StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Massachusetts

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
650 hrs
Upfront cost
$490
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Board of Registration of Massage Therapy (Division of Occupational Licensure, Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or equivalent, plus completion of a 650-hour Board-approved massage therapy training program., pass a criminal background check. Per Mass. General Laws c.112 Section 229 and the Board's application requirements, applicants must be 18+, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, carry massage liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000 per occurrence/$1,000,000 aggregate), and submit a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) Acknowledgement Form. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-06-12 (mass.gov blocks non-browser fetches). [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 650 hours of training (including 100 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 650-hour Board-approved curriculum: 100 hours anatomy/physiology, 45 hours pathology, 45 hours kinesiology, 300 hours supervised classroom massage theory & technique, 60 hours ethics/professionalism/business practices, and 100 hours unpaid supervised clinical internship/externship (minimum 60 of those hands-on). Up to 100 of the 300 massage-theory-and-technique hours may be credited if the applicant instead submits proof of passing the MBLEx or NCETMB. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-01-24 (mass.gov blocks non-browser fetches). [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). Massachusetts does not require a licensing exam outright if the applicant completes the full 650-hour curriculum with 300 in-classroom hours of massage theory & technique. Proof of passing the MBLEx (or the NCBTMB's NCETMB) is required only if the applicant is short of the 300-hour classroom requirement, in which case up to 100 hours may be credited via the national exam. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-06-12 (mass.gov blocks non-browser fetches). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Board of Registration of Massage Therapy (Division of Occupational Licensure, Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation) with the $225 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Board of Registration of Massage Therapy (Division of Occupational Licensure, Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation) issues your Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for Massachusetts.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $225
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $150
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Late renewal fee (applications received more than 3 days after expiration) [2] $57

The $225 'license application fee' is a single combined application-and-license fee (COL); Massachusetts does not itemize a separate license-issuance fee. Renewal fee is $150 per year, per mass.gov/how-to/renew-your-massage-therapy-license (verified via archive snapshot 2026-02-09; mass.gov blocks non-browser fetches). The $265 MBLEx fee, when required, is paid directly to FSMTB and isn't a state fee.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 3 continuing education hours required per cycle.

License renews annually, expiring on the 28th day of the licensee's birth month. 269 CMR 4.00 requires a minimum of 3 Board-recognized continuing education hours in the 12 months preceding expiration, on topics relating to professional ethics or to laws/issues pertaining to human trafficking specific to massage therapy practitioners. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-21 (mass.gov blocks non-browser fetches).

Reciprocity

No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.

Mass. General Laws c.112 Section 230 authorizes the Board to grant reciprocal licenses to massage therapists licensed elsewhere under reasonably equivalent standards (fee not less than $100, and unavailable to anyone whose out-of-state license is revoked or suspended), but the Board has not implemented an active reciprocity process; out-of-state applicants must submit a standard new application (which does accept a certificate of standing/verification of licensure from other jurisdictions as supporting documentation, per the apply page). Massachusetts has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) and, per massagecompact.org, currently has no IMpact legislation introduced. As of this research the compact's enacted states are Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Virginia, and Montana.

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

Cost calculator

  • $225
  • $265
Total$490

Frequently asked questions

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

650 hours from a Board-approved school, covering anatomy/physiology, pathology, kinesiology, 300 hours of massage theory and technique, ethics/professionalism, and a 100-hour supervised clinical internship.

Do I need to pass the MBLEx to get licensed in Massachusetts?

Only if you haven't completed the full 300 in-classroom hours of massage theory and technique. Proof of passing the MBLEx (or NCBTMB's NCETMB) can substitute for up to 100 of those hours.

How much does a Massachusetts massage therapist license cost?

The combined application/license fee is $225, and the annual renewal fee is $150. A $57 late fee applies if you renew more than 3 days after your license expires.

How often do I need to renew my Massachusetts massage therapy license?

Annually, on the 28th day of your birth month. You must complete at least 3 hours of Board-recognized continuing education on ethics or human-trafficking-related topics in the 12 months before expiration.

Can I transfer my out-of-state massage therapy license to Massachusetts?

State law allows reciprocal licenses for therapists licensed under reasonably equivalent standards elsewhere, but the Board does not currently run an active reciprocity process — you'll need to submit a standard new application, which can include a certificate of standing from your original state as supporting documentation.

Sources

  1. [1] mass.gov/info-details/how-can-i-become-a-massage-therapist — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-massage-therapy-license — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] mass.gov/regulations/269-CMR-400-continuing-education — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter112/Section230 — accessed 2026-07-12