StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Florida

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$415
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Florida Board of Massage Therapy (Florida Department of Health)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (or be at least 18 years of age), pass a criminal background check. Electronic fingerprinting/background screening became mandatory under House Bill 975 (2024 legislative session); applications cannot be approved until this requirement is met along with all other licensure criteria. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Applicants must complete a course of study at a Board-approved massage school consisting of 500 or more clock hours, and every applicant must also complete a separate 10-hour course on Florida massage laws and rules. Applicants must be at least 18 years old or have a high school diploma/equivalency. [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). Florida also accepts NCBTMB national exams (NCETMB/NCETM) and, for endorsement applicants, the NESL exam. The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee, paid directly to FSMTB, not the Florida Board. [1]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Florida Board of Massage Therapy (Florida Department of Health) with the $50 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Florida Board of Massage Therapy (Florida Department of Health) issues your Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for Florida.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $50
License fee [2] $100
Renewal fee [2] $105
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [1] $265
Inspection fee (listed on the Board's official LMT initial-fee schedule) [2] $100
Unlicensed Activity (ULA) fee [2] $5
Late renewal (active-to-active, after expiration) [2] $205
MOBILE Endorsement total (application + license + ULA fee, no inspection fee) [2] $155

The Board's official fee schedule for a new Licensed Massage Therapist lists: $50.00 application fee (non-refundable) + $100.00 initial licensing fee + $100.00 inspection fee + $5.00 unlicensed activity fee = $255.00 total. Electronic fingerprint/Livescan background-screening costs (required under 2024's HB 975) are billed separately by the fingerprinting vendor and not published as a fixed Board fee. Renewal before expiration (active-to-active) is $105.00; after expiration it rises to $205.00 (and further to $310.00 if in '120-day Notified Delinquent' status).

Renewal & continuing education

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

Licenses expire August 31 of even-numbered years. First renewal requires CE hours equal to the number of months licensed (including 2 hours medical errors prevention and 1 hour human trafficking awareness). Subsequent renewals require 24 total CE hours: 12 hours massage-technique classroom hours, 2 hours medical errors prevention, 1 hour human trafficking awareness, 2 hours Florida laws/rules, 2 hours professional ethics, and 5 general hours.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Florida offers a MOBILE (Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement) pathway for applicants holding an active, unencumbered license from another state, DC, or a U.S. territory, who have actively practiced at least 3 of the last 4 years, have no pending disciplinary complaints or investigations, and have passed the MBLEx, NCETMB, NCETM, or NESL exam. MOBILE Endorsement's own fee table totals $155.00 (application $50 + initial license $100 + ULA fee $5, with no inspection fee). Electronic fingerprinting is still required under HB 975. Florida has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); massagecompact.org states Florida currently has no IMpact legislation introduced.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $100
  • $265
Total$415

Frequently asked questions

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

500 or more clock hours from a Board-approved massage school, plus a separate 10-hour Florida laws and rules course.

Which exam does Florida require?

The MBLEx or an NCBTMB national exam (NCETMB/NCETM); MOBILE Endorsement applicants may also qualify with the NESL exam.

How much does an initial Florida massage therapist license cost?

$255.00 total per the Board's fee schedule: $50 application + $100 initial license + $100 inspection fee + $5 unlicensed-activity fee. Electronic fingerprint/background-screening costs are billed separately.

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

Yes, through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway if you've actively practiced at least 3 of the last 4 years under an active, unencumbered out-of-state license with no pending disciplinary issues. The MOBILE total fee is $155.

How often do Florida massage therapists renew, and what continuing education is required?

Every two years (licenses expire August 31 of even-numbered years). Renewal requires 24 CE hours (12 massage technique, 2 medical errors, 1 human trafficking, 2 Florida laws/rules, 2 ethics, 5 general); renewing before expiration costs $105, rising to $205+ if late.

Sources

  1. [1] floridasmassagetherapy.gov/licensed-massage-therapist/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] floridasmassagetherapy.gov/fees-4/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] floridasmassagetherapy.gov/mobile-endorsement/ — accessed 2026-07-12