StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Tennessee

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
650 hrs
Upfront cost
$535
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodyworks Licensing Examination)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Tennessee Massage Licensure Board (Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards)

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Per Rule 0870-01-.05(1): applicants must submit a birth certificate or equivalent proving they are at least 18 at the time of application, two recent (within 12 months) signed letters from health care professionals attesting to good moral character, and the results of a criminal background check from the vendor identified in the Board's application materials (submitted directly by that vendor to the Board). A conviction for prostitution or a sexual misconduct offense disqualifies an applicant; a Tennessee felony conviction may disqualify an applicant. No specific high-school-diploma requirement for individual massage therapist applicants was found in the current rules. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 650 hours of training at a state-approved program. Per Rule 0870-01-.05(1)(e): 650 classroom hours from a school approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, Tennessee Board of Regents, or equivalent out-of-state accreditor (or approved by the Board itself), broken down as: 200 hours sciences (anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, pathology, HIV/AIDS and blood-borne pathogens, hygiene); 300 hours massage theory and practice; 125 hours related subjects (business standards, communication, CPR/First Aid, ADA, specialized populations/modalities); 20 hours ethics instruction; and 5 hours Tennessee massage statutes and regulations. [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodyworks Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodyworks Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). Rule 0870-01-.09 accepts successful completion of the MBLEx (or its successor exam) or any other Board-approved massage/bodywork/somatic therapy competency examination; exam application, documents, and fees are sent directly to the examining agency (FSMTB for the MBLEx), not to the Board. The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Tennessee Massage Licensure Board (Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards) with the $85 application fee. [1]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Tennessee Massage Licensure Board (Tennessee Department of Health, Division of Health Related Boards) issues your Licensed Massage Therapist (L.M.T.) for Tennessee.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [1] $85
License fee [1] $185
Renewal fee [1] $185
MBLEx (Massage & Bodyworks Licensing Examination) [2] $265
State regulatory fee (paid with application and with each renewal) [1] $10
Late Renewal Fee [1] $100
Replacement License Fee [1] $25

Per Rule 0870-01-.07(2) fee schedule: Individual application fee $85 + Initial licensure fee $185 + State regulatory fee $10 = $280 total due on initial application. Individual biennial licensure renewal fee is $185, plus the $10 state regulatory fee due with every renewal (total $195 to renew). Late Renewal Fee is $100 (additional, owed with the renewal and regulatory fee if a licensee misses the expiration date). Replacement License Fee (lost/destroyed wall certificate) is $25. The MBLEx exam fee ($265) is paid directly to FSMTB, not the Board, and is tracked separately in the exams entry.

Renewal & continuing education

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

Per Rule 0870-01-.10 and 0870-01-.12: licenses renew biennially, with 24 hours of Board-approved continuing education required per two-year cycle (2 hours must cover Tennessee massage statutes/rules, 2 hours must cover management of practicing massage therapy/professional ethics/substance abuse, and up to 8 hours may be completed via approved multi-media/distance formats). Initial licensees have their first-cycle CE requirement pro-rated based on the month they were licensed. Licenses not renewed within 60 days of expiration are administratively revoked without further notice.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Per Rule 0870-01-.05(1)(m), applicants licensed or previously licensed in another state may seek reciprocity licensure by (i) submitting transcripts meeting Tennessee's 650-hour curriculum plus proof of an approved competency exam, or (ii) if qualifying under T.C.A. 63-18-116, avoiding the educational requirement by submitting proof of NCBTMB certification for the 5 years preceding application and documentation of active practice in another state for that same 5-year period. All reciprocity applicants must still complete 5 classroom hours on Tennessee massage statutes/regulations and at least 10 classroom hours of ethics instruction (not self-directed). Per massagecompact.org (checked 2026-07-12), Tennessee does not currently have Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) legislation introduced, so compacts is empty.

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

Cost calculator

  • $85
  • $185
  • $265
Total$535

Frequently asked questions

How many training hours does Tennessee require for a massage therapy license?

650 classroom hours from an approved school, covering sciences (200 hrs), massage theory/practice (300 hrs), related subjects (125 hrs), ethics (20 hrs), and Tennessee massage law (5 hrs).

What exam do I need to pass?

The MBLEx (or successor exam) from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, or another Board-approved competency exam. The exam fee ($265 for the MBLEx) is paid directly to the exam agency, not the Board.

How much does it cost to get licensed in Tennessee?

$280 total on initial application: an $85 application fee, $185 initial licensure fee, and $10 state regulatory fee, plus the separate exam fee.

How often do I need to renew, and how much continuing education is required?

Every two years, with 24 hours of Board-approved continuing education per cycle (including 2 hours on Tennessee law and 2 hours on ethics/substance abuse/practice management).

Can I transfer a massage therapy license from another state to Tennessee?

Yes, via reciprocity licensure, either by submitting transcripts meeting Tennessee's curriculum plus exam proof, or by showing 5 years of NCBTMB certification and active practice in another state. Reciprocity applicants must still complete Tennessee-specific law and ethics coursework.

Sources

  1. [1] publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0870/0870-01.20250720.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12