How to get a Licensed Massage Therapist license in Arizona

Who needs a Licensed Massage Therapist license

Massage therapy (manual compression, stretch, vibration or mobilization of soft tissue, joint movement and hydrotherapy) applied to a person for a fee; excludes diagnosis, medical procedures, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and other licensed professions' modalities.⁹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Licensed health professionals working within their own scope, if they do not claim to be massage therapists.¹
• Students in supervised clinical education at an approved school.¹
• Out-of-state therapists teaching or attending an educational seminar in Arizona.¹
• Movement educators and energy-field practitioners when the client is fully clothed.¹

Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist license

Minimum age

18 years old⁴

High school diploma or GED

Required⁴

Education or training

At least 700 clock hours²
Massage therapy course of classroom and clinical hours of supervised instruction at a board-recognized school²
Who may teach it: Board-recognized school: approved by the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education, a community college, a career technical education district program, or a school accredited by a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency; out-of-state schools approved by a similar agency.¹⁰
Alternative: Applicants holding current NCBTMB certification may qualify by reciprocity with a minimum of 500 school hours.³

Exam

MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) or NCBTMB examination (BCETMB)³
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (MBLEx); National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (BCETMB)¹¹

Background check

Background check required⁴
Fingerprints required³
Applicant must not have, within five years before applying, a misdemeanor conviction for prostitution, solicitation or a similar offense of moral turpitude related to massage; the board may deny for acts that would be grounds for discipline.⁴

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or legal resident; documentation of citizenship or alien status required.⁴

Social Security number

Social Security number on the application form.²

Also required

Applicants whose native language is not English must pass the internet-based TOEFL (25 in each section) or the TOEIC within 24 months before applying.²

Also required

One-time waiver of the $195 application fee for first-time applicants with family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.³

Also required

Passport-quality photo taken within 60 days.³

How much a Licensed Massage Therapist license costs

You pay the Board of Massage Therapy (3 fees) and Arizona Department of Public Safety (fingerprint and state background check).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Complete at least 700 hours at a board-recognized massage school (500 hours plus current NCBTMB certification for the certification route).³
2. If you trained outside Arizona, pass the MBLEx or the NCBTMB board certification exam and have the score sent to the board.³
3. Get a DPS fingerprint clearance card and an FD-258 fingerprint card for the board's state and federal records check.³
4. Apply and pay online through the board's licensing portal (Click to Apply), uploading your photo, proof of citizenship or lawful status and any professional-conduct documents.¹² azsbmt.portalus.thentiacloud.net¹²
5. Have your school send transcripts, and have every state where you were licensed send a verification, directly to the board.³
6. Answer any deficiency letter; an incomplete application stays pending for up to 365 days.¹¹

Apply online

azsbmt.portalus.thentiacloud.net¹²

Application form

drive.google.com¹³

Processing time

Rule time-frame: 120 days overall (60 administrative completeness + 60 substantive review) for a regular or reciprocity license; the board says the fingerprint review takes 8-10 weeks.¹¹

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years⁵

When it expires

Renew every other year on your birthday; the board sends notice at least 60 days before expiration.⁵

Renewal fee

$95²

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period²

Required topics

Up to 12 hours may be distance learning; no carry-over between renewal periods.²
CPR and First Aid count for up to 4 hours each (8 hours combined) per renewal period.²
Teaching at a board-recognized school: 1 CE hour per 8 hours taught, up to 10 hours.²

Approved courses

Approved CE: courses by NCCA-accredited or NCBTMB-approved organizations, Arizona community-college or Board for Private Postsecondary Education-approved massage schools, and accredited out-of-state institutions or massage schools.²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $40²
Reinstatement fee: $125² (lapsed license)

If it expires

An expired license may be renewed with the renewal fee plus delinquency fee; a lapsed license may be reinstated with the renewal and reinstatement fees, with proof of CE.¹⁴
After more than three consecutive years lapsed you must reapply and show competency (internship, remedial courses or exam at the board's discretion).¹⁴
The board audits at least 10% of active licenses for CE each year.²

Renew online

azsbmt.portalus.thentiacloud.net¹²

Moving to Arizona with a license from another state

These are the routes the Board of Massage Therapy publishes for the Licensed Massage Therapist license.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a massage therapist in Arizona, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Arizona is on the Arizona license lookup page.

Look up a license

azsbmt.portalus.thentiacloud.net¹²

File a complaint

massagetherapy.az.gov¹²

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 42 (32-4201 to 32-4260)
• A.R.S. 32-4222 (qualifications)
• A.R.S. 32-4223 (reciprocity)
• A.R.S. 32-4225 (renewal; continuing education)
• A.R.S. 32-4227
• A.A.C. Title 4, Ch. 15 (R4-15-101 to R4-15-401)
• A.A.C. R4-15-102
• A.R.S. 32-4302 (universal recognition; military spouses)

Common questions

Massage therapist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin