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How to get a Massage Therapist License in Oklahoma

Oklahoma licenses massage therapists statewide through the Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (OSBCB).1 For the Massage Therapist License you need at least 500 clock hours1 of education, a passing score on the exam1 and a criminal background check2. The board lists $100 for the initial license2. You renew every 2 years2 and complete at least 5 hours of continuing education2.

Last checked · 7 official sources

Who issues it

Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering (OSBCB)

Training and experience

Training: at least 500 clock hours1

Exam

Required1

Fees the board lists

Initial license fee: $1002

Renewal

Every 2 years2, at least 5 hours of continuing education2

From another state

License by endorsement3 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 Oklahoma with a license from another state
  7. Check a license or report a problem
  8. Laws and rules
  9. Common questions
  10. Massage therapist licenses in other states

Who needs a Massage Therapist License

Skillful treatment of the soft tissues (touch, pressure, friction, stroking, kneading, stretching within normal range, vibration; external ice/heat/cold packs, water, lubricants and non-prescription topicals). Massage therapists may not diagnose, use high-velocity low-amplitude thrust, electrical stimulation or ultrasound, break the skin, or prescribe.4

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • Exempt: other Oklahoma-licensed professionals within their scope (if not holding out as massage therapists); students at a licensed massage school; visiting instructors; nonresident licensed/certified therapists temporarily present for disaster response or special events (conventions, sporting events etc.); movement-education practices such as Feldenkrais, Rolf Movement Integration, Trager and Body-Mind Centering.1
  • Title and advertising protection: only licensed massage therapists may use the title or the terms "massage", "massage therapy" or "massage therapist" in advertising; advertising massage in combination with an escort or dating service is a violation.1
  • State law preempts city and county ordinances regulating massage therapists (local zoning and occupational license fees for health-care professions are not affected).1

Requirements for a Massage Therapist License

Minimum age
18 years old2
Education or training
At least 500 clock hours1
Certificate and certified transcript from a state-licensed massage school showing at least 500 hours of formal education in massage therapy.2
Who may teach it: Massage schools must be licensed by the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational Schools (or be a technology center school accredited by the State Board of Career and Technology Education); education from an out-of-state school is processed as reciprocity.1
Exam
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)5
Background check
Background check required2
OSBI report dated within 30 days of application, including the sex offender and violent offender databases; applicant swears to any pleas/convictions and out-of-state discipline. The Board may deny or impose probation for felonies that substantially relate to massage therapy or pose a reasonable threat; anyone convicted of an offense on the Board's disqualifying list is ineligible for 3 years from the plea or conviction.2
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply2
Residency or citizenship
Affidavit verifying lawful presence must accompany the application; non-citizens also submit a copy of the front and back of the Permanent Resident card.3
Social Security number
The application asks for a Social Security Number.3
Insurance
Professional liability insurance for practice as a massage therapist is required at application and at every renewal (copy of policy acceptable).3
Also required
A full-face photo (about 2" x 2", taken within the last year) must be attached; the application is sworn before a notary.3
Also required
The license must be posted conspicuously at the holder's principal place of business and is not transferable.1

How much a Massage Therapist License costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Initial license fee$1002OSBCB–
License by endorsement or reciprocity$1154OSBCBLicense by reciprocity, including applicants whose massage education was obtained outside Oklahoma
Duplicate or replacement license$102OSBCB–
Notary Fee$12OSBCB–
License verification to another state$102OSBCB–
Lost Renewal form$54OSBCB–

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.

Fee waivers and reductions:

  • Low-income applicants (public assistance such as TANF, Medicaid or SNAP, or household income below 140% of the federal poverty line) get a one-time one-year fee waiver.2

How to apply

  1. Complete at least 500 hours of massage therapy education at a state-licensed massage school.2
  2. Pass the MBLEx (the Board page and Form 321 also list the NCBTMB exam; the rule names only the MBLEx).5
  3. Buy professional liability insurance for massage practice.3
  4. Order an OSBI criminal history report (name-based, sex offender and Mary Rippy Violent Offender searches) no more than 30 days before you apply.3
  5. Fill in Form 321, attach the lawful-presence affidavit, ID showing you are 18+, insurance proof, school certificate/transcript, exam score report, OSBI report and a 2x2 photo, and sign it before a notary.3 Form (PDF, oklahoma.gov)6
  6. Send it with the $100 fee ($115 if your education or license is from another state) by cashier's check or money order payable to OSBCB; personal checks are not accepted.3

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every 2 years2
When it expires
Renew every two years on the last day of the licensee's birth month.2
Renewal fee
$1004
Continuing education
At least 5 hours each renewal period2
Required topics
CE must address topics within the massage therapy scope of practice or related business practices; complete CPR or First Aid certification courses may count.2
Approved courses
Accepted providers: state-licensed or accredited massage schools, accredited colleges, professional organizations (e.g. NCBTMB, AMTA, ABMP), FSMTB, OBPVS-licensed seminars, the Board, AHA/Red Cross-standard CPR/First Aid providers, or Advisory Board-approved providers; in person or distance learning.2
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $102 (renewal during the 30-day grace period)
If it expires
30-day grace period with renewal fee plus late fee; then the license goes inactive for up to one year (no practice), and can be restored with proof of CE and a reactivation fee; if not reactivated within a year it expires and the person must apply for an original license.2

Renewal planner

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

Moving to Oklahoma with a license from another state

These are the routes OSBCB publishes for the Massage Therapist License.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
License by reciprocity for holders of a valid massage license/registration from another state, territory, D.C. or foreign nation whose education and exam requirements equal or exceed Oklahoma's; requires liability insurance, sworn disclosures, a current criminal history report from the licensing jurisdiction (or OSBI) and a certification of records from the other board. Out-of-state education alone is also processed as reciprocity.3
Conditions
Applicants licensed elsewhere must include a sealed certification/affidavit of records from each state board where licensed; a copy of the license is not accepted.3
Criminal history report from the state/territory/nation where licensed, or an OSBI report if none is available, dated within 30 days.2
Fee
$1154

Check a license or report a problem

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

File a complaint
oklahoma.gov6

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 Oklahoma?

The rules set at least 500 clock hours1 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 Oklahoma?

OSBCB publishes this route for the Massage Therapist License: license by endorsement3. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Massage Therapist License in Oklahoma?

Every 2 years2. Continuing education: at least 5 hours2. The renewal fee is $1004.

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. Oklahoma Statutes Title 59 (complete title PDF) - Massage Therapy Practice Act excerptOklahoma LegislatureChecked November 7, 2026
  2. OSBCB Rules and Regulations and Statutes book (OAC Title 175) effective December 1, 2025Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingDated December 1, 2025Checked November 8, 2026
  3. OSBCB Form 321 Application for Individual Massage Therapist LicenseOklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingChecked November 7, 2026
  4. Massage Therapy (licenses)Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingDated November 6, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
  5. Massage Therapy (exams)Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingDated November 6, 2024Checked November 7, 2026
  6. FormsOklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingDated October 5, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
  7. LicensesOklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and BarberingDated February 12, 2026Checked November 7, 2026