California has no state massage therapist license
California does not issue a state license for massage therapists.1 Cities and counties set their own rules; this page lists what San Diego and San Francisco require.
On this page
Is there a California massage therapist license?
No. California does not license massage therapists at the state level.1
- Certification is voluntary statewide; it lets the holder practice in every city and county without a separate local permit to provide massage.1
The official wording“Certification is voluntary. CAMTC Certification is not required by State Law in order for a massage professional to practice their profession in the State.”1
California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), nonprofit council established by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602
City and county licenses
California has no state license for massage. Cities and counties regulate massage: some require CAMTC certification, others issue their own practitioner permits to people who are not CAMTC-certified. State law (Gov. Code 51034(c)(9)) bars a city or county from requiring a CAMTC-certified person to get any other license or permit to give massage, but cities may still license massage businesses.1
| City or county | What it requires | Link |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | A San Diego police massage therapist permit is required (500 hours from a CAMTC-approved school, fingerprints, age 18) unless the person holds CAMTC state certification; massage establishments need a separate permit.2 | Official page2 |
| San Francisco | San Francisco requires every massage practitioner to hold CAMTC certification; the Department of Public Health issues establishment, sole-practitioner and outcall permits (application fee, annual license fee) to businesses.3 | Official page3 |
Other rules: Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP)
- Background check
- Background check required4
- Also required
- Existing CMPs renew without extra education; holders of a conditional CMP certificate had to finish 250 total education hours (30 a year) within five years.5
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversion/Upgrade from CMP to CMT | $606 | California Massage Therapy Council | CMP who qualifies (500 hours) and upgrades to CMT |
| Duplicate or replacement license | $306 | California Massage Therapy Council | Extra original certificate (one must be displayed at each work location) |
| Duplicate or replacement license | $306 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| Name Change | $456 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| Name Change with Application for Recertification | $106 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| License verification to another state | $306 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| BRD Hearing – Telephonic/Oral | $2706 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| BRD Hearing – Written Statement | $1806 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| Hearing ‐ Recording | $506 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
| Returned Check/Chargeback | $506 | California Massage Therapy Council | – |
Each line is a separate charge, listed by the city or county named in its notes; they are not added up.
Other rules: Certified Massage Therapist (CMT)
- Minimum age
- 18 years old7
- Education or training
- At least 500 clock hours7
Massage curriculum of at least 500 hours (or credit-unit equivalent) from CAMTC-approved schools, including at least 100 hours of anatomy and physiology, contraindications, health and hygiene, and business and ethics7
Who may teach it: All hours must come from schools approved by CAMTC (BPPE-approved, DCA-approved, WASC-accredited institutions, state higher-education colleges, or out-of-state schools recognized by their state or accredited by a USDE-recognized agency); official transcripts go directly from the school to CAMTC.1
Alternative: Out-of-state education is accepted if substantially equivalent and the school is recognized by a corresponding agency in that state or accredited by a USDE-recognized agency.1
Alternative: Education from schools closed on or before June 30, 2016 can be accepted under CAMTC's closed school policy.1 - Also required
- Photo ID copy and a recent 2x2 passport photo must accompany the application.1
- Also required
- Holders must display the original certificate at each place they give massage and include their certificate number in advertising.9
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $30010 | California Massage Therapy Council | Not refundable |
| Fingerprint and state background check | $80 to $9010 | Live Scan service provider | – |
Each line is a separate charge, listed by the city or county named in its notes; they are not added up.
Check a license or report a problem
Before you hire a massage therapist in California, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in California is on the California license lookup page.
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4600-4621 (Massage Therapy Act)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4604 (CMT requirements)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602(i)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4605 (two-year renewal)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4606 (fingerprints)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4611 (title protection)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4612 (local regulation)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4621 (repeal January 1, 2030)
- Cal. Gov. Code 51034 (limits on local massage regulation)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4604.1, 4604.2 (CMP)
Rule changes since January 2024
- January 1, 2026: AB 1504 (Stats. 2025, ch. 197) amended the Massage Therapy Act from January 1, 2026; the act now runs until January 1, 2030, and schools must tell graduates the competency exam is not required for CAMTC certification.12
Massage therapist licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- 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
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Requirements to CertifyCalifornia Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), nonprofit council established by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602Checked November 7, 2026
- SDMC Ch. 3 Art. 3 Div. 35 Massage Business and Massage Therapists (1-2020)City of San Diego (San Diego Municipal Code)Checked November 7, 2026
- Apply to operate a massage establishmentCity and County of San Francisco, Department of Public Health, Environmental HealthChecked November 7, 2026
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 4606California Legislative CounselDated September 18, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 4604.1California Legislative CounselDated January 1, 2015Checked November 7, 2026
- CAMTC Fee ScheduleCalifornia Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), nonprofit council established by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602Checked November 7, 2026
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 4604California Legislative CounselDated January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- FAQsCalifornia Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), nonprofit council established by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602Checked November 7, 2026
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 4608California Legislative CounselDated January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- CAMTC Application for Certification (April 3, 2026)California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), nonprofit council established by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602Checked November 7, 2026
- Verify CertificationCalifornia Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), nonprofit council established by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 4602Checked November 7, 2026
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 4621California Legislative CounselDated January 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026