StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Indiana

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
625 hrs
Upfront cost
$365
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 4 years
Issuing board
Indiana State Board of Massage Therapy (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or the equivalent, pass a criminal background check. Per 847 IAC 1-3-1, applicants must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, complete an approved massage program, and pass a Board-approved exam; applicants must also provide a history of any criminal convictions. Licensed massage therapists must carry professional liability insurance (minimum $2,000,000 per claim / $6,000,000 aggregate) both to obtain and to maintain certification — proof must be submitted with the application and again at each renewal. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 625 hours of training at a state-approved program. The Board's own current application page (Fee Schedule / Application Instructions, modified June 2026) requires an official transcript showing completion of 625 hours. This is higher than the 500-hour floor set in the compiled administrative rule 847 IAC 1-3-2(a)(1) ('at least five hundred (500) hours of supervised classroom and hands-on instruction'), whose footer shows the rule text was last readopted in 2015 — the more recent, more specific 625-hour figure from the Board's live application page is used here, with the rule's lower 500-hour floor noted as the older codified figure. Programs must be in good standing with a state/regional/national regulator and either accredited or a board-approved institution-of-higher-learning program. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). Indiana's State Board of Massage Therapy also accepts the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM), the NCBTMB examination, or the National Board Certification Agency National Certification Examination (NBCA NCE) in lieu of the MBLEx. Exam results must be sent directly to the Board from the testing entity. Current MBLEx fee per FSMTB's own FAQ page is $265. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Indiana State Board of Massage Therapy (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) with the $100 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Indiana State Board of Massage Therapy (Indiana Professional Licensing Agency) issues your Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) for Indiana.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $100
License fee [1] None specified
Renewal fee [1] $150
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Reinstatement (license expired 3+ years) [1] $250

There is no separate license-issuance fee — the $100 application fee covers evaluation and initial certification. The $150 renewal fee covers the full 4-year renewal cycle (it is not an annual amount). Reinstatement of a license expired 3 or more years totals $250 (current $100 application fee plus $150 renewal fee), plus continuing-education makeup requirements.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 4 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Certifications expire May 15 every fourth year (e.g. 2025, 2029, 2033) per 847 IAC 1-3-6. Per 847 IAC 1-5-1, the standard requirement is 24 continuing-education hours per quadrennial renewal period (including 2 hours of ethics); a one-time transitional rule required only 18 hours specifically for the May 2025 renewal. A license holder who also holds a current NCBTMB Board Certification in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (BCTMB) credential can submit that credential to satisfy Indiana's CE requirement.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Per 847 IAC 1-3-4, the Board may certify by endorsement an applicant who otherwise meets Indiana's baseline requirements (age, education, exam) and who is licensed/certified/registered in good standing in another state with credentialing standards at least as strict as Indiana's, provided each state that previously credentialed the applicant verifies current status and disciplinary history directly to the Board. Indiana 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $265
Total$365

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Indiana require for a massage therapist certification?

The Board's current application page requires 625 training hours (via transcript). Note the codified administrative rule (847 IAC 1-3-2) sets a lower 500-hour floor, which appears to predate the Board's current 625-hour application standard.

What exam does Indiana accept for massage therapist certification?

The MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) is most common, but Indiana also accepts the NCETM, NCBTMB, and NBCA NCE exams. Results must be sent directly to the Board by the testing entity.

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

Certifications expire May 15 every 4 years. Renewal requires 24 CE hours per 4-year cycle (including 2 hours of ethics), though a one-time transitional rule set the requirement at 18 hours specifically for the May 2025 renewal.

Can I get certified in Indiana by endorsement from another state?

Yes. The Board may certify by endorsement an applicant already licensed/certified in good standing in another state with credentialing standards at least as strict as Indiana's, with verification sent directly from the other state(s) to the Board.

Do Indiana massage therapists need professional liability insurance?

Yes. Proof of professional liability insurance (minimum $2,000,000 per claim / $6,000,000 aggregate) is required both to obtain initial certification and at every renewal.

Sources

  1. [1] in.gov/pla/professions/massage-therapy-home/massage-therapy-licensing-information/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] in.gov/pla/files/Article-1.-Massage-Therapist-Certification.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12