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

Missouri massage therapist licenses

Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Student License

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old⁵¹¹

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

From another state

3. Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) and Massage Therapy Business License

Renewal

How often

Every 2 years²¹²

Renew online

mopro.mo.gov¹³

4. Student License and Massage Therapy Business License

Requirements

Background check

Background check required²¹¹

Who needs a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

Practise within your education and training, refer clients to other licensed health professionals when appropriate.⁹

Work that does not need this license:

• Exempt on filing proof: other Missouri licensees within scope; hands/feet/ears-only work; movement-awareness methods; work above the neck, below the elbow and below the knee without disrobing.⁵
• Out-of-state licensees are exempt when incidentally teaching, doing disaster relief, or working temporarily at special events (conventions, sporting events, etc.).⁵

Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

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

Education or training

At least 625 clock hours²
Massage therapy program of at least 625 clock hours (50-minute hours): at least 300 massage theory and practice techniques, 100 anatomy and physiology, 50 business practice/ethics/hygiene/Missouri massage law, and 50 ancillary therapies including CPR and first aid.²
Who may teach it: CBHE-certified school, DESE-approved vocational program, regionally accredited institution (or out-of-state equivalent), or apprenticeship with a board-certified mentor; no correspondence/video training unless board-approved.²
Alternative: 625 clock hours in an apprenticeship with a board-certified mentor.²
Alternative: Programs short of 625 hours or deficient in a category may make up the deficiency at an approved school, program or mentorship.²

Exam

NCETMB or NCETM (NCBTMB), ABT (NCCAOM), AMMA NBCE, MBLEx (FSMTB), or another exam the board deems appropriate²
Given by: NCBTMB, NCCAOM, AMMA or FSMTB as listed¹⁴
When you can take it: Graduates scheduled for the exam may hold a one-year provisional license meanwhile.⁵

Background check

Background check required³
Fingerprints required¹⁴
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply¹³

Social Security number

SSN disclosure is mandatory.⁴

Insurance

Maintain professional liability insurance (proof requested on the application).¹⁴

Also required

Notarized application with a head-and-shoulders photo taken within the last year.⁴

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.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, NCBTMB, NCCAOM, AMMA or FSMTB as listed¹⁴, when you schedule.

How to apply

1. Complete 625 clock hours at an approved school/program or with a board-certified mentor, and pass an approved national exam (e.g. MBLEx).¹⁴
2. Register with MACHS (registration number 5407) for the fingerprint background check; results go to the Board.¹⁴
3. Send the notarized Application for Licensure with the $125 fee (check or money order) and proof of professional liability insurance.⁴ Form (PDF, pr.mo.gov)¹⁵
4. Have the school/program/mentor send the official transcript to the Board (not needed if you were provisionally licensed in Missouri).¹⁴
5. Register for a MOPRO account to get notices; allow 2–4 weeks for processing.¹⁴

Application form

Form (PDF, pr.mo.gov)¹⁵

Temporary or provisional license

One-year provisional license for program graduates who have applied for the national exam.⁵

Processing time

2–4 weeks¹⁴

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Current renewal window: opens November 1, 2026 and closes January 31, 2027 at midnight; late fee after that.¹³

Renewal fee

$100⁸

Continuing education

At least 12 hours each renewal period⁵

Approved courses

CE must be relevant to the practice of massage therapy; keep proof for 4 years. The Board home page says not to send CE with the renewal.²

Exemptions

Board may waive or extend CE time for health, military service, foreign residency or other good cause; request in writing before the renewal date.⁵

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50⁸ (1-30 days late)
Reinstatement fee: $100⁸ (31 days to 2 years after expiry)
Late Continuing Education Fee: $50⁸ (cE completed after expiry (within 30 days) and applied to the previous cycle)

If it expires

An expired license can be reinstated within 2 years (form, fees, CE proof); after 2 years you must apply again as a new applicant.²

Moving to Missouri with a license from another state

These are the routes the Board of Therapeutic Massage publishes for the Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license.

Provisional License

Practise massage therapy while waiting to pass the national exam; subject to all LMT rules including liability insurance.⁷

Requirements

Education or training

At least 625 clock hours²
Completed massage therapy program (official transcript) meeting 20 CSR 2197-2.010(1) or (2).²

Exam

NCETMB or NCETM (NCBTMB), ABT (NCCAOM), AMMA NBCE, MBLEx (FSMTB), or another exam the board deems appropriate²
Not required²

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required²

Fees

How to apply

1. Send the Provisional Application with the official transcript, proof you are scheduled for the exam, MACHS fingerprints and the $75 fee.⁷ Form (PDF, pr.mo.gov)¹⁵

Renewal

How often

Every year²

When it expires

Valid one year; may be extended at the board’s discretion for up to one more year with exam-scheduling proof and an explanation.²

Renewal fee

$50⁸

If it expires

Must stop practicing when the provisional license expires.²

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

Student License

Massage on the public only under direct supervision of an instructor or certified mentor, unpaid.²

Requirements

Education or training

Grade C or better in basic hygiene, universal precautions, contraindications, and basic massage theory and hands-on practice.²

Fees

How to apply

1. The school, program or mentor sends the Student Application with photo and $25 fee.¹⁷ Form (PDF, pr.mo.gov)¹⁵

Renewal

How often

Every 6 months²

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

Massage Therapy Business License

A business offering massage therapy; may not offer massage until licensed.¹⁰

Requirements

Insurance

General liability insurance for the business location.¹¹

Also required

Survey inspection with no violations before the license is issued.¹¹

Also required

Only licensed or provisionally licensed therapists may practice on the premises.¹¹

Also required

Retail businesses need a Department of Revenue statement of no tax due.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. Submit the notarized Business Application with $50, proof of general liability insurance and owner details; complete MACHS fingerprints.¹¹ Form (PDF, pr.mo.gov)¹⁵
2. Pass the Board survey inspection; the license is issued only after background check and inspection results are received.¹⁸

Renewal

When it expires

Renewal needs a survey inspection within 90 days before renewal; current window closes January 31, 2027.¹³

Renewal fee

$125⁸

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50⁸

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

Massage Therapy Business LicenseLocal governments keep zoning, local health department rules and occupational license taxes only.¹⁹

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

mopro.mo.gov¹³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• RSMo §§ 324.240–324.275 (massage therapy)
• RSMo § 324.009 (licensure reciprocity)
• 20 CSR 2197-1
• 20 CSR 2197-2 (massage therapist licensure)
• 20 CSR 2197-3 (standards of practice)
• 20 CSR 2197-5 (massage therapy business)

Rule changes since January 2024

• December 30, 2024: 20 CSR 2197-2.010 amended: 625 clock hours of training (emergency amendment from July 1, 2024).²
• September 30, 2024: Fee rule 20 CSR 2197-1.040 amended (current fee schedule).⁸

Common questions

Massage therapist licenses in other states

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