Massage Therapist License Requirements in New Jersey
- Training hours
- 500 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $460
- Exam
- MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Course of study of at least 500 hours from an accredited/approved program (see training); an associate degree in massage and bodywork also satisfies the education requirement., pass a criminal background check. N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.1(c) requires a completed Criminal History Certification of Authorization form as part of the application; the regulations do not state a minimum applicant age (minAge is null because none is specified — separate client-age consent rules in 13:37A-3.10 apply to minors receiving massage, not to licensure eligibility). [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 500 hours of training (including 100 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.1(a)(1) and (d): at least 500 hours of massage and bodywork therapy study completed within the five years before applying, including at least 90 hours of anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology, ethics and law, theory and practice, electives, and at least 100 hours of supervised clinical practice. Program must be accredited/approved by the NJ Department of Education, NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, NJ Commission on Higher Education, or a substantially equivalent out-of-state agency. Verified from Chapter 37A regulations text via archive snapshot 2022-03-08 (direct fetch of njconsumeraffairs.gov PDFs is bot-blocked by Incapsula). [1]
- 3
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.1(a)(2) allows an applicant to satisfy the exam requirement with the FSMTB MBLEx, an NCBTMB examination, or the NCCAOM Asian Bodywork Therapy examination. The $265 fee is FSMTB's current published MBLEx fee (fsmtb.org), paid directly to FSMTB/Pearson VUE, not the New Jersey Board. [1]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy with the $75 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy issues your Massage and Bodywork Therapist License for New Jersey.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $75 |
| License fee [1] | $120 |
| Renewal fee [1] | $120 |
| MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [1] | $265 |
| Initial license fee if paid during second year of biennial renewal period [1] | $60 |
| Late license renewal fee (plus applicable renewal fee) [1] | $50 |
| Reinstatement fee (plus applicable renewal fee) [1] | $100 |
N.J.A.C. 13:37A-7.1 fee schedule: $75 application fee, $120 initial license fee (or $60 if paid in the second year of a biennial cycle), $120 biennial renewal fee.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 20 continuing education hours required per cycle.
N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.3 and 4.1: licenses renew biennially; 20 continuing education credit hours per biennial period (including at least 2 hours ethics and 1 hour laws/rules), except a licensee first licensed in the second year of a biennial cycle needs only 10 hours (at least 2 in ethics). Up to 6 hours may be completed online/via DVD; up to 18 excess hours may carry over to the next cycle.
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.2: the Board issues a license by reciprocity to an applicant holding a valid, current out-of-state license in good standing if the issuing state's education/training/exam requirements were substantially equivalent to New Jersey's current standards, and the applicant practiced at least 3 of the past 5 years. New Jersey is not a member of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) — massagecompact.org lists New Jersey as having 'no legislation introduced' as of this research.
8 state-approved training providers in New Jersey — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.
Cost calculator
- $75
- $120
- $265
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does New Jersey require for a massage and bodywork therapist license?
At least 500 hours completed within the five years before applying, including at least 90 hours of anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology and at least 100 hours of supervised clinical practice, from an accredited or state-approved program.
What exam does New Jersey require?
Applicants may pass the FSMTB MBLEx, an NCBTMB examination, or the NCCAOM Asian Bodywork Therapy examination. The MBLEx currently costs $265, paid to FSMTB.
How often does a New Jersey massage and bodywork therapist license need to be renewed?
Every two years (biennially), with 20 continuing education hours required per cycle (10 hours if first licensed in the second year of the cycle).
Can I transfer an out-of-state massage license to New Jersey?
Yes, by reciprocity, if your license is current and in good standing, your state's requirements were substantially equivalent to New Jersey's, and you practiced at least 3 of the last 5 years.
Is New Jersey part of the Interstate Massage Compact?
No. As of this research, New Jersey has not introduced IMpact legislation.
Sources
- [1] njconsumeraffairs.gov/regulations/Chapter-37A-New-Jersey-Board-of-Massage-and-Bodywork-Therapy.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12