Massage Therapist License Requirements in Michigan
- Training hours
- 625 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $510
- Exam
- Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 3 years
- Issuing board
- Michigan Board of Massage Therapy (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, 625 hours (500 if enrolled before August 1, 2017) of classroom instruction at a board-approved massage therapy education program., pass a criminal background check. MCL 333.17959(1) requires applicants to be of good moral character and at least 18 years old. A fingerprint-based criminal background check through a Michigan-approved vendor is also required as part of the application process. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-04-21 (legislature.mi.gov blocks non-browser fetches). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 625 hours of training at a state-approved program. MCL 333.17959(1)(d) requires at least 625 hours of classroom instruction from a board-approved massage education program for applicants who enrolled in school on or after August 1, 2017; applicants who enrolled before that date needed only 500 hours (grandfathered). Classroom instruction must be used for all psychomotor-domain components (palpation, hands-on techniques, clinical/lab experience). Verified via archive snapshot 2025-04-21 (legislature.mi.gov blocks non-browser fetches). [1]
- 3
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). Michigan requires only the MBLEx (no separate state jurisprudence exam); LARA does not need to pre-approve exam eligibility beyond FSMTB registration. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Michigan Board of Massage Therapy (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) with the $20 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Michigan Board of Massage Therapy (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing) issues your Massage Therapist (MT) for Michigan.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $20 |
| License fee [3] | $225 |
| Renewal fee [3] | $225 |
| Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] | $265 |
Per MCL 333.16334: $20 application processing fee, plus a $75/year license fee (a 3-year initial license/renewal period totals $225). Several third-party licensing guides report LARA currently collecting a combined $270.10 at initial application and $248.10 at renewal, which would reflect an additional regulatory-fund surcharge layered on top of the Part 179A base fee under LARA's general fee-setting authority; this could not be independently verified on an official LARA page (michigan.gov blocks non-browser fetches and no matching Wayback snapshot with a current fee table was found), so the statutory base figures are used here per source rule 3.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 3 years. 18 continuing education hours required per cycle.
License expires October 31 every 3 years (60-day grace period to renew without a lapse). Per Administrative Rule R 338.739, licensees must accumulate 18 hours of Board-approved continuing education during the 3 years preceding renewal, including at least 1 hour in pain and symptom management and at least 2 hours in professional ethics and boundaries. A separate, one-time (non-CE) training on identifying victims of human trafficking is also required (Rule R 338.732), mandatory for initial licensure since March 14, 2022. Verified via archive snapshot 2024-06-14 (michigan.gov blocks non-browser fetches; this FAQ document's stated revision date is 3/2021).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
MCL 333.17959(2) requires the department to issue a Michigan license to an applicant who meets the age and good-moral-character requirements and is currently licensed as a massage therapist in another state, country, jurisdiction, territory, or province with standards the Board determines are substantially equivalent to Michigan's. Michigan has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); per massagecompact.org, Michigan's status is 'No IMpact Legislation – At Risk' because a competing bill (HB 5948) was introduced that does not use the compact's model language, rather than adopting the original IMpact framework already enacted in other states. As of this research the compact's enacted states are Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Virginia, and Montana. Verified via archive snapshot 2025-04-21 (legislature.mi.gov blocks non-browser fetches).
12 state-approved training providers in Michigan — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $20
- $225
- $265
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Michigan require for a massage therapist license?
625 hours of classroom instruction from a board-approved program for anyone who enrolled in school on or after August 1, 2017. Those who enrolled before that date needed only 500 hours under a grandfather clause.
What exam does Michigan require for massage therapist licensure?
The MBLEx, administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) through Pearson VUE test centers. Michigan does not require a separate state jurisprudence exam.
How much does a Michigan massage therapist license cost?
By statute (MCL 333.16334): a $20 application processing fee plus a $75/year license fee (Michigan issues 3-year licenses, so $225 total). Some fee guides report LARA currently charging higher combined totals that may include an additional regulatory surcharge, which could not be independently confirmed.
Does Michigan require continuing education to renew a massage therapy license?
Yes. 18 hours every 3-year renewal cycle, including at least 1 hour in pain and symptom management and 2 hours in professional ethics and boundaries, plus a one-time human trafficking identification training.
Can I get a Michigan massage therapist license by endorsement from another state?
Yes. Michigan law requires the department to issue a license to anyone who is 18+, of good moral character, and already licensed in another state, country, or jurisdiction with standards the Board determines are substantially equivalent to Michigan's.
Sources
- [1] legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL — accessed 2026-07-12
- [4] michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bpl/Massage-Therapy/Boards-and-FAQs/Massage-Therapy-FAQs.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12