StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Idaho

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$445
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Idaho State Board of Massage Therapy (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or equivalent, including graduation from a nonpublic school, pass a criminal background check. Applicant must not have been convicted, found guilty, or received a withheld judgment/suspended sentence for a crime deemed relevant under Idaho Code §67-9411(1). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. 500 total hours minimum: at least 390 in-class supervised hours of coursework plus 110 hours of supervised clinical work / massage therapy fieldwork experience, per IDAPA rule 24.27.01.100.02. Students may not perform clinical services until completing at least 20% of required instruction hours. The registered program must be Idaho-registered (Title 33, Chapter 24, Idaho Code) or a comparable authority in another state. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). Idaho's administrative rule also accepts the NCETMB, NESL, or NCETM exams (or a Board-deemed equivalent) as alternatives to the MBLEx, per IDAPA 24.27.01.100.01, but MBLEx is the exam FSMTB and the Idaho board direct nearly all candidates toward. Current MBLEx fee (and retake fee) per FSMTB's own FAQ page is $265. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Idaho State Board of Massage Therapy (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) with the $50 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Idaho State Board of Massage Therapy (Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses) issues your Massage Therapist for Idaho.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $50
License fee [3] $130
Renewal fee [3] $65
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Initial License Fee – Endorsement (out-of-state applicants) [3] $150
Provisional Permit Fee [3] $25
Reinstatement Fee [3] $35

Figures are the Board's own live fee schedule: $50 application, $130 initial license by examination ($150 by endorsement), $25 provisional permit, and a birth-year-linked renewal fee ($65 for one year if the licensee's birthdate falls in an even-numbered year, or $130 for two years if it falls in an odd-numbered year) — the flat $65 figure is used here as the representative annual renewal amount. This differs from the lower 'not to exceed' caps in IDAPA rule 24.27.01.400 (Original License $65, Endorsement $75, Annual Renewal $65, effective 7-1-24), which appears to predate a fee increase; all figures nonetheless remain within the $400-biennially-per-fee statutory ceiling set by Idaho Code §54-4008(2).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

IDAPA rule 24.27.01 lists 'Annual Renewal' in its fee table, but the Board's live fee page structures renewal by birth-year parity (1-year renewal at $65 for even birth years, 2-year renewal at $130 for odd birth years) — see fees notes. No continuing-education hour requirement for renewal could be found in the current statute (Idaho Code Chapter 54-40) or the current IDAPA rule text; the rule's stated purpose references 'continuing education for licensure' as a rulemaking goal, but the current rule's content sections do not specify any CE-hour requirement.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Idaho Code §54-4010 authorizes the Board to grant a license without examination (by endorsement) to anyone licensed/certified in good standing by another state's massage therapy board, provided that state's requirements are substantially equivalent to Idaho's, upon payment of the endorsement fee. Per the Board's own FAQ, California applicants specifically do NOT qualify for endorsement and must apply by examination instead. Idaho has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); as of this research the compact's enacted states are Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Virginia, and Montana, per massagecompact.org.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $130
  • $265
Total$445

Frequently asked questions

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

500 total hours: at least 390 in-class supervised hours of coursework plus 110 hours of supervised clinical work, at a program registered with the Idaho State Board of Education or a comparable out-of-state authority.

What exam does Idaho require for massage therapist licensure?

The MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards is the exam nearly all Idaho candidates take; the state's rule also names the NCETMB, NESL, and NCETM exams as accepted alternatives.

Can I get an Idaho massage therapist license by endorsement from another state?

Yes, if your current license is in good standing and your state's requirements are substantially equivalent to Idaho's. The Board's FAQ notes one exception: California applicants do not qualify for endorsement and must apply by examination.

Is there a minimum age or education requirement for an Idaho massage therapist license?

Yes. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or equivalent (including from a nonpublic school).

Can I start practicing massage in Idaho before I pass the licensing exam?

Yes, through a provisional permit: applicants who meet all licensure requirements except passing the competency exam can work under the supervision of a licensed massage therapist for up to 6 months while completing that step.

Sources

  1. [1] legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title54/T54CH40/SECT54-4009/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] dopl.idaho.gov/mas/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] dopl.idaho.gov/mas/mas-faq — accessed 2026-07-12