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How to get a Massage Therapist license in Maine

Maine licenses massage therapists statewide through the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation.1 For the Massage Therapist license you need at least 500 clock hours2 of education and a criminal background check3. The board lists $40 for the initial license3. You renew every year4.

Last checked · 14 official sources

Who issues it

Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Training and experience

Training: at least 500 clock hours2

Exam

Not required5

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee: $403

Renewal

Every year4

From another state

License by endorsement6 Details

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

Who needs a Massage Therapist license

Scientific or skillful manipulation of soft tissue for therapeutic or remedial purposes; excludes manipulation of the spine or joints.3

Work that does not need this license:

  • Other state-licensed professionals (physicians, chiropractors, PTs, cosmetologists, RNs) are exempt if they do not use the massage therapist title.7
  • Rolfing, Trager, reflexology, Shiatsu, Reiki and polarity practitioners are exempt unless they use the title or choose to be licensed.7

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • Unlicensed use of the title is subject to the penalties in 10 MRSA 8003-C.8

Requirements for a Massage Therapist license

Minimum age
18 years old5
High school diploma or GED
Required5
Education or training
At least 500 clock hours2
Either pass the national exam OR complete a department-approved training course of 500 or more hours (one of the two routes is required). Approved curricula need 500 supervised clock hours of classroom and clinical instruction, including 120 hours anatomy/physiology/pathology and 100 hours supervised hands-on practice, plus current First Aid/CPR (not counted in the 500).2
Who may teach it: Course must be approved by the Department; schools can seek pre-approval to be placed on the Program Approved Massage Schools list.9
Alternative: Passing the NCBTMB or FSMTB exam substitutes for the 500-hour course.5
Exam
NCBTMB exam or FSMTB exam (MBLEx), or another department-approved exam5
Not required5
Given by: National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) or Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)5
Background check
Background check required3
Social Security number
OPOR uses a Social Security Number Affidavit form for applicants.9
Also required
The application must be completed within two months of receipt or it becomes invalid.2
Also required
Each license must be displayed where the holder practices massage therapy.10

How much a Massage Therapist license costs

You pay the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (initial license fee) and Maine State Bureau of Identification (state Police Criminal Background Check ("SBI") fee).

FeeAmountPaid to
Initial license fee$403Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation
State Police Criminal Background Check ("SBI") fee$213Maine State Bureau of Identification

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. Pass the NCBTMB or FSMTB (MBLEx) exam, or complete a Department-approved course of at least 500 hours (with official transcript).5
  2. Apply online through the OPOR licensing system and pay the $40 license fee and $21 SBI background check fee.3 www1.maine.gov3
  3. Send any supporting documents; the application must be completed within two months.3
Apply online
www1.maine.gov3

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every year4
When it expires
Renews annually on the anniversary date of the original license.3
Renewal fee
$4011
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $503 (renewal within 90 days after expiration)
If it expires
Renewal up to 90 days late needs the $50 late fee; the holder is treated as unlicensed from expiry to late renewal.12
After 90 days the applicant must meet new-applicant requirements; the commissioner may waive the exam if renewal comes within 2 years of expiry.4
Renew online
www1.maine.gov3

Renewal planner

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

Moving to Maine with a license from another state

These are the routes the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation publishes for the Massage Therapist license.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
The commissioner must set up a license-by-endorsement process under 10 MRSA 8003-H; applicants may use it or the regular route.6

City and county rules

Maine municipalities may regulate massage by ordinance; where they do, therapists must meet both the state law and any stricter local rule.13

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
pfr.maine.gov9
File a complaint
maine.gov14

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 Maine?

The rules set at least 500 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 Maine?

The Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation publishes this route for the Massage Therapist license: license by endorsement6. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Massage Therapist license in Maine?

Every year4. The renewal fee is $4011.

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. 32 MRSA 14306-C LicensingMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 7, 2026
  2. 02-041 CMR ch. 300 Massage Therapists: Licensure/Registration RequirementsMaine Secretary of StateDated June 26, 1999Checked November 8, 2026
  3. Massage Therapist license description, fees and renewalOffice of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Maine)Checked November 7, 2026
  4. 32 MRSA 14306-F Terms of licenseMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 7, 2026
  5. 32 MRSA 14306-D Qualifications; massage therapistsMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 8, 2026
  6. 32 MRSA 14306-H Licensure by endorsementMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 8, 2026
  7. 32 MRSA 14307 ExemptionsMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 8, 2026
  8. 32 MRSA 14309 Unlicensed practiceMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 7, 2026
  9. Massage Therapy Licensure applications and formsOffice of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Maine)Checked November 7, 2026
  10. 02-041 CMR ch. 200 Massage Therapists: General InformationMaine Secretary of StateChecked November 7, 2026
  11. 02-041 CMR ch. 10 Establishment of License Fees (2025-212 AMD)Maine Secretary of StateDated October 27, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
  12. 02-041 CMR ch. 11 Late RenewalsMaine Secretary of StateDated September 9, 2001Checked November 8, 2026
  13. 32 MRSA 14310 Home ruleMaine State Legislature (Revisor of Statutes)Checked November 7, 2026
  14. Massage Therapy Licensure online servicesOffice of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Maine)Checked November 7, 2026