How to get an Establishment Registration in Louisiana

Louisiana massage therapist licenses

Louisiana issues 4 massage therapist credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Rules shared by several license levels

These rules are the same for several of the Louisiana massage therapist licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level except Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)

From another state

2. Every license level except Provisional License

Renewal

How often

Every year²⁹

3. Every license level except Establishment Registration (solo practitioner)

Fees

4. Establishment Registration (solo practitioner) and Massage Establishment License

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100¹⁰¹¹

Who needs an Establishment Registration

For a licensed massage therapist who rents space or contracts a room in someone else's business; each such therapist registers separately.²

Work that does not need this license:

• Home-based and mobile therapists do not need an establishment license or registration.²

Requirements for an Establishment Registration

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 4 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Experience

Must already hold a Louisiana massage therapist license.²
License you must hold first: Louisiana Licensed Massage Therapist¹²

How to apply

1. Mail the Establishment Registration application with ID and business documents (no fee).¹² Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹³

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$0²

Provisional License

Three-month, non-renewable license for Louisiana-school graduates to work only at the registered establishment named on the license, under a licensed massage therapist, while they pass the national exam; clients must be told of the provisional status.³

Requirements

Education or training

Graduation on or after August 1, 2026 from a state-approved Louisiana-based massage therapy school.³

Exam

National exam (MBLEx) to be passed within the three-month term³
Not required³

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required¹⁴

Fees

How to apply

1. Mail the Provisional application with the $75 fee and IdentoGO background check.³ Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹⁵
2. Within 45 days of approval, mail the Provisional License Registration / supervision agreement signed by the sponsoring licensed therapist, with the $31.25 registration fee.³ Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹⁶
3. Pass the national exam before the license expires and apply as a new applicant for the full license.¹⁶

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)

Manipulation of soft tissue to maintain good health and physical condition; includes advertising or holding oneself out as a massage therapist or establishment.⁵

Requirements

Exam

MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) or another board-approved national exam (NCBTMB)¹⁷
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)¹⁷
Time limit: The exam must have been passed within two years of the date the license application is filed (rule; also in the pre-2024 statutory text).⁶
Exam waived: Exam and education requirements do not apply to holders of a substantially equivalent license from another state, to military members/spouses with an equivalent license, or to persons continuously licensed since March 1, 1998.⁶

Background check

Background check required⁶
Fingerprints required¹⁴
No nonviolent felony conviction in the 5 years before applying and never a violent felony or sexual-misconduct offense; the board weighs nature, time elapsed and rehabilitation.⁶
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹⁴

Residency or citizenship

Must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident able to read, write, speak and understand English fluently.⁶

Social Security number

The application form asks for a Social Security number.⁷

Also required

A license application stays valid and pending for up to 45 days and then expires (a new application is needed); approved applicants must register their license within 45 days of approval or repeat the application process.¹⁸

Fees

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. Book an IdentoGO fingerprint appointment using the board's service code 27N68S for the state and federal background check.¹⁴
2. Mail the paper New Applicant application with the $75 money order or cashier's check, original certified transcript sent by the school, exam score sent by the exam agency, a 2x2 passport photo and a government ID. Online applications are not available.¹⁵ Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹⁵
3. After approval, register the license within 45 days by mailing the Professional License Registration form with the pro-rated license fee ($125, $80 or $75 depending on the month).¹⁶ Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹⁶
4. Work only at a board-licensed establishment or registered solo-practitioner location (home and mobile therapists are exempt), and carry your LMT-ID card.¹³

Application form

Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹⁵

Processing time

Background-check results reach the board in about 3 days (Livescan) or 7 days (mailed cards); the board publishes no overall application processing time.¹⁴

Renewal

When it expires

All professional licenses expire March 31 each year regardless of issue date.¹⁸

Renewal fee

$125²⁰

Continuing education

At least 12 hours each renewal period¹⁸

Approved courses

CE must be board-registered courses with an LCEU# from a provider registered with the board; association transcripts are not accepted; one CE hour = at least 50 minutes.²¹

Exemptions

No CE is required during the first 12 months after first licensure in Louisiana.¹⁸
Licensees on active military duty may apply for a CE waiver.¹⁸

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100²¹ (renewal received or postmarked after March 31)

If it expires

An unrenewed license expires; within 24 months it can be reinstated with the renewal fee plus the $100 late fee, a renewal application, and evidence of completed continuing education and of having passed the national exam (R.S. 37:3557).⁹
After more than 24 months unrenewed (and not inactive) the license lapses: file a new application meeting current requirements with 24 hours of CE.⁹
Inactive status is available for up to five years; returning to active needs the renewal fee and 24 CE hours from the previous two years.¹⁸

Renew online

labmt.org²¹

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 2 and group 3 under Rules shared by several license levels.

Massage Establishment License

Required for business locations where massage is practiced (other than home/mobile therapists and physician, PT, chiropractic or athletic settings); obtained by the entity controlling the premises; may employ only licensed therapists.¹

Requirements

Background check

Background check required¹³
Fingerprints required⁸
Owners/operators with sexual-misconduct or prostitution convictions are ineligible.²⁵

Business requirements

Proof of the right to possess the premises (lease, deed or landlord letter of intent) and Secretary of State entity documents / IRS EIN letter.⁸

Business requirements

Sexually oriented businesses may not register or operate as massage establishments; premises may not be used as sleeping quarters unless zoned residential.¹

Also required

Establishments are subject to board inspections and a fines schedule.¹³

Fees

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. Have each registered owner complete the IdentoGO background check.¹³
2. Mail the Establishment application with the $75 fee, owner IDs, premises documentation and entity papers.⁸ Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹³
3. Register the establishment license within 45 days of approval with the pro-rated registration fee.¹⁶ Form (PDF, labmt.org)¹⁶

Renewal

When it expires

Expires March 31 each year; renewal season January 1-March 31.¹¹

Renewal fee

$100¹¹

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3 and group 4 under Rules shared by several license levels.

City and county rules

Establishment Registration (solo practitioner)State law supersedes local licensing of massage therapists and establishments; parishes and cities may still apply zoning rules and occupational license taxes, but may not add educational requirements or licensing fees.²⁷

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

labmt.org²⁸

File a complaint

labmt.org²⁸

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• La. R.S. 37:3558(A)(2)
• La. R.S. 37:3551 et seq. (Louisiana Massage Therapists and Massage Establishments Act), incl. 37:3556 qualifications
• La. R.S. 37:3562
• La. R.S. 37:3561 (renewal)
• La. R.S. 37:3558 (massage establishments)
• La. R.S. 37:3562(A)(5)-(7)

Rule changes since January 2024

• August 1, 2026: Board law copy updated 8/1/2026 and new 7_2026 application forms; provisional license re-offered to Louisiana graduates from August 1, 2026.²⁵

Common questions

Massage therapist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
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• District of Columbia
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