StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Connecticut

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
750 hrs
Upfront cost
$644.75
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. DPH's published licensing pages do not state a minimum age requirement. Connecticut does not require fingerprinting for massage therapist licensure; the Department instead verifies applicant standing through the National Practitioner Data Bank (the query cost is bundled into the $379.75 application fee) rather than a criminal-history background check, so backgroundCheck is recorded as false. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 750 hours of training (including 60 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. DPH requires a minimum of 750 classroom hours with an instructor present (online instruction does not count toward the 750 hours) plus 60 hours of unpaid supervised clinical/internship experience, from an accredited school (recognized by a U.S. Dept. of Education-recognized accrediting agency or holding a current NCBTMB school code). [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). DPH accepts either the MBLEx or the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB/NCBTMB). The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee, paid directly to FSMTB/Pearson VUE, not DPH. Connecticut requires no additional state-specific exam. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations with the $379.75 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations issues your Massage Therapist License for Connecticut.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $379.75
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $255
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [1] $265

DPH's licensing requirements page lists a single $379.75 initial application fee, which covers licensure and the Department's cost of querying the National Practitioner Data Bank — no separate itemized 'license' fee exists, so license is null. Renewal is $255.00 per the licensure page's fee schedule.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses renew every 2 years for $255.00, with a renewal notice mailed roughly 60 days before expiration. Continuing education is 24 hours per 4-year cycle (spanning two renewal periods) rather than 24 hours every single 2-year renewal — up to 18 hours may be Internet-based/distance learning, and up to 12 hours may come from non-NCBTMB-approved providers. First-time renewal applicants are exempt from CE, as are practitioners continuously licensed in Connecticut since February 1, 1994.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Licensure by endorsement is available to applicants who have practiced as a massage therapist for at least 1 year immediately preceding application, hold verification of an out-of-state license, and have passed the MBLEx or NCTMB exam (the NESL exam does not qualify). The endorsement application fee is the same $379.75. Connecticut has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); massagecompact.org states Connecticut currently has no IMpact legislation introduced.

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

Cost calculator

  • $379.75
  • $265
Total$644.75

Frequently asked questions

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

750 classroom hours (with an instructor present; online instruction does not count) plus 60 hours of unpaid supervised clinical/internship experience.

Which exam does Connecticut require?

Either the MBLEx or the NCTMB (National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork). No separate state-specific exam is required.

How much does an initial Connecticut massage therapist license cost?

$379.75, which also covers the Department's National Practitioner Data Bank query.

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

Yes, through licensure by endorsement if you've practiced at least 1 year immediately before applying and have passed the MBLEx or NCTMB exam. The fee is the same $379.75.

How often do Connecticut massage therapists renew, and how much continuing education is required?

Every 2 years for $255. Continuing education is 24 hours per 4-year cycle (not every single renewal); first-time renewal applicants are exempt.

Sources

  1. [1] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/massagetherapist/massage-therapist-licensing-requirements — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/massagetherapist/massage-therapist-continuing-education-requirements — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/massagetherapist/massage-therapist-licensure-by-endorsement-of-an-out-of-state-license — accessed 2026-07-12