StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in Utah

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
600 hrs
Upfront cost
$400
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination), Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Be at least 18 years old, pass a criminal background check. Per Utah Code 58-47b-302(6): applicants must be 18 years old or older and consent to and complete a criminal background check as described in Section 58-1-301.5. Rule R156-47b-302d further specifies that certain sex-offense, violent-crime, property-crime, or controlled-substance convictions may disqualify or temporarily bar an applicant (periods ranging from 3 to 7 years depending on the offense). [6]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 600 hours of training at a state-approved program. Per Administrative Rule R156-47b-302: a school-based curriculum of at least 600 hours, including anatomy/physiology/kinesiology (125 hrs), pathology (40 hrs), massage theory/techniques including the five basic Swedish strokes plus hands-on instruction (285 hrs), professional standards/ethics/business practices (35 hrs), sanitation/universal precautions/CPR/first aid (15 hrs), and clinic (100 hrs). As an alternative path, Utah Code 58-47b-302(4)(a)(iii) (current as of the 2025-2026 legislative sessions, which restructured the licensing tiers via HB 278) allows completion of a massage apprenticeship program of at least 1,000 hours of supervised training in lieu of the school curriculum. Rule text confirmed via a 2020 archive snapshot of the Division's rule page since the live rules.utah.gov page now redirects to a JavaScript-only portal (adminrules.utah.gov) that could not be scraped; this hour breakdown was not contradicted by any more recent source found, but the exact rule numbers should be reconfirmed given Utah's 2025 restructuring of massage licensing tiers. [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). Per Rule R156-47b-302b, applicants must pass the FSMTB MBLEx (predecessor exams like NCETMB/NCETM are accepted only if passed while the Division still recognized them). The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Examination

    Pass the Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Examination (fee: $75). A separate, Utah-specific 60-question, 2-hour exam covering Utah massage laws and rules, required in addition to the MBLEx. Per Prov's official State of Utah Massage Therapy Examination Handbook, the fee is $75 each time the exam is taken (same fee for a first attempt or a retake). [3]

  5. 5

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture with the $60 application fee. [4]

  6. 6

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), Board of Massage Therapy and Acupuncture issues your Massage Therapist License for Utah.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [4] $60
License fee [4] None specified
Renewal fee [4] $52
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [2] $265
Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Examination [3] $75
FBI fingerprint file search (per person) [4] $12
BCI (Utah) fingerprint file search (per person) [4] $20

Per DOPL's official Division of Professional Licensing Fees schedule (FY July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026): Massage Therapist application fee is $60.00, renewal is $52.00. 'license' is null because DOPL does not itemize a separate license-issuance fee beyond the $60 application fee. Applicants also pay fingerprint-based criminal background check fees ($12 FBI + $20 BCI per person). Exam fees (MBLEx $265, Utah Law & Rule exam $75) are paid separately to the exam vendors and tracked in the exams entries.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 2 years.

Per Utah Code 58-47b-303(1)(a) and Rule R156-47b-303, massage therapist licenses renew on a two-year cycle. No continuing education hour requirement for renewal was found in Rule R156-47b or on DOPL's renewal page (ceHours is null because Utah does not appear to require CE for this license, not because the figure is unpublished).

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Rule R156-47b-302a provides an 'equivalent education and training' pathway for out-of-state applicants: graduation from a licensed or recognized school outside Utah with a minimum of 500 hours, completion of the exam requirements, and at least 3 years of practice as a licensed massage therapist (or, alternatively, completion of a substantially equivalent out-of-state apprenticeship program plus exam and 3 years of practice). Per massagecompact.org (checked 2026-07-12), Utah does not currently have Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) legislation introduced, so compacts is empty.

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

Cost calculator

  • $60
  • $265
  • $75
Total$400

Frequently asked questions

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

A minimum of 600 hours from a school-based curriculum, or alternatively at least 1,000 hours through a supervised massage apprenticeship program.

Which exams do I need to pass?

Both the MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) and a separate Utah Massage Therapy Law and Rule Examination administered by Prov, Inc. ($75 each attempt).

How much does it cost to get licensed in Utah?

The DOPL application fee is $60, plus fingerprint background-check fees ($12 FBI + $20 BCI) and separate exam fees (MBLEx $265, Law & Rule exam $75).

How often do I need to renew my license, and is continuing education required?

Every two years. No continuing education hour requirement was found for massage therapist renewal in Utah. Renewal is $52.

Can I transfer my out-of-state massage therapy license to Utah?

Utah accepts 'equivalent education and training': graduation from an out-of-state school with at least 500 hours, passing the required exams, and at least 3 years of practice as a licensed massage therapist.

Sources

  1. [1] rules.utah.gov/publicat/code/r156/r156-47b.htm — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] commerce.utah.gov/dopl/massage-therapy/exam-information/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  4. [4] commerce.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fee-schedule.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  5. [5] commerce.utah.gov/dopl/massage-therapy/renew-a-license/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  6. [6] le.utah.gov/xcode/Title58/Chapter47B/C58-47b_1800010118000101.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12