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How to get a Massage Therapist license in Indiana

Indiana licenses massage therapists statewide through the State Board of Massage Therapy.1 For the Massage Therapist license you need at least 625 clock hours1 of education, a passing score on the One of: MBLEx, NCETM, NCBTMB exam, or NBCA National Certification Examination1 and a criminal background check2. The board lists $100 for the application1.

Last checked · 3 official sources

Who issues it

State Board of Massage Therapy

Training and experience

Training: at least 625 clock hours1

Exam

One of: MBLEx, NCETM, NCBTMB exam, or NBCA National Certification Examination1

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $1001
FBI background check: $38.202

From another state

Military service members and spouses3 Details

On this page
  1. Requirements for a Massage Therapist license
  2. How much a Massage Therapist license costs
  3. How to apply
  4. Renewal and continuing education
  5. Moving to Indiana with a license from another state
  6. Check a license or report a problem
  7. Laws and rules
  8. Common questions
  9. Massage therapist licenses in other states

Requirements for a Massage Therapist license

High school diploma or GED
Required1
Education or training
At least 625 clock hours1
Completion of a massage therapy program of at least 625 hours, shown on an official transcript; Indiana-approved schools are listed in the DWD INTraining directory. Foreign graduates need an IERF credential evaluation prepared for Indiana.1
Who may teach it: Indiana-approved schools are listed in the Department of Workforce Development INTraining directory.1
Exam
One of: MBLEx, NCETM, NCBTMB exam, or NBCA National Certification Examination1
Given by: FSMTB (MBLEx), NCBTMB (NCETM / NCBTMB exam) or NBCA (NCE), as listed by the board1
Background check
Background check required2
Fingerprints required2
Applicants who answer "yes" to any application question must give a full written statement and court documents; such applications are reviewed by the Board. Fingerprints must be taken after the application is submitted.1
Social Security number
A U.S. Social Security number is mandatory; the application is denied without it.1
Insurance
Professional liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 per claim and $6,000,000 aggregate; proof is required with the application and each renewal.1
Also required
Verification of every health-related license held in another state, sent directly by that state (not county or city permits).1
Also required
An application left incomplete for one year is abandoned.1

How much a Massage Therapist license costs

You pay the State Board of Massage Therapy (application fee) and IdentoGo (IDEMIA) (FBI background check).

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$1001State Board of Massage TherapyNot refundable
FBI background check$38.202IdentoGo (IDEMIA)–

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. Finish a massage therapy program of at least 625 hours (high school diploma or equivalent also required).1
  2. Pass one of the accepted national exams (MBLEx, NCETM, NCBTMB or NBCA NCE) and have the exam body send your result directly to PLA.1
  3. Buy professional liability insurance ($2M per claim / $6M aggregate) and upload the certificate.1
  4. Apply online through PLA (mylicense.in.gov) and pay the $100 non-refundable application fee by card; upload transcripts and any name-change documents.1 mylicense.in.gov1
  5. After PLA confirms receipt, book fingerprints with IdentoGo using service code 24YB4V ($38.20).2
  6. Have any other state where you hold a health license send verification directly to PLA.1
Apply online
mylicense.in.gov1
Temporary or provisional license
No temporary massage license is listed; military spouses/dependents may get a provisional license under IC 25-1-17 (PLA military page).3

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires
All massage therapist licenses expire May 15 every fourth year (2025, 2029, 2033); notices go out about 90 days before.1
Renewal fee
$1501 (Every four years (quadrennial))
Continuing education
At least 24 hours each renewal period1
Required topics
2 hours in ethics (may include boundaries and safety); business management limited to 3 hours per quadrennium.1
Pro-rated CE for licenses held less than the full cycle: 12 months or less none; 13-24 months 12 hours; 25-36 months 18 hours; 37-48 months 24 hours.1
Approved courses
Only board-approved activities count; hours cannot be carried over. A current NCBTMB Board Certification (BCTMB) can be submitted to meet Indiana CE.1
Exemptions
No CE if the license was valid 12 months or less in the cycle.1
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $1501 (renewing after the May 15 expiration (less than 3 years expired))
Total reinstatement fee: $2501 (license expired three or more years)
If it expires
A license expired three or more years must be reinstated online with a work-history letter, insurance and CE for the expired period (10 years or more expired: 40 hours incl. 2 ethics); total fee $250.1
Renew online
mylicense.in.gov1

Renewal planner

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

Moving to Indiana with a license from another state

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

Route
Military service members and spouses
What the board says
Military members, spouses and dependents with a substantially equivalent license held at least one year may be licensed under IC 25-1-17; a provisional license without exam is available to spouses/dependents of service members assigned to Indiana.3

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
mylicense.in.gov1
File a complaint
in.gov1

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Massage Therapist license in Indiana?

The rules set at least 625 clock hours1 before you can be licensed. The board does not publish how long it takes to process an application.

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. PLA: Massage Therapy Licensing InformationIndiana Professional Licensing AgencyChecked November 8, 2026
  2. PLA: Criminal Background ChecksIndiana Professional Licensing AgencyChecked November 8, 2026
  3. PLA: Military ExperienceIndiana Professional Licensing AgencyChecked November 5, 2026