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How to get a Massage Therapist license in District of Columbia

District of Columbia licenses massage therapists statewide through the Board of Massage Therapy.1 For the Massage Therapist license you need at least 500 clock hours2 of education, at least 50 clock hours2 of experience, a passing score on the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA- or FSMTB-certified exam approved by the Board3 and a criminal background check4. The board lists $85 for the application5 and $177 for the initial license5, each a separate charge. You renew every 2 years6 and complete at least 14 hours of continuing education6.

Last checked · 18 official sources

Who issues it

Board of Massage Therapy

Training and experience

Training: at least 500 clock hours2
Experience: at least 50 clock hours2

Exam

National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA- or FSMTB-certified exam approved by the Board3

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $855
Initial license fee: $1775
FBI background check: $505

Renewal

Every 2 years6, at least 14 hours of continuing education6

From another state

License by endorsement7 Details

On this page
  1. District of Columbia massage therapist licenses
  2. Applies to every license level
  3. Who needs a Massage Therapist license
  4. Requirements for a Massage Therapist license
  5. How much a Massage Therapist license costs
  6. How to apply
  7. Renewal and continuing education
  8. Moving to District of Columbia with a license from another state
  9. Massage Establishment
  10. Check a license or report a problem
  11. Laws and rules
  12. Rule changes since January 2024
  13. Common questions
  14. Massage therapist licenses in other states

District of Columbia massage therapist licenses

District of Columbia issues 2 massage therapist credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

LicenseWhat it coversTraining or experienceExamApplication or license fee
Massage Establishment–––$998
Massage TherapistTherapeutic maneuvers applying massage techniques by hand or limb (tapping, stroking, kneading, compression, friction, stretching, vibrating, holding, positioning, movement), adjunctive heat, cold, water and mild abrasives, and teaching massage techniques; no diagnosis, prescribing or spinal adjustment.9Training 500 clock hours2
Experience 50 clock hours2		Yes3$855

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every District of Columbia massage therapist license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Renewal

How often
Every 2 years68

Who needs a Massage Therapist license

Therapeutic maneuvers applying massage techniques by hand or limb (tapping, stroking, kneading, compression, friction, stretching, vibrating, holding, positioning, movement), adjunctive heat, cold, water and mild abrasives, and teaching massage techniques; no diagnosis, prescribing or spinal adjustment.9

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • Incidental soft-tissue manipulation while mainly practicing another qualified modality is not massage therapy.10
  • Students may practice only under a supervisor; a first-time applicant may practice for 90 days under a supervisor while the application is pending.11

Requirements for a Massage Therapist license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age
18 years old12
Education or training
At least 500 clock hours2
Massage therapy program of at least 500 in-class hours (100+ in anatomy, physiology and kinesiology; at least 3 in professional ethics), lasting at least 6 months, at a school licensed by the DC Educational Licensing Commission (or another state) and COMTA-approved or accredited by ACCET, ACCSCT, another USDE-recognized accreditor or a regional body. Correspondence and online courses are not recognized.2
Who may teach it: School licensed by the DC Educational Licensing Commission (or, at the Board's discretion, another state's licensing authority) and COMTA-approved or accredited by ACCET, ACCSCT, another USDE-recognized accreditor or a regional body.2
Alternative: Foreign-educated applicants may qualify if an evaluation shows substantially equivalent education and training.13
Experience
At least 50 clock hours2
Only if applying more than 2 years after finishing education and exam: 50 hours of supervised clinical training, including at least 25 client-contact hours in the 4 months before applying.2
Supervision: Under the charge of a supervisor (a DC-licensed massage therapist in good standing).14
Exam
National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) or another NCCA- or FSMTB-certified exam approved by the Board3
Given by: NCBTMB or another Board-approved testing service3
When you can take it: Scores must be sent directly from the national exam agency to the Board.15
Background check
Background check required4
Fingerprints required4
Applicants must explain any "YES" answer to screening or Clean Hands questions with court and other records.15
Social Security number
SSN, or a sworn affidavit of no SSN plus proof of citizenship/immigration status.15
Also required
Current CPR and first-aid certification is required with the application.2
Also required
Passport-type 2x2 photo and a government photo ID are uploaded with the application.15

How much a Massage Therapist license costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$855Board of Massage Therapy–
Initial license fee$1775Board of Massage Therapy–
FBI background check$505Board of Massage Therapy–
Other fee$31215Board of Massage TherapyTotal due online with a new application
Duplicate or replacement license$345Board of Massage Therapy–
License verification to another state$345Board of Massage Therapy–

Some lines are combined figures, or parts of one; do not add the lines up.

