How to get a Massage Therapist license in Massachusetts

Massachusetts massage therapist licenses

Massachusetts issues 3 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 several of the Massachusetts 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 (all 3)

How to apply

Apply online

occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov³

Renewal

How often

Every year⁴⁸

Renew online

occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov³

2. Every license level except Solo Establishment License

Renewal

Renewal fee

$150¹⁰ (Annual renewal)

3. Every license level except Massage Therapist (licensed massage therapist, LMT)

Requirements

Background check

Background check required⁹
Board investigates suitability and responsibility of the licensee and 5%+ owners, including criminal history and compliance record.⁸

Business requirements

Owner may be a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, LLC or LLP, and need not be a licensed therapist; ownership of 5%+ must be disclosed.⁸

Business requirements

A licensed massage therapist must be designated Compliance Officer.⁸

Also required

Floor plan with measurements (not needed for out-of-office-only services) and a Board inspection before licensing.⁹

Also required

Each location needs its own license; a change of location requires a new establishment license.⁸

How to apply

1. Gather notarized CORI forms, a measured floor plan (unless off-site only), any local business certificate or zoning permit, and entity documents.⁹

Processing time

4-6 weeks after all documents are submitted.⁹

Renewal

When it expires

Annually on or before the anniversary of issue.⁸

If it expires

An expired establishment license may be reinstated on written request with an application and late fee; representatives may have to appear.⁸

From another state

Who needs a Massage Therapist license

Systematic treatment of the soft tissues by pressure, friction, stroking, percussion, kneading, vibration, range of motion and nonspecific stretching (may use oil, ice, hot/cold packs, baths); excludes diagnosis, prescribing, joint manipulation, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Exempt from licensure: other licensed professionals within scope who do not hold out as massage therapists; out-of-state licensees temporarily teaching or consulting; unpaid students in licensed schools; family members; out-of-state emergency response teams; supervised non-compensated event massage. Feldenkrais, Reflexology, Trager, Reiki, Shiatsu and similar bodywork are not restricted if not called massage.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Only licensees may use the term "massage" in titles or advertising; advertising massage with escort/dating services is prohibited.¹¹
• Every therapist must work under a Board establishment license (solo or multiple), including for out-of-office massage.⁸

Requirements for a Massage Therapist license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

18 years old¹²

High school diploma or GED

Required⁴

Education or training

At least 650 clock hours²
Board-approved course of study of at least 650 classroom hours at a licensed massage school: 100 h anatomy & physiology, 45 h pathology, 45 h kinesiology, 300 h supervised massage theory & technique, 60 h ethics/professionalism/business, and 100 h unpaid supervised clinical or externship; must cover federal, state and local massage law.²
Who may teach it: Licensed Massachusetts massage school; an out-of-state school is accepted if approved by that state's school regulator or licensed by a USDE-recognized agency, plus a Massachusetts law course or jurisprudence exam. Credit hours need a clock-hour breakdown on school letterhead.³
Alternative: Passing the MBLEx (FSMTB) or NCETMB (NCBTMB) on or after 2010 credits 100 hours toward the 300-hour theory & technique requirement (650-hour program still required).²
Alternative: Three or more years of discipline-free licensed practice can replace the 100-hour clinical/externship (Board Policy 15-001).²

Exam

Examination approved by the Board (required for applications submitted after January 1, 2027); currently MBLEx or NCBTMB proof only if short of the 300-hour theory & technique hours⁴
Not required⁴
Given by: MBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards) or NCETMB (NCBTMB), as named by the Board for the hour credit²

Exam

Massachusetts jurisprudence examination (or a Massachusetts law course) for out-of-state-school graduates⁴
Not required⁴

Background check

Background check required³
Disqualified if convicted of a sexually-related crime or a crime of moral turpitude in the 10 years before applying; other convictions are weighed case by case under the good-moral-character rule (Board policy voted Sept 17, 2020 lists the disqualifying offenses).¹³

Insurance

Individual professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate; submit the declaration page.³

Also required

Two signed reference letters: one from an employer/professional in massage or medicine, one from an unrelated person.³

Also required

Good moral character (convictions, ethics violations or discipline elsewhere trigger case-by-case review).⁴

