 1011 of 2019, allows reciprocal licensure for applicants holding a substantially similar out-of-state license in good standing (500+ in-classroom hours or equivalent), who pass a comparable licensing exam and the Arkansas Law exam, and submit three letters of recommendation; a 90-day temporary license is available while the full application is processed. Arkansas enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) via HB1217/Act 267, signed by Governor Sanders on March 12, 2025, becoming the third state to join — per massagecompact.org, the compact is not yet operational (requires 7 enacting states to form the Commission), but Arkansas is a confirmed member state.

2 state-approved training providers in Arkansas — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $80
  • $265
  • $25
Total$370

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Arkansas require for a massage therapist license?

500 in-classroom hours from a Department-accepted massage therapy school, or completion of an approved apprenticeship under the Earn and Learn Act of 2021.

Which exams does Arkansas require?

A national exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB) plus the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Examination, which tests knowledge of the state's massage therapy statute and rules.

How much does an Arkansas massage therapist license cost?

The Certificate of Training pathway totals $105 ($80 license fee + $25 law exam fee), plus the cost of a state/federal fingerprint background check paid separately to the Arkansas State Police.

Can I transfer an out-of-state massage license to Arkansas?

Yes, through reciprocity under Act 1011 of 2019 if your out-of-state license is substantially similar (500+ training hours) and in good standing; you must still pass a comparable exam and the Arkansas Law exam. A 90-day temporary license is available while your full application is reviewed.

Is Arkansas part of the Interstate Massage Compact?

Yes. Arkansas enacted IMpact in March 2025 (the third state to do so), though the compact isn't operational yet — it activates once seven states have enacted it.

Sources

  1. [1] healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Massage_Therapy_Rules.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/Certficate-of-Training_massage-therapy.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12