StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Nevada

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
550 hrs
Upfront cost
$660
Exam
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 3 years
Issuing board
Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 550 hours from a Board-recognized massage therapy program., pass a criminal background check. Per NRS 640C.580, applicants must be at least 18, submit a complete set of fingerprints for a Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History / FBI background check, and the Board or its designee investigates the applicant's reputation, character, and any arrest/conviction record. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-27 (leg.state.nv.us blocks non-browser fetches). [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 550 hours of training at a state-approved program. The Board's official application guide requires a certificate of completion from a massage therapy program with a minimum of 550 hours of education (separate, higher hour minimums apply to the Board's related Reflexology (200 hours) and Structural Integration (730 hours) credentials). Per NRS 640C.580(3), the Board recognizes programs approved by the Commission on Postsecondary Education or offered by a public college, and may recognize other programs. Verified via archive snapshot 2024-05-18 (massagetherapy.nv.gov silently blocks non-browser fetches, returning empty 200 responses). [1]

  3. 3

    Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). The Board also accepts official score reports from the NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, ITEC, IASI, ARCB, IIR, or NCBTMB-R exams in place of the MBLEx, per NRS 640C.580(2)(c). [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy with the $100 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy issues your Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for Nevada.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $100
License fee [1] $295
Renewal fee [1] $295
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Background investigation fee [1] $85
Paper application processing fee (online applicants don't pay this) [1] $30

Per the Board's official application guide, total fees for a paper applicant are $510 ($100 application + $295 license + $85 background investigation + $30 paper processing); online applicants pay $480 (no paper processing fee). All fees are non-refundable. The 3-year renewal fee is also $295, corroborated by third-party licensing guides citing the Board's own FAQ page, though that FAQ page itself could not be independently re-verified (massagetherapy.nv.gov blocks both direct and Wayback-crawler access to several of its FAQ/PDF pages, returning empty or interstitial-block responses).

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 3 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Nevada licenses renew on a 3-year cycle requiring 24 continuing education hours (CEH). This figure is corroborated by multiple third-party licensing guides citing the Board's own Licensees FAQ page, but that page could not be independently re-verified — massagetherapy.nv.gov blocks non-browser fetches (silent empty 200 responses) and several of its FAQ/CE PDFs return either an interstitial 'Request Rejected' block page or have been removed as out of date, even via Wayback Machine snapshots.

Reciprocity

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

NRS 640C.580(2)(b)(4) requires applicants who are or have been licensed in another state to submit a certified statement from each such state's licensing authority verifying no pending/completed disciplinary action, and the Board's application guide confirms transferring applicants go through the same overall process (1-3 months) as new applicants. NRS 640C.426 additionally provides an expedited license-by-endorsement pathway for active-duty military, military spouses, veterans, and veterans' surviving spouses who hold a valid, unrestricted out-of-state license. Nevada enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) on June 12, 2023 via SB161, becoming the first state to adopt it (the compact's text is codified at NRS 640C.650); 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. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-05-27 (leg.state.nv.us blocks non-browser fetches).

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

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $295
  • $265
Total$660

Frequently asked questions

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

550 hours from a Board-recognized massage therapy program.

What exam does Nevada require for massage therapist licensure?

The MBLEx is most common, but Nevada also accepts the NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, ITEC, IASI, ARCB, IIR, or NCBTMB-R exam.

How much does a Nevada massage therapist license cost?

$480 total if you apply online ($100 application + $295 license + $85 background investigation), or $510 by paper application (which adds a $30 processing fee). Renewal every 3 years is $295.

Does Nevada require a background check for massage therapist licensure?

Yes. Applicants must submit a full set of fingerprints for an FBI/Nevada criminal history background check, and the Board investigates the applicant's reputation and character.

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

Yes. Nevada was the first state to enact IMpact, in June 2023, though the compact won't become operational until 7 states have enacted it.

Sources

  1. [1] massagetherapy.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/massagetherapy.nv.gov/content/Applicants(1)/HowtobecomelicensedinNevada2023.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] massagetherapy.nv.gov/Licensees/faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-640c.html — accessed 2026-07-12