How to get a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license in Florida

Florida massage therapist licenses

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

Applies to every license level

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

Fees

How to apply

Apply online

flhealthsource.gov⁷

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years⁵

Renew online

flhealthsource.gov⁷

Who needs a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

Manipulating the body's soft tissues with hand, foot, knee, arm or elbow, with or without hydrotherapy (including colonic irrigation, which needs separate certification), thermal therapy, electrical or mechanical devices, or chemical/herbal preparations.¹

Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

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

Minimum age

18 years old³

High school diploma or GED

Not required³

Education or training

At least 500 clock hours²

The board's words

“Complete a course of study at a board approved massage school consisting of 500 or more clock hours.”

Alternative: Graduates of schools outside the US submit a credential evaluation of the transcript.²
Alternative: Massage apprenticeships ended: apprentices licensed before July 1, 2020 had to finish by July 1, 2023.³

Exam

Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx); older NCBTMB exams (NCETM, NCETMB, NESL) and the pre-1996 Florida state exam are also accepted²
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)²
When you can take it: FSMTB sends scores directly to the Board; applicants do not submit score reports.²

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required²
Mandatory denial for listed felonies (kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual battery, prostitution-related and child-exploitation offenses, etc.); other convictions may go to Board review.²

How much a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license costs

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “Total”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

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

How to apply

1. Complete a 500-hour course at a Board-approved massage school (including the 10-hour Florida laws and rules course) and pass the MBLEx.²
2. Apply online through the MQA Services portal (form DH-MQA 1115) and pay $155.⁷ flhealthsource.gov⁷
3. Get Livescan fingerprints with the Board's ORI number at an FDLE-approved provider.²
4. Have the school send the official transcript and FSMTB send scores directly to the Board; answer any deficiency letter.²

Processing time

Initial applications must be reviewed within 30 days; documents sent after initial review are updated within 14 business days of receipt. MOBILE endorsement licenses issue within 7 days of a complete file.⁵

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Expires August 31 of odd-numbered years; current licenses expire August 31, 2027.⁶

Continuing education

24 hours each renewal period⁶

Required topics

12 classroom hours in person, hands-on, on massage techniques, skills and protocols⁸
2 hours prevention of medical errors⁸
2 hours Florida laws and rules (ch. 456, 480, 64B7)⁸
2 hours professional ethics⁸
1 hour human trafficking awareness⁸
5 general hours⁸
First renewal: 1 hour per month or partial month licensed, including 2 hours medical errors and 1 hour human trafficking⁸

Approved courses

All CE must be from a Board-approved provider and reported in CE Broker before renewal.⁸

Exemptions

Laws/rules and ethics hours can be met by attending an in-person Board meeting; up to 6 hours by pre-approved pro bono service.⁶
Spouses of armed-forces members absent from Florida for 6+ months due to the spouse's duties are exempt from renewal provisions.⁸

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $205⁴
Late renewal fee (120 day Notified Delinquent: Active to Active): $310⁶
Reinstatement fee: $205⁴ (reactivating an inactive license at renewal (before expiration))
Fingerprint and state background check: $43.25⁶ (collected at renewal only if fingerprint retention expires during the cycle)

If it expires

Unrenewed licenses become delinquent; a delinquent license not renewed by the end of the cycle is null and void and the person must reapply.⁶
Licenses become null and void September 1, 2027 for the current cycle.⁶

Moving to Florida with a license from another state

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

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Armed-forces licensing help is through the DOH Office of Veteran Licensure Services; spouses absent with the military are exempt from renewal provisions.⁸

Licensed Massage Establishment

Any site or premises (or part of one) where a massage therapist practices massage therapy; one license per location, not transferable to a new owner entity.¹

Requirements

Background check

Background check required⁹
Fingerprints required¹⁰
License denied if an owner or designated manager has a prostitution-related conviction or listed felony.⁹

Insurance

Property damage and bodily injury liability insurance for the location (declarations page naming the establishment).¹¹

Business requirements

Business entities must name a Designated Establishment Manager who holds an active, unrestricted massage therapist license.¹⁰

Business requirements

Division of Corporations filings (and any fictitious-name registration) must be correct before applying.¹⁰

Also required

Must pass a Department inspection before the license is issued.¹¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge, except the line “TOTAL FEE”, which is the board’s own combined figure for other charges; do not add it to the other lines.

How to apply

1. Register the business (and any d/b/a) with the Division of Corporations, get liability insurance and, for entities, name a Designated Establishment Manager.¹⁰
2. Apply on form DH-MQA 1263 (online or by mail) and pay $255; owners complete Livescan screening.¹¹ flhealthsource.gov⁷
3. Pass the field inspection; a regional inspector will call to schedule it.¹⁰
4. License is mailed 7-10 business days after passing inspection.¹⁰

Renewal

When it expires

Current establishment licenses expire August 31, 2027.¹²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $180⁴

From another state

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 Florida, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Florida is on the Florida license lookup page.

Look up a license

mqa-internet.doh.state.fl.us¹³

File a complaint

floridahealth.gov¹³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Fla. Stat. ch. 480 (Massage Practice Act), incl. 480.033, 480.041, 480.0415, 480.044
• Fla. Stat. 456.0145 (MOBILE endorsement)
• Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B7-25.001, 64B7-25.004, 64B7-28.0043, 64B7-28.009, 64B7-32.003
• Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B7-27.100
• Fla. Stat. 480.043 (massage establishments)
• Fla. Admin. Code R. 64B7-26.002 (Licensure of Massage Establishments)

Rule changes since January 2024

• November 23, 2025: Rule 64B7-25.004 (endorsement, MOBILE form DH-MQA-5103 rev. 7/2025) and the school curriculum rule 64B7-32.003 amended.¹⁴

Common questions

Massage therapist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• 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