StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in New Mexico

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
650 hrs
Upfront cost
$340
Exam
National massage therapy licensing/certification exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB), New Mexico jurisprudence examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (Regulation and Licensing Department)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 650-hour massage therapy curriculum from an approved school (see training); out-of-state training may qualify if at least one official transcript documents a minimum of 300 class hours., pass a criminal background check. 16.7.4.10.A NMAC: applicant must be 18 or older on the date the application is submitted. The board evaluates applicants for disqualifying criminal convictions under 16.7.4.24 NMAC as part of the application review; the regulations describe this criminal-history review but the specific fingerprinting vendor/process was not confirmed on the board's own pages for this record. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 650 hours of training at a state-approved program. 16.7.4.12 NMAC minimum curricula: 650 total hours, including at least 165 hours of anatomy/physiology/kinesiology (of which at least 40 hours must be pathology), at least 150 hours of massage therapy training (at least 100 hands-on before clinical practicum), and at least 75 hours of general instruction (including at least 30 hours professional ethics, 4 hours first aid, 4 hours CPR/AED). [1]

  3. 3

    National massage therapy licensing/certification exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB)

    Pass the National massage therapy licensing/certification exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB) (fee: $265). 16.7.4.17.B NMAC requires passing a board-approved licensing/certification exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB), with results sent directly to the board. The $265 figure is FSMTB's current published MBLEx fee (most commonly used); NCETM/NCETMB fees are set by NCBTMB and were not verified for this record. [1]

  4. 4

    New Mexico jurisprudence examination

    Pass the New Mexico jurisprudence examination. 16.7.4.17.A NMAC requires applicants for permanent licensure to pass the board's own jurisprudence examination, covering the Massage Therapy Practice Act and board rules (defined at 16.7.1.7.U NMAC). No separate jurisprudence exam fee is published by the board — it appears to be included in the standard application/licensing fees on the board's fee schedule. [1]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (Regulation and Licensing Department) with the $75 application fee. Typical processing time: 30 days for a complete expedited licensure application. [4]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (Regulation and Licensing Department) issues your Massage Therapist License for New Mexico.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $75
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $125
National massage therapy licensing/certification exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB) [1] $265
New Mexico jurisprudence examination [1] None specified
Initial licensure fee (pro-rated per month) [2] $5
Late renewal penalty [2] $75
Temporary license [2] $25
Verification of NM license [2] $15
Electronic processing fee (per year) [2] $10

New Mexico Massage Therapy Board fee schedule: $75 application fee; initial licensure fee is pro-rated at $5 per month remaining in the licensing period rather than a single flat 'license' amount, so 'license' is recorded as null; $125 biennial renewal fee; $75 late renewal penalty.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses renew on a biennial basis expiring October 31 (some licenses may be on an annual cycle depending on issue date); 16 continuing education hours required every two years. A 60-day grace period after expiration extends through December 30, after which the late penalty and full renewal fee apply.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

16.7.8 NMAC 'Expedited Licensure by Credential': applicants holding a current license in good standing in an eligible jurisdiction (any US state/territory except the U.S. Virgin Islands and Vermont, which are disapproved) may qualify for expedited licensure, processed within 30 days of a complete application. Applicants may not qualify based on practice in a jurisdiction that doesn't license/register/certify massage therapists at all (American Samoa, California, Guam, Kansas, Minnesota, Northern Mariana Islands, Wyoming). Expedited licensees must still pass the NM jurisprudence exam (and a national exam if not already required in their original jurisdiction) upon renewal. Military service members/veterans and their qualifying family members have a separate expedited pathway and are exempt from licensing fees for the first three years. New Mexico is not a member of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) — massagecompact.org states New Mexico has no IMpact legislation introduced as of this research.

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

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $265
Total$340

Frequently asked questions

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

650 hours total, including at least 165 hours of anatomy/physiology (40 of which must be pathology), 150 hours of massage therapy training, and 75 hours of general instruction (ethics, first aid, CPR).

What exams does New Mexico require?

A national exam — the MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB — plus New Mexico's own jurisprudence examination covering the Massage Therapy Practice Act and board rules.

Can an out-of-state massage therapist get a New Mexico license quickly?

Yes, through expedited licensure by credential, available to applicants with a current license in good standing from most other states/territories (Vermont and the U.S. Virgin Islands are excluded, and applicants can't qualify based on practice in a state that doesn't license massage therapists at all, such as California or Kansas). Complete applications are processed within 30 days.

How often does a New Mexico massage therapist license need to be renewed, and how much continuing education is required?

Renewal is biennial (every two years), requiring 16 hours of continuing education.

Is New Mexico part of the Interstate Massage Compact?

No. As of this research, New Mexico has not introduced IMpact legislation.

Sources

  1. [1] srca.nm.gov/parts/title16/16.007.0004.html — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/massage-therapy/fees/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/massage-therapy/licensing-registration-and-renewal/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] rld.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/16.7.8-NMAC-Exped.-Lic.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12