StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Rhode Island

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
800 hrs
Upfront cost
$330
Exam
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or Department-approved alternative
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Rhode Island Department of Health — Board of Massage Therapists

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, 800-hour approved massage therapy education program (see training)., pass a criminal background check. R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-95-9(a)(1)-(2) and (e)-(f): applicant must be over 18 and submit to a national criminal background check with fingerprinting through the state police or local police bureau of criminal identification, at the applicant's expense. A conviction for a sexual offense (as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws Title 11, chapters 34, 34.1, or 37, or Section 23-17-37) results in automatic denial of licensure. [4]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 800 hours of training at a state-approved program. R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-95-9(a)(3) (P.L. 2024, ch. 346/347, effective June 26, 2024): for applicants pursuing a first massage therapist license, at least 800 hours of supervised in-class, hands-on coursework and clinical work is required, with a transitional provision that 650 of those hours must have been completed prior to December 31, 2024. This 800-hour standard took effect for applications filed on or after January 1, 2026 (per the Department of Health's own site), raising the prior 650-hour standard. Hour equivalents: 1 college/university semester credit hour = 15 hours; 1 year of full-time massage practice = 100 hours; up to 100 hours may come from continuing education. Note: the separately-codified administrative regulation 216-RICR-40-05-10 (effective 03/20/2024) still shows the older 650-hour figure — this record uses the newer statute per source-priority rules, since the Department's own page confirms the statute (moved to Section 5-95) has been updated and the 800-hour rule is now in effect. [1]

  3. 3

    Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or Department-approved alternative

    Pass the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or Department-approved alternative (fee: $265). R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-95-9(a)(4) requires passing a board-approved exam meeting generally recognized psychometric standards; the RI Code of Regulations (216-RICR-40-05-10) identifies the FSMTB MBLEx as the accepted exam (or a Department-approved alternative). The $265 figure is FSMTB's current published MBLEx fee, paid directly to FSMTB, not the RI Department of Health. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Rhode Island Department of Health — Board of Massage Therapists with the $65 application fee. Typical processing time: Within 60 days of a complete application. [4]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Rhode Island Department of Health — Board of Massage Therapists issues your Massage Therapist License for Rhode Island.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $65
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $65
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) or Department-approved alternative [2] $265

R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-95-10(i) sets the application and renewal fees per Section 23-1-54's general licensing fee schedule, which lists 'Massage therapist appl fee' at $65.00 and 'Massage therapist renewal fee' at $65.00 (the fee table's citation still shows the pre-recodification chapter number 23-20.8-3(e), not yet updated to 5-95). 'license' is null because there is no separate license-issuance fee beyond the $65 application fee.

Renewal & continuing education

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

R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-95-10(a) and (c)-(d): licensure renewal occurs every 2 years, with up to 24 continuing education units required per 2-year cycle (raised from a prior 6-hour annual requirement). The Department of Health's site describes the current CE compliance window as 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2027. CE may include formal presentations, conferences, massage-school/college coursework, or self-study/online coursework from a board-approved organization; the board may waive CE for documented hardship.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

R.I. Gen. Laws Section 5-95-9(a)(3)(ii) and (b): an applicant for licensure by endorsement who holds a massage therapist license in another state must show completion of an approved massage therapy education program meeting the 800-hour standard (or its equivalent), and the department may grant a license to any applicant who has met substantially equivalent standards in obtaining a valid license/permit/certificate/registration from another U.S. state/territory or a foreign country, plus payment of fees and completed forms. Rhode Island is NOT a member of the Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) — per massagecompact.org, Rhode Island has no IMpact legislation introduced as of this research.

2 state-approved training providers in Rhode Island — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $65
  • $265
Total$330

Frequently asked questions

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

800 hours of supervised in-class, hands-on coursework and clinical work, effective for applications filed on or after January 1, 2026 — up from the prior 650-hour standard.

What exam does Rhode Island require?

The FSMTB MBLEx ($265) or a Department-approved alternative exam.

Does Rhode Island require a background check?

Yes, a national criminal background check with fingerprinting; a conviction for a sexual offense results in automatic denial.

How much does it cost to get licensed in Rhode Island?

A $65 application fee. Renewal is also $65, every two years.

How much continuing education does Rhode Island require?

Up to 24 continuing education units every 2 years (raised from a prior 6-hour annual requirement).

Sources

  1. [1] health.ri.gov/licensing/massage-therapy — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/216-40-05-10 — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE23/23-1/23-1-54.HTM — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE5/5-95/5-95-9.HTM — accessed 2026-07-12