StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Montana

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
500 hrs
Upfront cost
$405
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Montana Board of Massage Therapy (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, High school diploma or equivalent, plus completion of a board-approved 500-hour massage therapy training program., pass a criminal background check. Per 37-33-502, MCA, applicants must be 18+, of good moral character, and hold a high school diploma or equivalent. For the standard exam-based pathway, good moral character is evaluated through application disclosure questions and two character-reference letters from non-family members, rather than fingerprinting. Applicants applying by credential (licensed in another state) must additionally submit two sets of fingerprints for a Montana/FBI criminal history background check. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Per ARM 24.155.605, a board-approved 500-hour massage therapy program must include 200 hours of in-class, instructor-supervised massage/bodywork assessment, theory, and application; 150 hours combined on body systems (anatomy, physiology, kinesiology) and pathology; and 150 hours combined on business/ethics instruction plus a related field that completes the program of study. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). ARM 24.155.604 also accepts the NCETMB or NCETM (administered by NCBTMB), the NESL (National Examination for State Licensing), or another state examination the board deems equivalent. Once the board approves an applicant's education under ARM 24.155.605, it sends an eligible-to-test notice to FSMTB before the applicant can schedule the exam. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Montana Board of Massage Therapy (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) with the $140 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Montana Board of Massage Therapy (Department of Labor and Industry, Business Standards Division) issues your Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for Montana.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $140
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $90
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Litigation fund fee (with application) [3] $5
Late renewal fee (total, replaces the $90 active renewal fee) [3] $180
Inactive status renewal fee [3] $45

Per the board's official fee page: $140 application fee plus a $5 litigation fund fee ($145 total to apply; no separate license-issuance fee). Active renewal is $90/year; renewing late assesses a 100% penalty, bringing the total to $180. The $265 MBLEx fee (or equivalent exam fee) is paid directly to the exam administrator and is itemized separately under exams above.

Renewal & continuing education

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

The Montana LMT license itself renews annually, expiring August 31 each year (renewal window opens July 3). Continuing education, however, is tracked on a separate 2-year cycle under ARM 24.155.801: licensees must complete at least 12 CE credits every two consecutive years, reported at their renewal date in even-numbered years. Therapists licensed less than 1 full year owe no CE at their first reporting date; those licensed 1-2 years owe 6 hours.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact).

Per 37-33-502(2)(b), MCA and ARM 24.155.608, an applicant licensed by credential must hold an active license, certificate, or registration in good standing from another state whose current licensing requirements are equivalent to Montana's (at minimum, a 500-hour program per the curriculum guidelines and a passing score on the MBLEx, NCETMB, NESL, NCETM, or an equivalent state exam), plus fingerprint-based background check and license verification from every jurisdiction where the applicant has held a professional license. Montana enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) on April 16, 2025 via Senate Bill 233, becoming the 5th state to adopt it, though per massagecompact.org the compact remains inactive pending a 7th state's enactment. As of this research the compact's enacted states are Nevada, Ohio, Arkansas, Virginia, and Montana.

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

Cost calculator

  • $140
  • $265
Total$405

Frequently asked questions

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

500 hours from a board-approved program: 200 hours in-class massage/bodywork theory and application, 150 hours combined anatomy/physiology/kinesiology and pathology, and 150 hours combined business/ethics and a related field.

What exam does Montana require for massage therapist licensure?

The MBLEx is most common, but Montana also accepts the NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, or another exam the board deems equivalent.

How much does a Montana massage therapist license cost?

A $140 application fee plus a $5 litigation fund fee ($145 total). The annual renewal fee is $90 (rising to $180 if paid late).

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

Yes. While the license itself renews annually, CE is tracked on a 2-year cycle: 12 hours every two consecutive years, reported at renewal in even-numbered years.

Is Montana part of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact)?

Yes. Montana enacted IMpact in April 2025, becoming the 5th state to adopt it, though the compact won't become operational until 7 states have enacted it.

Sources

  1. [1] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/_docs/lmt/lmt-checklist.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/massage-therapy/license-information/licensed-massage-therapist — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/massage-therapy/Continuing-Education — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] massagecompact.org/states/montana — accessed 2026-07-12