StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Louisiana

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
625 hrs
Upfront cost
$465
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. R.S. 37:3556(A) does not state a numeric minimum age for massage therapist applicants (unlike the board's own membership qualifications, which do require members to have 'attained the age of majority'). Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident able to read, write, speak, and understand English fluently; must not have been convicted of a nonviolent felony within the preceding 5 years; must never have been convicted of (or pled nolo contendere to) a violent felony or a sex-related criminal offense; and must submit to and clear a state and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check (R.S. 37:3555(A)(14)). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 625 hours of training at a state-approved program. Per R.S. 37:3556(A)(1), effective 8/1/2025: minimum 625 instructor-supervised, in-person/in-class hours, consisting of at least 400 hours of massage therapy techniques and clinical practicum, a bounded amount (up to 175 hours) of anatomy and physiology, and at least 10 hours of Louisiana law/rules/ethics (which may be taught via real-time synchronous distance learning); remaining hours may cover topics such as marketing and first aid. Schools have until December 31, 2026 to comply, and students already enrolled before that date under the prior curriculum may still apply upon completion/graduation. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). R.S. 37:3557 requires passage of 'a national examination approved by the board'; the board's own national-exam page names both the MBLEx (FSMTB) and the NCBTMB exam as accepted options. Current MBLEx fee per FSMTB's own FAQ page is $265. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy with the $75 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy issues your Licensed Massage Therapist for Louisiana.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $75
License fee [1] $125
Renewal fee [1] $125
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Annual renewal late fee [1] $100
Massage establishment registration (original) [1] $100
Massage establishment renewal (annual) [1] $100
Directory fee [1] $50
Duplicate license [1] $25
CE provider biennial fee [1] $100
CE program approval fee [1] $50

Per R.S. 37:3562: $75 application fee, $125 original professional license fee, $125 annual license renewal fee (Louisiana renews annually, not biennially), and $100 late renewal fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 12 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Each license is valid for one calendar year and must be renewed annually before its expiration date (R.S. 37:3556(E), 37:3561); the board's own site describes an annual renewal window of January 1 through March 31, with licenses expiring March 31. Continuing education requirements are set by board rule; the board's site states a minimum of 12 CE hours annually for active licensees, with the first 12 months after initial licensure exempt. If a license lapses for more than 24 consecutive months, reapplication requires 24 hours of continuing education rather than the standard annual amount.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Per R.S. 37:3556(B)(2), an applicant holding a valid, current, unexpired license or registration from another state/territory/DC whose standards substantially conform to Louisiana's (as determined by the board) is exempt from Louisiana's own education and exam requirements; the board verifies the out-of-state license directly with that state's licensing agency. The board's site also describes a 'Welcome Home Act' pathway for applicants with an active out-of-state license in good standing for at least a year plus proof of Louisiana residency, and a military-spouse relocation pathway — though the board notes a Louisiana license obtained this way does not itself make the licensee eligible to work in another state under a compact or transfer via reciprocity. Louisiana 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.

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

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $125
  • $265
Total$465

Frequently asked questions

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

625 instructor-supervised, in-person hours (effective for schools by December 31, 2026), including at least 400 hours of massage technique/clinical practicum and at least 10 hours of Louisiana law, rules, and ethics.

What exam does Louisiana require for massage therapist licensure?

A national exam approved by the board — the board's own page names the MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) and the NCBTMB exam as accepted options.

How often do I renew my Louisiana massage therapist license?

Annually — Louisiana licenses are valid for one calendar year, with a renewal window of January 1 through March 31 and an expiration date of March 31. This is different from the every-2-years cycle used by many other states.

Does Louisiana require a background check for massage therapist licensure?

Yes. Applicants must submit to and clear a state and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check, and are permanently barred from licensure for a violent felony or sex-related offense conviction (a nonviolent felony is a bar only within the preceding 5 years).

Can I get a Louisiana massage therapist license by endorsement from another state?

Yes. Applicants with a current, valid license from another state whose standards substantially conform to Louisiana's are exempt from Louisiana's own education and exam requirements, subject to the board verifying the out-of-state license directly.

Sources

  1. [1] labmt.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/lawsfromstatelegis.la_.goveffective8.1.2025.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] labmt.org/professional-applications/ — accessed 2026-07-12