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

How to apply

  1. Finish a 500-hour massage program (at least 6 months) at an approved, accredited school and pass the NCETMB or another Board-approved national exam.3
  2. Apply online on the DC Health licensing portal; paper applications are no longer accepted.1 dohenterprise.my.site.com1
  3. Upload photo, ID, CPR/first-aid card and any name-change papers; pay $312 ($85 application, $177 license, $50 background check) and book fingerprints with FieldPrint through the portal.15
  4. Have the school send an official transcript and the exam body send scores directly to the Board ([email protected] or by mail).15
  5. Endorsement applicants also arrange license verifications from every state ever licensed and an NPDB self-query no older than 30 days.15
Temporary or provisional license
No temporary license; a first-time applicant may practice under a supervisor for up to 90 days using a one-time supervised practice form filed 2 weeks before starting (max 3 applicants per supervisor).16

Renewal and continuing education

Continuing education
At least 14 hours each renewal period6
Required topics
3 hours professional ethics6
9 hours massage-related course work, 6 of them hands-on massage technique in a live classroom6
2 hours LGBTQ continuing education6
10% of required CE in the Director's public health priority subjects6
Current CPR and first-aid certificates (CPR taken in a live classroom) at every renewal; these do not count as CE.17
Approved courses
Programs must be Board-approved: run or approved by a recognized massage organization, NCBTMB, health-care organization or accredited college, or pre-approved by the Board; NCBTMB approval alone does not guarantee DC credit.18
Exemptions
No CE for the first renewal.6
One-time transition: 50% of CE accepted for licensees with less than 2 years on their license during the move to birth-month renewal (LGBTQ 2 hours and 10% public-health hours still required).1
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $855
Reinstatement fee: $2295

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your District of Columbia Massage Therapist license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to District of Columbia with a license from another state

These are the routes the Board of Massage Therapy publishes for the Massage Therapist license. The other massage therapist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
DC licenses by endorsement applicants licensed elsewhere under substantially equivalent standards who have stayed in good standing; the same checklist applies plus license verifications from every state and an NPDB self-query.7
Conditions
License verification sent directly from each state where any license was ever held.15
Fee
$855

Massage Establishment

Requirements

Background check
Background check required8
Also required
Certificate of Occupancy8
Also required
Corporate registration (if applicable)8
Also required
Proof of a massage therapy license8
Also required
DC tax registration8

Fees

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Initial license fee (2-year license)$998DLCP–
Initial license fee (4-year license)$1988DLCP4-year term

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

How to apply

  1. Gather a Certificate of Occupancy, corporate registration (if any), police criminal history report, proof of massage therapy license and DC tax registration.8
  2. Apply online through DLCP's BOSS system and pay the 2-year ($99) or 4-year ($198) fee.8

From another state

Route
No reciprocity

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

File a complaint
dchealth.dc.gov1

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • June 16, 2024: DC Health moved all professional licenses to a birth-month renewal cycle.1

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Massage Therapist license in District of Columbia?

The rules set at least 500 clock hours2 and at least 50 clock hours2 before you can be licensed. The board does not publish how long it takes to process an application.

Can I transfer my massage therapist license to District of Columbia?

The Board of Massage Therapy publishes this route for the Massage Therapist license: license by endorsement7. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Massage Therapist license in District of Columbia?

Every 2 years6. Continuing education: at least 14 hours6.

Massage therapist licenses in other states

Sources

Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.

  1. Massage Therapy LicensingDC Health, Board of Massage TherapyChecked November 7, 2026
  2. 17 DCMR 7502 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated September 14, 2007Checked November 7, 2026
  3. 17 DCMR 7504 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated September 14, 2007Checked November 7, 2026
  4. Criminal Background CheckDC HealthChecked November 7, 2026
  5. 17 DCMR 3500 FeesOffice of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances (DCMR)Checked November 8, 2026
  6. 17 DCMR 7506 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated June 7, 2019Checked November 7, 2026
  7. D.C. Code § 3-1205.07 Reciprocity and endorsementCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  8. Massage Establishment (Basic Business License activity)DC Department of Licensing and Consumer ProtectionChecked November 7, 2026
  9. D.C. Code 3-1201.02 DefinitionsCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  10. 17 DCMR 7510 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesChecked November 7, 2026
  11. 17 DCMR 7511 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesChecked November 7, 2026
  12. D.C. Code 3-1205.03 General qualificationsCouncil of the District of ColumbiaChecked November 7, 2026
  13. 17 DCMR 7503 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesChecked November 7, 2026
  14. 17 DCMR 7599 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesChecked November 7, 2026
  15. Board of Massage Therapy Checklist (new license application)DC Health, Board of Massage TherapyDated May 20, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  16. 17 DCMR 7515 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesChecked November 7, 2026
  17. 17 DCMR 7512 (Massage Therapy)DC Office of Documents and Administrative IssuancesDated December 11, 2015Checked November 7, 2026
  18. Massage Therapy Continuing Education Policy - Approved by NCBTMBDC Health, Board of Massage TherapyDated March 17, 2016Checked November 7, 2026