StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Maine

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$305
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or its equivalent, pass a criminal background check. Per 32 M.R.S. §14306-D(1)(B)-(C), applicants must be at least 18 and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must also pass a State Police criminal background check (SBI), for which a separate $21 fee applies. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training. Per 32 M.R.S. §14306-D(1)(A), an applicant satisfies the training/competency requirement by EITHER passing a national exam sponsored by the NCBTMB or FSMTB (or a department-approved successor/other organization) OR demonstrating completion of a department-approved course of training of 500 or more hours — Maine does not require applicants to document both. approvedProgramRequired is set to false because the exam-only pathway does not require a specific approved program. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). 32 M.R.S. §14306-D(1)(A) also names the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) exam as an accepted alternative. Passing an exam is only one of two alternative qualification pathways — completing a 500+ hour approved training program without an exam also satisfies the requirement. Current MBLEx fee per FSMTB's own FAQ page is $265. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation). [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Department of Professional and Financial Regulation) issues your Massage Therapist for Maine.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $40
Renewal fee [3] $40
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
State Police Criminal Background Check (SBI) fee [3] $21
Late renewal fee [3] $50

There is no separately itemized application-processing fee — the $40 license fee is what's paid with the initial application (plus the $21 SBI criminal background check fee). The $40 fee also applies to each annual renewal. Statute (32 M.R.S. §14306-G) caps any single OPOR fee at $100 annually.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

Licenses expire annually on their anniversary date (32 M.R.S. §14306-F(1)); renewal up to 90 days late is allowed with a late fee, and renewal applications submitted more than 90 days late are treated as new applications. §14306-F(2) authorizes (but does not itself impose) a department rule establishing continuing-education requirements; the board's own current renewal-requirements page lists only the completed application and applicable fees with no CE line item, indicating no CE hours are currently mandated for massage therapist renewal.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Per 32 M.R.S. §14306-H, the commissioner must establish a licensure-by-endorsement process (per the general framework in 10 M.R.S. §8003-H) for licenses the commissioner determines are appropriate for it; an applicant may apply either through that endorsement process or through any other licensure process authorized under this chapter. Maine 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.

1 state-approved training provider in Maine — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $40
  • $265
Total$305

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pass an exam to become a licensed massage therapist in Maine?

Not necessarily. Maine allows licensure through either passing a national exam (NCBTMB or FSMTB's MBLEx) OR completing a department-approved training program of 500 or more hours — you don't need to document both.

How much does a Maine massage therapist license cost?

The license fee is $40, plus a separate $21 State Police criminal background check (SBI) fee at application. Renewal is $40 annually, plus a $50 late fee if renewed after the license's expiration date.

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

Every year, on the anniversary date of your original license. The board's own renewal requirements do not currently list any continuing-education hours, though the department has statutory authority to add a CE requirement by rule in the future.

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

Yes. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent.

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

Yes. Maine law directs the licensing commissioner to establish a licensure-by-endorsement process for this profession, in addition to the standard exam/training-based application process.

Sources

  1. [1] mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/32/title32sec14306-D.html — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/massage-therapy-licensure/licensing/massage-therapist — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/32/title32sec14306-H.html — accessed 2026-07-12