StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Illinois

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$440
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, Illinois Massage Licensing Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Applicant must be of good moral character and provide verification of fingerprint-based criminal background check processing through the Illinois State Police (or an approved out-of-state fingerprint vendor process). Personal-history disclosure of felony convictions, disciplinary history, and dishonorable military/public-employment discharge is required, with supporting documentation if answered 'yes.' Effective for applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, all new applicants must also complete a Department-approved abnormal skin growth (melanoma-identification) education course, such as the 'Skinny on Skin' program by Impact Melanoma. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. 600 clock hours (or equivalent credit hours) of supervised classroom and supervised hands-on instruction covering human anatomy/physiology/pathology/kinesiology; massage therapy theory, technique and practice; and contraindications, ethics, business/legalities, and professional standards. A minimum 70% grade must be maintained in all massage-related coursework. Programs must be Illinois-approved (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.20) or a substantially similar out-of-state program. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). Illinois administrative rule 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.30 also accepts a passing score on the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork's (NCBTMB) examination as an alternative to MBLEx; a separate IDFPR qualifications document further specifies the NCBTMB exam route applies only if taken before February 2015. Current MBLEx fee per FSMTB's own FAQ page is $265. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, Illinois Massage Licensing Board with the $175 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Division of Professional Regulation, Illinois Massage Licensing Board issues your Massage Therapist for Illinois.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $175
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $175
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265

Application fee is $175 (covers evaluation and initial licensure — there is no separate license-issuance fee beyond the application fee, per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.50(a)). Renewal fee is set by rule at a rate of $87.50 per year; since licenses renew on a 2-year cycle, the amount actually due at each renewal is $175. All fees are non-refundable.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 25 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Every Massage Therapist license expires December 31 of each even-numbered year regardless of issuance date; the first renewal of a new license is exempt from the CE requirement. The codified rule (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.90, last amended 2021) still specifies 24 CE hours (including at least 2 hours of ethics) per 2-year pre-renewal period. However, IDFPR's own program page states the Massage Therapy Practice Act was updated to add 1 hour of CE on domestic violence and sexual assault, raising the total to 25 hours effective with the 2026 renewal (not required for the 2024 renewal) — the 25-hour figure is used here as the more current Board-stated requirement, though the administrative rule text had not yet been updated to reflect it as of this research.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Illinois grants licensure by endorsement (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.40) to applicants currently licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction who completed a substantially similar training program and passed the NCBTMB or MBLEx exam, plus certification of licensure history and fingerprint processing. Illinois 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $175
  • $265
Total$440

Frequently asked questions

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

600 clock hours (or equivalent credit hours) of supervised classroom and hands-on instruction at an Illinois-approved program, or a substantially similar out-of-state program, covering anatomy/physiology, massage theory and technique, and ethics/business practices.

What exam does Illinois require for massage therapist licensure?

The MBLEx, administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, is the standard route. Illinois also accepts the NCBTMB certification exam, though a Board document limits that route to exams taken before February 2015.

How much does an Illinois massage therapist license cost?

The application fee is $175, which covers evaluation and initial licensure with no separate license-issuance fee. Renewal is billed at $87.50 per year, totaling $175 at each 2-year renewal.

How often do I renew my Illinois massage therapist license, and are continuing education hours required?

Every license expires December 31 of each even-numbered year. Renewal (after your first) requires CE hours — 24 hours including 2 hours of ethics under the codified rule, rising to 25 hours (adding 1 hour on domestic violence/sexual assault) per IDFPR's own program page effective with the 2026 renewal.

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

Yes. Illinois offers licensure by endorsement to applicants currently licensed in good standing elsewhere who completed a substantially similar training program and passed the NCBTMB or MBLEx exam, with certification of licensure history and fingerprint-based background check.

Sources

  1. [1] ilga.gov/agencies/JCAR/EntirePart — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/massagetherapy.html — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/core/dpr/227-qualifications-for-licensure.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12