Massage Therapist License Requirements in District of Columbia
- Training hours
- 500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $527
- Exam
- National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA-accredited exam approved by the Board (including the FSMTB MBLEx)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- DC Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Professional Licensing Administration)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must not have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude bearing directly on fitness to practice. A criminal background check (name-search, not fingerprint/live-scan for renewals) is required and carries a mandatory $50 fee at renewal. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. DC's application instructions require graduation from an approved/accredited institution (17 DCMR Section 7502.1) with a minimum of 500 in-class training hours, including at least 100 hours of anatomy/physiology/kinesiology, with the remaining 400 hours covering massage theory/practice plus ethics, business practices, health/hygiene, contraindications, CPR, and first aid. [1]
- 3
National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA-accredited exam approved by the Board (including the FSMTB MBLEx)
Pass the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA-accredited exam approved by the Board (including the FSMTB MBLEx) (fee: $265). DC's application instructions require passing the NCETMB or 'another examination certified by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and approved at the discretion of the Board' — the FSMTB MBLEx is NCCA-accredited and commonly accepted in practice. The $265 figure recorded here is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee, paid directly to FSMTB, not DC Health; the NCETMB exam fee is set separately by NCBTMB. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to DC Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Professional Licensing Administration) with the $85 application fee. [2]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, DC Board of Massage Therapy (DC Health, Health Professional Licensing Administration) issues your Massage Therapist License for District of Columbia.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [2] | $85 |
| License fee [2] | $177 |
| Renewal fee [2] | $177 |
| National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA-accredited exam approved by the Board (including the FSMTB MBLEx) [1] | $265 |
| Criminal Background Check (CBC) name-search fee, required at renewal [2] | $50 |
| Late renewal fee (effective February 1, 2025) [2] | $85 |
The Board's fee matrix (both the Examination and Endorsement application methods) lists an $85 application fee plus a $177 license fee, totaling $262 due at initial application. Renewal is $177 plus a mandatory $50 CBC name-search fee; a $85 late fee applies for renewals filed after the deadline.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 14 continuing education hours required per cycle.
DC massage therapy licenses historically expired January 31 of odd-numbered years and renewed for a two-year period; effective for licenses issued on or after June 16, 2024, DC Health moved to birth-month expiration (still on a roughly 2-year cadence, with expiration year parity matching the licensee's birth-year parity). Continuing education is 14 hours per renewal cycle: 3 hours ethics, 2 hours LGBTQ cultural competency, 9 hours massage-related coursework (6 of which must be hands-on massage technique), plus 10% (1.5 hours) in Public Health Priorities. Current CPR and first-aid certification must also be submitted with renewal (not counted toward the 14 CEU hours).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
DC offers licensure by Endorsement for applicants who hold a license in good standing in another U.S. state or territory with standards comparable to DC's requirements, plus successful completion of the NCETMB or another Board-approved exam. The application/license fees for Endorsement are identical to the Examination pathway ($85 + $177 = $262). DC has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); massagecompact.org lists DC as having no IMpact legislation currently introduced.
Cost calculator
- $85
- $177
- $265
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does DC require for a massage therapist license?
500 in-class training hours from an approved/accredited institution, including at least 100 hours of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.
Which exam does DC require?
The NCETMB (National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) or another NCCA-accredited exam approved by the Board, which in practice includes the FSMTB MBLEx.
How much does an initial DC massage therapist license cost?
$262 total: an $85 application fee plus a $177 license fee, for either the Examination or Endorsement pathway.
Can I transfer an out-of-state massage license to DC?
Yes, through licensure by Endorsement if you hold a license in good standing from another state/territory with comparable standards and have passed a Board-approved national exam.
How often do DC massage therapists renew, and what continuing education is required?
Roughly every two years (DC shifted to birth-month expiration in 2024). Renewal requires 14 hours of continuing education (3 ethics, 2 LGBTQ cultural competency, 9 massage-related including 6 hands-on, plus 1.5 hours Public Health Priorities), a $177 renewal fee, and a $50 criminal background check fee.
Sources
- [1] doh.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/publication/attachments/Massage_Therapy_Application_Instructions_Updated%203-3-2015.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] dchealth.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/doh/page_content/attachments/Board%20of%20Massage%20Therapy%20Renewal%20Notification%20Live_Nov2024_FINAL.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12