StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Pennsylvania

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$365
Exam
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    600-contact-hour program from an accredited/approved school (see training); high school diploma or equivalent required., pass a criminal background check. 49 Pa. Code Section 20.21 requires an official Criminal History Record Information check from the State Police or other state agency for every state the applicant resided in during the past 5 years, dated within 6 months of application, plus CPR certification valid at least 6 months past the application date and proof of high school graduation or equivalent. No explicit minimum-age requirement was found in the regulation text reviewed, so minAge is recorded as null rather than assumed. [3]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. Pennsylvania requires 600 contact hours of in-class postsecondary instruction from a regionally accredited college/university or Pennsylvania private licensed school (or equivalent): at least 175 hours combined anatomy/physiology/kinesiology/pathology, 250 hours massage therapy (incl. hygiene), 25 hours professional ethics, and 150 hours related coursework. Candidates must also complete 3 hours of Department of Human Services-approved child abuse recognition/reporting training as a condition of initial licensure (required since January 1, 2015). [1]

  3. 3

    Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx)

    Pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) (fee: $265). 49 Pa. Code Section 20.23 adopts the MBLEx as the approved examination for initial licensure (reciprocity applicants may alternatively show NCETM/NCETMB or NESL-option results — see reciprocity). Per 49 Pa. Code Section 20.3, candidates pay the Board's application fee plus any examination fee charged by FSMTB directly; the $265 figure is FSMTB's current published MBLEx fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy with the $100 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy issues your Massage Therapist License for Pennsylvania.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $100
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] $175
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) [2] $265
Temporary practice permit [2] $65
Reactivation of license [2] $65
Restoration after suspension or revocation [2] $65
Verification of licensure / letter of good standing [2] $15
Certification of licensure history [2] $25

49 Pa. Code Section 20.3: $100 application for initial licensure fee — this is the combined application/initial-license fee, so 'license' is null since there's no separate license-issuance charge. Biennial renewal is $175 for the February 1, 2023-January 31, 2025 period 'and each biennial renewal period thereafter,' i.e. this is the current standing renewal fee (up from $150 for 2021-2023 and $125 for 2019-2021). Temporary practice permit, reactivation, and restoration are each $65 — a third-party site incorrectly conflates the $65 temporary-permit fee with the initial application fee; the $100 figure from the official regulation is used here per source-priority rules.

Renewal & continuing education

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

24 continuing education hours required for biennial renewal, of which at least 16 hours must be earned through contact (in-person) hours, and 2 hours must be Board-approved continuing education in child abuse recognition and reporting.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

49 Pa. Code Section 20.25: an out-of-state applicant must have every jurisdiction where they hold a massage therapy license provide the Board with verification of good standing (plus any disciplinary history), submit official transcripts confirming their school meets state recognition/accreditation standards, and show evidence of passing the MBLEx, NCETM, NCETMB (or the NESL option), OR evidence of having obtained original licensure through qualifications equivalent to those required of existing PA practitioners. Pennsylvania is NOT a member of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) — per massagecompact.org, Pennsylvania has no IMpact legislation introduced as of this research.

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

Cost calculator

  • $100
  • $265
Total$365

Frequently asked questions

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

600 contact hours from an accredited school, including 175 hours combined anatomy/physiology/kinesiology/pathology, 250 hours massage therapy, 25 hours ethics, and 150 hours related coursework, plus a separate 3-hour child abuse recognition/reporting training.

What exam does Pennsylvania require?

The FSMTB MBLEx ($265), paid to FSMTB in addition to the Board's own application fee.

How much does it cost to get licensed in Pennsylvania?

A $100 application fee for initial licensure. Biennial renewal is $175.

How much continuing education does Pennsylvania require to renew?

24 hours every 2 years, with at least 16 hours in-person (contact hours) and 2 hours in child abuse recognition and reporting.

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

Yes, by reciprocity, if your license is verified in good standing, your school meets PA's recognition/accreditation standards, and you show passing MBLEx/NCETM/NCETMB results or equivalent original-licensure qualifications.

Sources

  1. [1] pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/massage-therapy/massage-therapist-licensure-snapshot — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode — accessed 2026-07-12