StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Missouri

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
625 hrs
Upfront cost
$390
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage (Division of Professional Registration)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 500 hours (300 massage theory/practice, 100 anatomy & physiology, 50 business/ethics/hygiene/Missouri massage law, 50 ancillary therapies including CPR/first aid) from a board-approved program; note the board's newer 20 CSR 2197-2.010 rule states 625 hours instead (see training notes for the unreconciled discrepancy)., pass a criminal background check. RSMo 324.265 requires applicants to be at least 18 years old and pay the application fee. Board regulation 20 CSR 2197-2.010 additionally requires submission of two sets of fingerprints for a criminal background check by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI; the board's application materials confirm all background checks are performed electronically and a license cannot issue before the results are reviewed. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 625 hours of training at a state-approved program. At least 625 clock hours of training, completed either at a CBHE/DESE-approved or regionally accredited school or through an apprenticeship with a certified mentor (20 CSR 2197-2.010, current version effective 2025-02-27; the increase from 500 to 625 hours first took effect as an emergency amendment on 2024-12-30). The hours must include at least 300 in massage theory and practice, 100 in anatomy and physiology, 50 in business practice/professional ethics/hygiene/Missouri massage law, and 50 in ancillary therapies including CPR and first aid; remaining hours may combine approved categories. RSMo 324.265 still reads 'at least five hundred hours,' which is a statutory floor rather than a cap — the board's rule lawfully sets the higher entry requirement applicants must meet, so 625 is the operative figure. Rule text verified via the Legal Information Institute's reproduction because sos.mo.gov returns 403 to automated clients; the citation above is the Secretary of State's own current rule PDF. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). RSMo 324.265 requires 'an examination approved by the board.' Board regulation 20 CSR 2197-2.010 lists the MBLEx as one of several approved exams, alongside the NCETMB/NCETM (NCBTMB), the Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) exam, the AMMA NBCE exam, or another exam the board deems appropriate. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage (Division of Professional Registration) with the $125 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage (Division of Professional Registration) issues your Massage Therapist for Missouri.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $125
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $100
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Late renewal fee (1-30 days late) [3] $50
License reinstatement fee (31 days to 2 years late) [3] $100
Late continuing education fee [3] $50
Provisional license application fee [3] $75
Provisional license renewal fee [3] $50
Student license fee [3] $25
Education review fee [3] $25

Per 20 CSR 2197-1.040: a $125 Massage Therapist Application Fee (which also covers initial license issuance — no separate license fee is listed) and a $100 Massage Therapist Renewal Fee every 2 years. A separate Criminal Background Check Fee also applies, with the amount 'to be determined by the Missouri State Highway Patrol' rather than fixed in the rule; third-party licensing guides report this fee is currently around $43.05, which could not be independently confirmed on an official state page. Rule text read via the Internet Archive's 2022-11-26 snapshot; sos.mo.gov returns 403 to automated clients but is reachable in a browser.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 12 continuing education hours required per cycle.

RSMo 324.265 requires proof of 12 hours of continuing education for each renewal. The 2-year cycle is reflected in the board's 'License Reinstatement Fee (31 days-2 years)' fee-schedule entry for lapsed licenses.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Missouri's dedicated 'Reciprocity' regulation (20 CSR 2197-2.020) was rescinded effective February 29, 2020, but the board's own Application for License as a Massage Therapist form still offers 'Reciprocity' as one of two licensure pathways (alongside 'National Examination'), requiring direct verification of licensure/certification/registration from each other state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia where the applicant has held a massage credential. Under 20 CSR 2197-2.010, if the board determines another jurisdiction's licensure requirements are not substantially the same as Missouri's, the applicant may still qualify by separately meeting Missouri's standards. RSMo 324.265 also exempts nonresident therapists licensed elsewhere from Missouri licensure when practicing temporarily for conventions, sporting events, or emergency disaster relief. Missouri has not enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact); the board's own website hosts an informational IMpact page (pr.mo.gov/massage-impact.asp) linking to the model legislation and massagecompact.org, but does not claim Missouri has adopted it, and per massagecompact.org Missouri's status is 'No IMpact Legislation.' As of this research the compact's enacted states are Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Virginia, and Montana.

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

Cost calculator

  • $125
  • $265
Total$390

Frequently asked questions

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

State statute (RSMo 324.265) requires 500 hours (300 theory/practice, 100 anatomy/physiology, 50 business/ethics/law, 50 ancillary therapies). A newer board regulation states 625 hours instead — the two current official sources disagree, so verify directly with the board before enrolling.

What exam does Missouri require for massage therapist licensure?

The MBLEx is the most common choice, but Missouri's board also accepts the NCETMB, NCETM, Asian Bodywork Therapy exam, AMMA NBCE exam, or another board-approved exam.

How much does a Missouri massage therapist license cost?

A $125 application fee (which also covers initial licensure) and a $100 renewal fee every 2 years. A separate criminal background check fee applies, with the amount set by the Missouri State Highway Patrol rather than fixed by rule.

Does Missouri require continuing education to renew a massage therapy license?

Yes, 12 hours of board-approved continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle.

Can I get a Missouri massage therapist license by reciprocity from another state?

Yes. The board's application offers a 'Reciprocity' pathway requiring direct license verification from every state where you've held a massage credential, though the board may require you to separately meet Missouri's standards if it determines your state's requirements aren't substantially equivalent.

Sources

  1. [1] sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2197-2.pdf — accessed 2026-07-27
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] sos.mo.gov/cmsimages/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2197-1.pdf — accessed 2026-07-27
  4. [4] revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] pr.mo.gov/massage-impact.asp — accessed 2026-07-12