Also required

2x2 passport-style photo and official transcript; certificates of standing from every other jurisdiction where licensed.³

Also required

Report name/address changes within 30 days.⁴

How much a Massage Therapist license costs

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. Finish a 650-hour Board-approved massage program (or an approved out-of-state program plus a Massachusetts law course/jurisprudence exam).²
2. Buy individual professional liability insurance ($1M per occurrence / $1M aggregate) and collect two reference letters.³
3. Create a MyMassGov account, link it in eLIPSE, and submit the application with transcript, photo, clock-hour list, references, insurance page and DOL CORI form; pay the $225 fee online.³ occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov³
4. Have other jurisdictions send certificates of standing; if applying after January 1, 2027, pass the Board-approved exam.³
5. Before practicing, work under a licensed solo or multiple establishment (get a solo establishment license if you practice on your own).⁸

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Annual; first license valid at least 12 months and expires on the 28th day of the licensee's birth month, then each anniversary.⁴

Continuing education

At least 3 hours each renewal period⁵

Required topics

Content must go beyond basics on massage therapists' ethical obligations or laws/issues on human trafficking specific to massage therapists.⁵

Approved courses

Courses endorsed by AMTA, ABMP, NCBTMB, FSMTB, the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, licensed Massachusetts massage schools or other accepted national providers are deemed approved; others need Board approval 90 days ahead. Keep documentation for audit (two prior periods).⁵

Exemptions

New (non-reciprocal) licensees: CE starts after the first renewal period.⁵
Waiver for health, disability, out-of-state military service or undue hardship (one period, one extra consecutive waiver).⁵

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $57¹⁴ (renewal received after the expiration date, plus the renewal fee)
Reinstatement fee: $357¹⁵ (reinstating an expired individual license)

If it expires

An expired licensee may not practice or use LMT titles. Within 5 years: pay one renewal fee, the current fee and one late fee, make up all CE, and file a CORI form ($357 on the Board page). After 5 years: re-apply under current requirements with transcript, references, insurance and (if short of theory hours) MBLEx/NCBTMB.⁴

Moving to Massachusetts with a license from another state

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

Multiple Therapists Establishment License

Two or more licensed massage therapists delivering massage jointly from one designated location (or as one business offering out-of-office services).⁸

Requirements

Business requirements

Must keep a written business compliance plan and file a Statement of Compliance Officer form; articles of incorporation if a corporation.⁹

Fees

How to apply

1. Apply and pay the $150 fee in eLIPSE; arrange the Board inspection.⁹ occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov³

Renewal

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $357¹⁵ (reinstating an expired establishment license)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Solo Establishment License

One licensed massage therapist delivering massage from one designated location (or out-of-office services); the therapist is the Compliance Officer.⁸

Requirements

Business requirements

The solo therapist serves as the Compliance Officer; a solo license is required for one therapist offering out-of-office massage.⁸

Fees

How to apply

1. Apply and pay the $50 fee in eLIPSE; arrange the Board inspection.⁹ occupationallicensingandpermitting.mass.gov³

Renewal

Renewal fee

$50¹⁰ (Annual renewal)

Late renewal

Reinstatement fee: $157¹⁵ (reinstating an expired establishment license)

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Massage Therapist (licensed massage therapist, LMT)Establishment applications may need local permits such as a business certificate or zoning permit.⁹

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

mass.gov¹⁶

File a complaint

mass.gov¹⁶

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 227-235 (massage therapy)
• M.G.L. c. 112, § 229 (application, renewal)
• M.G.L. c. 112, § 230 (reciprocal licenses)
• 269 CMR 3.00 Procedure for Registration
• 269 CMR 4.00 Continuing Education
• 269 CMR 6.00 Facility Licensure
• 801 CMR 4.02 (269 Board of Registration of Massage Therapy)

Rule changes since January 2024

• November 7, 2025: 269 CMR 3.00/4.00 republished (Mass. Register #1560): 650-hour standard, exam required for applications after Jan 1, 2027, CE of 3 hours on ethics or human trafficking.⁴

Common questions

Massage therapist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
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• California
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• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
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• Maryland
• Michigan
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• New Hampshire
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