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

Virginia massage therapist licenses

Virginia issues 2 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 every Virginia massage therapist license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹²

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required⁴
Applicants with convictions submit a detailed explanation, certified court orders and proof that court-ordered requirements were met; acts that are grounds for discipline under Va. Code § 54.1-3007 / 18VAC90-50-90 can bar licensure.²

Fees

Who needs a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

Treatment of soft tissues for therapeutic purposes by massage and bodywork techniques (manipulation or pressure on muscular structure/soft tissues); excludes diagnosis or treatment of illness or disease, services needing another health license, and manipulation of the spine or joints.¹¹

Work that does not need this license:

• Students in a massage therapy educational program, practicing under a licensed massage therapist, are exempt and must be identified as "Student Massage Therapist".¹³
• Domestic care of family or household members is exempt if the person does not claim to be a massage therapist.¹³
• Other licensed health professionals for whom massage is part of their practice are exempt.¹³

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Out-of-state licensed/certified massage therapists may practice while volunteering at sporting events, responding to declared disasters, traveling with an out-of-state team for an event, or at educational seminars.¹³

Requirements for a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 500 clock hours²
Massage therapy educational program of at least 500 hours, certified or approved by SCHEV (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia) or by an approving agency in another state, DC or a U.S. territory; official transcript sent directly by the school.¹²
Who may teach it: Program must be certified or approved by SCHEV or an agency in another state, DC or a U.S. territory that approves educational programs.¹²
Alternative: Foreign-educated applicants: comparable program shown by a credential-evaluation agency, a Board-approved English proficiency exam, and an English version of the FSMTB exam.¹²

Exam

Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) of the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards³
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)⁴
When you can take it: A candidate who has filed a complete application, including completed education, may practice provisionally for up to 90 days while waiting to take the exam.¹⁰
Retakes: A provisional licensee who fails the exam loses provisional licensure and cannot be licensed until passing.¹⁰
Exam waived: The Board may license without examination an applicant licensed as a massage therapist elsewhere who meets Virginia requirements.¹²

Also required

Applicant must attest to having read and complying with the laws, regulations and professional code of ethics for massage therapy.²

Also required

The current Virginia license must be posted conspicuously in a public area at the practice location.¹⁴

Also required

Applications are online only (initial and endorsement); an incomplete application not completed within one year may need to be refiled.⁴

How much a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license costs

You pay Fieldprint (2 fees) and VBON (5 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.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Complete a 500-hour massage therapy program approved by SCHEV (or another state/DC/territory approving agency) and pass the FSMTB MBLEx.³
2. Apply online through the Board of Nursing Application Wizard ("I am applying for the first time") and pay the $140 fee by card.³ dhp.virginia.gov³
3. Use the VBON Fieldprint Code on your confirmation receipt to book Fieldprint fingerprinting for the criminal background check.⁴
4. Have your school send an official transcript directly to the Board, and have FSMTB send your MBLEx results directly to the Board.³
5. If you have convictions or a name change, send the explanation, certified court documents and name-change proof to [email protected].⁴

Apply online

dhp.virginia.gov³

Application form

Form (PDF, dhp.virginia.gov)³

Temporary or provisional license

A one-time, non-renewable 90-day provisional license lets an applicant who has filed a complete application (education done) practice while waiting for the exam; the titles "massage therapist"/"licensed massage therapist" may not be used.¹⁰

Processing time

30-45 working days from the initial application date (applications processed in order received).⁴

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years⁵

When it expires

Renew by the last day of your birth month: in even-numbered years if born in an even year, odd-numbered years if born in an odd year.¹⁵

Renewal fee

$95¹⁶

Continuing education

At least 24 hours each renewal period⁶

Required topics

At least 1 hour in professional ethics.⁶
At least 12 of the 24 hours from listed providers (NCBTMB, FSMTB, AMTA, ABMP, COMTA, an accredited massage school/program, or a SCHEV-approved massage school).⁶

Approved courses

Current NCBTMB certification satisfies the requirement; otherwise at least half the hours must come from the providers listed in 18VAC90-50-75(A)(2)(a).⁶

Exemptions

No continuing competency is required for the first biennial renewal after initial Virginia licensure.⁶
Extensions up to one year for good cause (requested before the renewal date) and exemptions for circumstances such as disability, military service or declared disasters.⁶

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $30¹⁶ (added to the renewal fee when renewing late (within one renewal period after lapse))

If it expires

The license lapses automatically after the last day of the birth month if not renewed; practicing or using the title is then prohibited.¹⁵
Lapsed up to one renewal period: pay renewal + late fee and attest to CE.¹⁷
Lapsed longer: file a reinstatement application ($150), attest to CE for the lapsed period (up to four years).¹⁷

Renew online

dhp.virginia.gov³

Moving to Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes VBON publishes for the Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) license. The other massage therapist licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Military service members, veterans and spouses: Applications are expedited for active-duty military, veterans and military spouses with proof of service; deployed service members/spouses get a renewal extension until 60 days after return (Va. Code § 54.1-117).¹⁸

Provisional licensure

Provisional practice of massage therapy for up to 90 days while waiting to take the licensing exam; may not use the title "massage therapist" or "licensed massage therapist".¹⁰

Requirements

Education or training

At least 500 clock hours²
Education requirement (500-hour approved program) must already be complete.¹⁰

Exam

MBLEx (not yet taken)¹⁰
Not required¹⁰
Retakes: Failing the exam withdraws the provisional license until the exam is passed.¹⁰

How to apply

1. File a complete LMT application (online, $140) after finishing your education, then obtain written authorization from the Board; practice provisionally up to 90 days while waiting to test.⁴

Renewal

How often

Every 90 days¹⁰

When it expires

One 90-day period only; not renewable.⁴

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license

dhp.virginiainteractive.org³

File a complaint

dhp.virginia.gov³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Va. Code § 54.1-3029 (qualifications for a licensed massage therapist)
• Va. Code § 54.1-3000 (definitions: massage therapist, massage therapy)
• Va. Code § 54.1-3001 (exemptions)
• Va. Code § 54.1-3008 (unlawful practice)
• Va. Code § 54.1-3029.1 (Advisory Board on Massage Therapy)
• Va. Code § 54.1-3029.2 (Interstate Massage Compact; effective pursuant to Article 12)
• 18VAC90-50 (Regulations Governing the Licensure of Massage Therapists)
• 18VAC90-50-30
• Va. Code § 54.1-3029(B)
• 18VAC90-50-60 (provisional licensure)

Rule changes since January 2024

• March 21, 2025: Virginia enacted the Interstate Massage Compact (2025 c. 274, Va. Code § 54.1-3029.2); effective only when seven states have enacted it. Signing date March 21, 2025 is from the IMpact site (finding aid); the Code shows only "2025, c. 274".⁹

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
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin