StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in North Dakota

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
750 hrs
Upfront cost
$415
Exam
National massage therapy exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB), Jurisprudence exam
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 750-hour program from an approved massage therapy school (see training)., pass a criminal background check. N.D.C.C. 43-25-07(1): any individual 18 or older may apply. N.D.C.C. 43-25-08.1 requires the Board to obtain a statewide and nationwide criminal history record check for every applicant; the Board's application process sends applicants a Criminal History Background Check Form and 2 fingerprint cards. Per 43-25-07(3), a conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant unless the Board determines it has a direct bearing on the person's ability to serve the public as a massage therapist. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 750 hours of training (including 250 clinical hours) at a state-approved program. N.D. Admin Code 49-02-02-03 and 49-02-03-01 (current as of this research, fetched directly from ndlegis.gov): 750 total supervised hours = 500 classroom hours (150 anatomy/physiology/kinesiology; 10 first aid/CPR; 130 introductory massage therapy courses; 50 business practices/career development/ethics; 120 other related courses; 40 pathology) plus 250 hours of practical instruction (hands-on practical application and clinical practice, supervised by a licensed massage therapist with at least 3 years of experience). [1]

  3. 3

    National massage therapy exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB)

    Pass the National massage therapy exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB) (fee: $265). N.D.C.C. 43-25-07 requires a passing score on a board-approved exam; the Board's own licensure requirements page lists MBLEx, NCETM, and NCBTMB as accepted, with the official score report sent directly to the board by the administering organization. The $265 figure is FSMTB's current published MBLEx fee (the most commonly used option), paid directly to FSMTB, not the ND Board. A re-examination fee of $50 (or a lesser board-set amount) applies under N.D.C.C. 43-25-07(2) if an applicant fails to obtain licensure within one year. [2]

  4. 4

    Jurisprudence exam

    Pass the Jurisprudence exam. After the Board receives all required documents, the applicant is sent a Jurisprudence Exam, a Criminal History Background Check Form, and 2 fingerprint cards. No separate fee for the jurisprudence exam is published on the Board's site; it appears to be part of the standard $150 application/license fee. Verified via archive snapshot 2026-04-15 (direct fetch to ndbmt.org connection-refused from this environment). [2]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy. [3]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, North Dakota Board of Massage Therapy issues your Massage Therapist License for North Dakota.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] None specified
License fee [3] $150
Renewal fee [3] $200
National massage therapy exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB) [2] $265
Jurisprudence exam [2] None specified
Re-examination fee [3] $50
Late renewal (license expired less than 2 years) [3] $250
Licensure by reciprocity fee [3] $150

N.D.C.C. 43-25-08: $150 application/license fee (or a lesser board-set amount) — 'application' is null because there is no separate application fee distinct from the license fee. N.D.C.C. 43-25-09(2)(a)-(b): $200 biennial renewal fee (or a lesser board-set amount). N.D.C.C. 43-25-07(2): $50 re-examination fee. The Board's own site states a $250 fee for late renewal of a license expired less than 2 years. N.D.C.C. 43-25-18: reciprocity applicants pay a $150 fee.

Renewal & continuing education

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

N.D.C.C. 43-25-09(2): licenses expire February 28 biennially (odd/even-numbered licenses alternate years). During the initial licensure period, no CE is required. Starting with the first renewal after that, 24 hours of continuing education are required every 2 years (at least 12 hours classroom/hands-on; no more than 50% by remote means), including at least 3 ethics hours for that first CE-required renewal (ethics optional thereafter). Licensees actively practicing in good standing for the preceding 15 years need only 6 hours per 2-year cycle; those with 25+ years need only 3 hours.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

N.D.C.C. 43-25-18: an applicant duly licensed in another city, county, state, territory, or U.S. jurisdiction may be granted a North Dakota license without taking an exam, upon paying a $150 fee, if the applicant: is licensed in good standing elsewhere; actively practiced massage for at least 2 of the last 3 years; graduated from a board-approved massage school; passed an exam acceptable to the board; has no suspended/revoked/restricted license elsewhere; and submits to the statewide/nationwide criminal history record check. North Dakota is NOT a member of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) — per massagecompact.org, North Dakota has no IMpact legislation introduced as of this research.

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

Cost calculator

  • $150
  • $265
Total$415

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does North Dakota require?

750 total hours: 500 classroom hours (covering anatomy/physiology/kinesiology, pathology, first aid/CPR, introductory massage courses, business/ethics, and other related coursework) plus 250 hours of supervised practical/clinical instruction.

What exams does North Dakota require?

A national exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB) plus the Board's own jurisprudence exam, sent to applicants after their documents are received.

Does North Dakota require a background check?

Yes. State law requires a statewide and nationwide criminal history record check for every applicant, including fingerprint cards.

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

A $150 application/license fee. Renewal is $200 every two years. A $50 fee applies for re-examination if licensure isn't obtained within a year; a $250 fee applies for late renewal of a license expired less than two years.

Can I transfer an out-of-state massage license to North Dakota?

Yes, by reciprocity, for a $150 fee, if you're licensed in good standing elsewhere, actively practiced at least 2 of the last 3 years, graduated from a board-approved school, and passed an acceptable exam.

Sources

  1. [1] ndlegis.gov/information/acdata/pdf/49-02-02.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] ndbmt.org/lic/licenserequirements.asp — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] ndlegis.gov/cencode/t43c25.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12