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

Mississippi massage therapist licenses

Mississippi issues 3 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 Mississippi 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 Massage Therapy Business Registration Certificate (massage establishment registration)

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years¹

Renew online

msbmt.webapps.ms.gov⁴

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

Renewal

Renewal fee

$50¹

Who needs a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

Massage therapy: applying massage techniques to positively affect client health and well-being, with allied modalities, heat, cold, water and non-prescription topicals; excludes osseous tissue manipulation or adjustment.¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Exempt: other state-credentialed professionals whose practice includes massage, and students in a school clinic.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• The Massage Therapy Act sections carry a repealer effective July 1, 2029.⁵

Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

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

Minimum age

18 years old¹

High school diploma or GED

Required¹

Education or training

Board-approved massage therapy program: massage theory and practicum, science of the human body, allied modalities and supervised student clinic; grade C or better in every course; official transcript sent by the school.¹
Who may teach it: Massage schools must be licensed by the Board and nationally accredited (e.g. COMTA) or equivalent.¹
Alternative: Out-of-state/reciprocity applicants: accredited school transcript with at least 500 in-class hours plus 3 years licensed work experience.¹

Education or training

At least 8 clock hours¹
Current CPR and first aid certification of at least 8 hours including practical testing, plus documented familiarity with the Americans with Disabilities Act.¹

Education or training

Approved course on communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS information and prevention (included in approved school curricula).¹

Exam

Board Comprehensive Examination: MBLEx (FSMTB), NCETMB (NCBTMB) or Mississippi Professional Examination I and II (MPE-1 and MPE-2)¹
Given by: FSMTB (MBLEx), NCBTMB (NCETMB) or the Board itself (MPE-1/MPE-2)¹
MPE-1: Anatomy/Physiology; Kinesiology; Pathology⁶
MPE-2: Theory/Practicum; Allied Modalities⁶
Exam waived: The MPE is accepted only in Mississippi; candidates intending to work elsewhere need the MBLEx.⁶

Exam

Mississippi State Law Examination (MSLE)¹
Given by: Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy¹
Passing score: 70%¹
Time limit: If the MSLE was passed more than 24 months before applying, take a Board-approved 3-hour Mississippi Law CE course or re-take the MSLE.¹
Exam waived: Graduates of Board-approved Mississippi schools who will not practice in Mississippi may request a waiver.¹

Background check

Background check required¹
Fingerprints required⁷
Good moral character investigation; grounds for denial in § 73-67-27.¹
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹

Residency or citizenship

Must have legal status to receive a license and to work in Mississippi.¹

Also required

Initial-license fees must be paid by cashier’s check or money order.¹

How much a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) 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. Complete a Board-approved massage program and current CPR/First Aid (8 hours with practical testing).¹
2. Pass a Board Comprehensive Examination (MBLEx, NCETMB or the state MPE-1 and MPE-2).⁷
3. Apply for the Mississippi State Law Exam on form EX.01 with fees; fingerprints for state and FBI checks are taken at the exam site.⁷ Form (PDF, msbmt.ms.gov)⁸
4. Submit the MT.01 Application for Professional Licensure (online) with the application and license fees; it can go in with the EX.01.⁷ msbmt.webapps.ms.gov⁹
5. Your school sends your official transcript directly to the Board.¹
6. The complete application is placed on the next regular Board meeting agenda; the Board must accept or deny within 45 days of a complete application.⁷

Apply online

msbmt.webapps.ms.gov⁹

Temporary or provisional license

Provisional Permit for up to 90 days once the MSLE is passed and all fees are paid, pending documentation; one extension if a comprehensive exam was failed during the permit (max two 90-day periods).¹

Processing time

The Board must accept or deny within 45 days of receiving a complete application; complete applications go to the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.¹⁰

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Licenses are valid through May 31 of the second year after issuance or renewal.¹

Renewal fee

$200¹

Continuing education

At least 12 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

3 hours Mississippi Law, Rules and Regulations¹
3 hours ethics¹
3 hours CPR/First Aid (current CPR and First Aid certification required with every renewal)¹
1 hour human trafficking¹

Approved courses

All hours must come from Mississippi-approved/registered providers and programs; online, interactive or classroom allowed.¹¹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100¹ (1-30 days late)
Late renewal fee: $150¹ (31-60 days late)
Late renewal fee: $200¹ (61-90 days late)
Reinstatement fee: $250¹ (more than 90 days late, inactive, or retired under 3 years; plus the renewal fee)
Paper Application Fee for LMT renewals by paper application method: $35¹ (paper renewals only)

If it expires

Online renewal opens 60 days before and closes 90 days after expiry; late fees apply after expiry and practice must stop until renewed.¹
Expired more than 90 days: paper renewal, renewal fee plus reapplication fee, and proof of CE.¹
Lapsed 3 years: re-apply as a new applicant (MT.01) and show back CE, up to 60 hours.¹

Moving to Mississippi 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.

Massage Therapy Instructor (Board-licensed)

Teaching in Board-approved Mississippi massage schools; categories A (sciences), B (business), H (hydrotherapy/safety), L (law) and M (techniques/modalities).¹

Requirements

Education or training

At least 20 clock hours¹
Graduate of a qualified massage school plus a Board-approved course of at least 20 hours in teaching skills for adult education.¹
Alternative: Category A science instructors may instead hold a relevant bachelor’s degree, 270 classroom hours of science courses, or an MD/DO/DC license.¹

Experience

At least 3 years¹
At least 3 years of lawful massage therapy practice.¹
License you must hold first: Mississippi LMT in good standing (active, inactive or retired).¹

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. Apply on the MT.01 application (covers instructors) with evidence of the Rule 9.1 qualifications for each category.⁹

Temporary or provisional license

Temporary instructor license when an emergency need is shown.¹

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100¹

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

Massage Therapy Business Registration Certificate

A place of business where massage is conducted; the business owner need not be an LMT.³

Requirements

Also required

Sanitary lavatories with hot and cold water, soap and individual towels; sanitary linens per client; working telephone; Code of Ethics displayed.¹

Also required

Display a current license or permit for every person providing massage and verify their licenses; an establishment that is the custodian of client records keeps them 2 years.¹

Also required

Board may inspect within 90 days of notice.¹

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. File the Massage Business Registration form with the $50 fee by money order or cashier’s check (owner files; a renting LMT files as owner and sole proprietor).³ Form (PDF, msbmt.ms.gov)⁴

Renewal

How often

Every year¹

From another state

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

City and county rules

Massage Therapy Business Registration Certificate (massage establishment registration)The business must also hold the city or county business permit; the Board form asks for its number and expiry.³

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

msbmt.webapps.ms.gov¹³

File a complaint

msbmt.ms.gov¹³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Miss. Code Ann. § 73-67-1 et seq. (Mississippi Professional Massage Therapy Act; Board-published Lexis print, current through 2025 sessions)
• 30 Miss. Admin. Code Part 2501 (MSBMT Rules and Regulations, effective 2/27/2026)

Rule changes since January 2024

• May 20, 2026: Rule amendment filed with the Secretary of State to amend Rules 3.2, 4.2 and 11.1 ("correct school hours" to a 600-hour total, add business registration certificate display, require establishments to report unprofessional conduct).¹⁴
• February 27, 2026: Current MSBMT Rules and Regulations effective 2/27/2026, including 1 hour of human-trafficking CE.¹

Common questions

Massage therapist licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• 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