StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in North Carolina

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
650 hrs
Upfront cost
$435
Exam
Competency assessment examination (MBLEx accepted; NCETMB, NCETM, or ABTE also accepted), Jurisprudence Learning Exercise (JLE)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 650-hour core curriculum from a Board-approved school (see training); high school diploma or GED required., pass a criminal background check. 21 NCAC 30 .0201(b) requires a fingerprint card executed by a fingerprinting agency, consent to a criminal history record check by the NC Department of Justice, a copy of a driver's license or birth certificate proving the applicant is 18 or older, and signed statements from four persons attesting to the applicant's good character (honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, fair dealing, respect for the rights of others and for state/federal laws). [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 650 hours of training (including 100 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. 21 NCAC 30 .0620 (amended effective February 1, 2025) requires a core curriculum of at least 650 classroom hours: 230 hours fundamental theory/practice (at least 115 hands-on), 100 hours anatomy & physiology, 55 hours kinesiology, 45 hours pathology, 20 hours professional ethics, 10 hours NC laws & rules, 15 hours business management, 25 hours psychological concepts, and 150 hours of other related coursework (student clinic/fieldwork capped at 100 of these 150 hours). This raised the prior 500-hour standard. Verified directly from the current administrative code text (reports.oah.state.nc.us), which is reachable without a Wayback fallback. [1]

  3. 3

    Competency assessment examination (MBLEx accepted; NCETMB, NCETM, or ABTE also accepted)

    Pass the Competency assessment examination (MBLEx accepted; NCETMB, NCETM, or ABTE also accepted) (fee: $265). 21 NCAC 30 .0201(a) requires an official score report showing a passing score on a Board-accepted competency assessment exam; the Board's own application lists FSMTB (MBLEx), NCCAOM, and NCBTMB as the accepted examination agencies, and MBLEx, NCETMB, NCETM, and ABTE as accepted specific exams. The $265 figure is FSMTB's current published MBLEx fee (the most commonly used option), paid directly to FSMTB, not the NC Board. [1]

  4. 4

    Jurisprudence Learning Exercise (JLE)

    Pass the Jurisprudence Learning Exercise (JLE) (fee: $0). 30 randomly-drawn multiple-choice questions on the Practice Act and Board Rules; applicant must score 100% and may retake as many times as needed. NCGS 90-630.1(a)(4) and (b)(5) require passing a Board-administered jurisprudence examination. The Board's own JLE page states there is no fee to take it. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-02-10 (direct fetch to bmbt.org timed out/connection-refused from this environment; content matches the live current site design). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy with the $20 application fee. [1]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy issues your Licensed Massage and Bodywork Therapist (LMBT) for North Carolina.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $20
License fee [1] $150
Renewal fee [1] $100
Competency assessment examination (MBLEx accepted; NCETMB, NCETM, or ABTE also accepted) [1] $265
Jurisprudence Learning Exercise (JLE) [2] $0
Late renewal penalty [1] $75
Duplicate license [1] $25

21 NCAC 30 .0204 (amended effective February 1, 2025): $20 application fee, $150 initial license fee, $100 license renewal, $75 late renewal penalty, $25 duplicate license. This reconciles a figure on the Board's own consumer renewal page describing a '$175.00' mail-in renewal fee for late renewals — that $175 is the $100 renewal fee plus the $75 late penalty combined, not a separate figure.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Licenses renew every 2 years (term begins January 1 following the initial expiration date, per 21 NCAC 30 .0205). If the licensure period is 2 years or more, 24 hours of continuing education are required (at least 3 hours ethics; max 12 hours distance learning; max 8 hours business management). Shorter initial periods (1-2 years) require 12 CE hours (at least 3 ethics). A license expired more than 24 months cannot be renewed — the holder must apply for a new license.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

North Carolina offers License by Endorsement through two pathways: (A) for applicants duly licensed/certified/registered as a massage and bodywork therapist in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements, holding a license in good standing; or (B) for applicants from a state that does not license massage therapists at all, based on a Board-accepted competency assessment exam (MBLEx, NCETMB, NCETM, or ABTE) plus equivalent education documentation. Both pathways require the license fee, a State Bureau of Investigation/NC DOJ criminal history records check with fingerprint card, a photograph, four Statements of Moral Character and Professional Competence, and proof of English proficiency and U.S. citizenship/legal work eligibility. North Carolina is NOT a member of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) — per massagecompact.org, HB693 (the NC IMpact bill) is pending/under legislative consideration, not yet enacted, as of this research.

10 state-approved training providers in North Carolina — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $20
  • $150
  • $265
  • $0
Total$435

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does North Carolina require?

At least 650 classroom hours from a Board-approved school, including a detailed curriculum breakdown (230 hours theory/practice, 100 anatomy/physiology, 55 kinesiology, 45 pathology, 20 ethics, 10 NC laws/rules, 15 business management, 25 psychological concepts, 150 other coursework). This standard was raised from 500 hours effective February 1, 2025.

What exams does North Carolina require?

A national competency assessment exam — most commonly the FSMTB MBLEx ($265) — plus the Board's own free Jurisprudence Learning Exercise (30 multiple-choice questions, 100% required to pass, unlimited retakes).

Does North Carolina require a background check?

Yes. Applicants must submit a fingerprint card and consent to a criminal history records check through the State Bureau of Investigation and NC Department of Justice, plus four signed statements of moral character.

How much does it cost to get licensed in North Carolina?

A $20 fee to open the online application, plus a $150 initial license fee. Renewal is $100 every two years, with a $75 penalty for late renewal.

Is North Carolina part of the Interstate Massage Compact?

No, not yet. As of this research, IMpact legislation (HB693) is pending in the NC legislature but has not been enacted.

Sources

  1. [1] reports.oah.state.nc.us/ncac/title%2021%20-%20occupational%20licensing%20boards%20and%20commissions/chapter%2030%20-%20massage%20and%20bodywork%20therapy/chapter%2030%20rules.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] bmbt.org/mtpages/jurisprudence_learning_exercise.html — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] bmbt.org/mtpages/CE_Requirements.html — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] bmbt.org/mtpages/license_by_endorsement.html — accessed 2026-07-12