StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in California

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$300
Exam
—
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) — a voluntary, nonprofit statewide certifying body created by state law (not a licensing board); local city/county governments separately regulate massage businesses/practitioners

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicants must be 18 or older, submit a Live Scan fingerprint background check via CAMTC's official form, provide a photocopy of a driver's license or state ID, and have official transcripts sent directly to CAMTC from all attended massage schools (out-of-state/out-of-country education may be evaluated for equivalence). No national or state exam is currently required for CAMTC certification (an MBLEx-style exam requirement has been discussed for a future date but was not in effect as of this research). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. California has no mandatory statewide massage therapist license. CAMTC certification is voluntary but is the only credential that lets a massage therapist practice statewide without needing a separate local city/county massage permit (many cities/counties require CAMTC certification in lieu of, or in addition to, a local permit). CAMTC's requirements-to-certify page lists a minimum of 500 hours from a CAMTC-approved school, including at least 100 hours in anatomy/physiology, contraindications, health & hygiene, and business/ethics. [1]

  3. 3

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) — a voluntary, nonprofit statewide certifying body created by state law (not a licensing board); local city/county governments separately regulate massage businesses/practitioners with the $300 application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) — a voluntary, nonprofit statewide certifying body created by state law (not a licensing board); local city/county governments separately regulate massage businesses/practitioners issues your CAMTC Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) — voluntary statewide certification; no mandatory state license for California.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $300
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $300

CAMTC's official fee schedule lists a $300 fee for the initial two-year certification and $300 for recertification of certifications expiring on or after April 1, 2023 (a lower $200 recertification fee applied only to a 2021-2023 transitional window). 'license' is null since CAMTC issues a certification, not a license, and the $300 application fee already covers the full initial certification — there is no separate license-issuance fee. Late recertification fees range from $25 (1-10 days late) to $95 (30+ days late).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

CAMTC certification is valid for two years. Per CAMTC's requirements-to-certify page, there are no continuing education requirements for CAMTC certificate holders (ceHours is null because none exist, not because the figure is unpublished).

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.

California has no mandatory statewide massage therapist license, so there is no formal state-to-state license reciprocity/endorsement process — out-of-state applicants instead apply for CAMTC certification like any other applicant, with their prior out-of-state education evaluated by CAMTC for equivalence to the 500-hour standard. California is not eligible to join the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact): per massagecompact.org, California is listed as 'Currently Ineligible' because IMpact requires member states to have statewide licensure in place, which California does not.

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

Cost calculator

  • $300
Total$300

Frequently asked questions

Does California require a state massage therapist license?

No. California has no mandatory statewide license. CAMTC (California Massage Therapy Council) certification is voluntary, but it is the credential that lets a massage therapist practice statewide without a separate city/county permit — many localities require it in practice.

How many training hours does CAMTC certification require?

500 hours from a CAMTC-approved school, including at least 100 hours covering anatomy/physiology, contraindications, health & hygiene, and business/ethics.

Does CAMTC require passing the MBLEx or another exam?

No exam is currently required for CAMTC certification.

How much does CAMTC certification cost?

$300 for the initial two-year certification and $300 to recertify every two years, per CAMTC's official fee schedule.

Do I need to renew CAMTC certification, and is continuing education required?

Certification lasts two years and must be renewed, but CAMTC has no continuing education requirement for certificate holders.

Sources

  1. [1] camtc.org/requirements-to-certify/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] camtc.org/camtc-fee-schedule/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] massagecompact.org/states/california — accessed 2026-07-12