StateLicensed

Massage Therapist License Requirements in West Virginia

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
625 hrs
Upfront cost
$615
Exam
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years
Issuing board
West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    High school diploma or equivalent (required for entry into an approved massage education program). No explicit numeric minimum-age requirement (e.g., '18 years old') was found in either W. Va. Code Section 30-37-7 or Legislative Rule 194CSR1 — minAge is null because the statute and rule do not state one, not because a figure is unpublished. No fingerprint-based criminal background check requirement was found in the current statute or rule; 194CSR1 Section 3.5.c requires disclosure of any pending or prior investigations/disciplinary actions in other states for reciprocal applicants, but this is a disclosure requirement, not an independent background check process. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 625 hours of training at a state-approved program. Per W. Va. Code Section 30-37-7(a)(1) (as amended in 2023) and Legislative Rule 194CSR1 Section 3.1.b.2: completion of a massage education program at a school approved by the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education (or an equivalent out-of-state/DC/territory approving agency), requiring a high school diploma or equivalent for entry and, as of July 1, 2023, at least 625 hours of supervised academic instruction (increased from a prior 500-hour standard). [1]

  3. 3

    MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination)

    Pass the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (fee: $265). Per W. Va. Code Section 30-37-7(a)(2), applicants may pass the MBLEx (FSMTB), the legacy NCTMB exam, or any other Board-approved exam. The Board's own homepage identifies the MBLEx as its 'newly approved Board examination' and links directly to fsmtb.org, noting NCBTMB 'no longer offers a national exam specifically for state licensure.' Note: the Board's current Legislative Rule 194CSR1 (filed May 2024) still contains older boilerplate language referencing 'successful completion of the NCBTMB exam prior to February 1, 2015,' which appears to be an un-updated holdover from before the MBLEx was approved — the statute and the Board's own homepage both confirm MBLEx is accepted for new applicants. The $265 fee is FSMTB's published current MBLEx fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board with the $50 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board issues your Licensed Massage Therapist for West Virginia.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $50
License fee [3] $300
Renewal fee [3] $200
MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) [2] $265
Late fee [3] $50
Duplicate or replacement license [3] $25
Certified statement (license verification) [3] $30
Re-application after lapse (60+ days past expiration) [3] $300

Per the Board's official Legislative Rule 194CSR4 (Schedule of Fees): Application fee $50.00 (non-refundable, paid by all applicants including reciprocal/reapplying applicants), 2-year license fee $300.00 (paid at initial or reciprocal application, separate from the $50 application fee), 2-year renewal fee $200.00. Late fee is $50.00 in addition to other required fees. The MBLEx exam fee ($265) is paid directly to FSMTB and tracked separately in the exams entry.

Renewal & continuing education

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

Per 194CSR1 Section 3.1.c and 3.2.c: a license expires two years from the end of the month it was issued, and renewal requires documentation of 24 continuing education units within the preceding two-year licensing period, conforming to NCBTMB, FSMTB, or Board-approved guidelines.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Per 194CSR1 Sections 3.4-3.6 and W. Va. Code Section 30-37-7(c)(2), the Board may issue a reciprocal license to applicants otherwise qualified for West Virginia licensure who submit a photocopy of their current/most recent out-of-state license, information on any pending or prior disciplinary actions from every state in which they are or were licensed, and documentation of continuing education completed in the preceding two years. Per massagecompact.org (checked 2026-07-12), West Virginia does not currently have Interstate Massage Compact (IMpact) legislation introduced, so compacts is empty.

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

Cost calculator

  • $50
  • $300
  • $265
Total$615

Frequently asked questions

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

At least 625 hours of supervised academic instruction from an approved program (increased from 500 hours as of July 1, 2023), from a school requiring a high school diploma or equivalent for entry.

What exam do I need to pass?

The MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards), which the Board's own website identifies as its currently approved exam, since NCBTMB no longer offers a national exam specifically for state licensure.

How much does it cost to get licensed in West Virginia?

A $50 application fee plus a $300 two-year license fee, plus the separate $265 MBLEx exam fee paid to FSMTB. Renewal every two years is $200.

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

Every two years, with 24 continuing education units required per cycle, conforming to NCBTMB, FSMTB, or Board-approved guidelines.

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

Yes, the Board may issue a reciprocal license to qualified out-of-state applicants who submit their current license, disciplinary history from every state they've held a license in, and proof of recent continuing education.

Sources

  1. [1] wvmassage.org/194%20CSR%201.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] fsmtb.org/mblex-faqs/ — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] wvmassage.org/194%20CSR%2004%20Emergency%20Fees.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12