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How to get a Massage Therapist license in Washington

Washington licenses massage therapists statewide through the Washington State Board of Massage.1 For the Massage Therapist (licensed massage therapist, L.M.T.) license you need at least 625 classroom hours2 of training, a passing score on the FSMTB Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or the NCBTMB national certification examination, or a board-approved exam2 and a criminal background check3. The board lists $210 for the application2. You renew every year2 and complete at least 24 hours of continuing education4.

Last checked · 9 official sources

Who issues it

Washington State Board of Massage

Training and experience

Training: at least 625 classroom hours2

Exam

FSMTB Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or the NCBTMB national certification examination, or a board-approved exam2

Fees the board lists

Application fee: $2102

Renewal

Every year2, at least 24 hours of continuing education4

From another state

License by endorsement and Military service members and spouses25 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 Washington with a license from another state
  7. Check a license or report a problem
  8. Laws and rules
  9. Rule changes since January 2024
  10. Common questions
  11. Massage therapist licenses in other states

Who needs a Massage Therapist license

Health care service of external manipulation or pressure of soft tissue for therapeutic purposes (tapping, compression, friction, reflexology, gliding, kneading, stretching, with or without heat, cold, water, lubricants or salts); excludes diagnosis, adjusting/manipulating joints or spine with thrusting force, and genital manipulation.1

Work that does not need this license:

  • Massage of immediate family members is exempt.1
  • Other licensed/certified/registered professionals acting within their scope are exempt.1
  • Massage at athletic departments of public institutions, schools/colleges and certain nonprofits is exempt.1
  • Supervised, uncompensated students of approved massage schools/programs who identify as students are exempt.1
  • Graduates of a secretary-approved somatic education training program (e.g. ortho-bionomy, Feldenkrais) are exempt.1
  • Certified reflexologists may practice reflexology without a massage license (reflexology certification is a separate DOH credential).1

Other rules on who may do this work:

  • A massage business that advertises massage and employs unlicensed people to give massages can face legal action for unlicensed practice; owners who knowingly allow unlicensed practice commit a misdemeanor (gross misdemeanor for repeats).1

Requirements for a Massage Therapist license

Minimum age
18 years old1
Education or training
At least 625 classroom hours2
Board-approved massage school, program, transfer program or apprenticeship of at least 625 hours (50-minute hours), completed in no fewer than 24 weeks.2
Who may teach it: Must be a board-approved massage school, massage program, transfer program or apprenticeship program (approved schools list on DOH site). The Board has temporarily suspended considering new apprenticeship program applications.6
Alternative: Transfer programs at approved schools can credit prior coursework (with written and practical tests) so the applicant does not repeat a full program.7
Alternative: Students enrolled in a board-approved program before September 1, 2021 do not need to meet the current curriculum requirements.7
Education or training
At least 90 classroom hours2
Anatomy and physiology7
Education or training
At least 60 classroom hours2
Kinesiology7
Education or training
At least 70 classroom hours2
Pathology7
Education or training
At least 260 classroom hours2
Theory, principles and practice of massage7
Education or training
At least 50 classroom hours2
Directly supervised student clinic (1 instructor : max 6 students; max 75 hours in longer programs)7
Education or training
At least 55 classroom hours2
Clinical/business practices7
Education or training
At least 40 classroom hours2
Professional ethics7
Education or training
American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association CPR (or equivalent), in addition to the 625 hours; CPR must be in person for initial licensure.2
Exam
FSMTB Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), or the NCBTMB national certification examination, or a board-approved exam2
Given by: Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) or National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB)7
When you can take it: Must have completed an approved massage program, transfer program or apprenticeship and be 18 or older.1
Retakes: After three failed attempts, proof of additional board-determined clinical training or coursework is required before three more attempts.2
Exam
Washington state massage jurisprudence examination2
Given by: Washington State Department of Health (online HELMS survey link on the Apply page)6
Background check
Background check required3
Personal data questions with explanations and court records; no license for convictions under RCW 9A.88.030/.070/.080/.090 (prostitution-related offenses) or equivalent local ordinances in the prior eight years, except as provided in RCW 9.97.020; other denials under chapter 18.130 RCW.2
Social Security number
SSN must be disclosed if you have one; applicants without an SSN can still be licensed using the Declaration of No Social Security Number form.3
Also required
Licensees must display the license at the principal place of business and carry government-issued photo ID matching the license name.1
Also required
Name and license number must appear on all advertisements.1
Also required
Optional intraoral massage endorsement: 16 hours of directly supervised training, $25 fee.2
Also required
Optional small or large animal massage therapist endorsement: 100 hours of animal massage training.1
Also required
You cannot practice massage until the license is issued.3

How much a Massage Therapist license costs

FeeAmountPaid toNotes
Application fee$2102Washington State Board of MassageOriginal application. Not refundable. Effective October 1, 2019
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)$166Washington State Board of MassageWith original application and with each active renewal. Not refundable. Effective October 1, 2019
Inactive license renewal$502Washington State Board of MassageInactive license renewal. Not refundable. Effective October 1, 2019
License verification to another state$102Washington State Board of MassageNot refundable. Effective October 1, 2019
Duplicate or replacement license$102Washington State Board of MassageNot refundable. Effective October 1, 2019
Intraoral massage endorsement$252Washington State Board of MassageOptional endorsement for intraoral massage. Not refundable. Effective October 1, 2019

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 board-approved 625-hour massage program (or transfer program), plus first aid and in-person CPR certification.7
  2. Pass the MBLEx (FSMTB) or the NCBTMB exam; the testing body sends the score directly to DOH.7
  3. Pass the online Washington massage jurisprudence exam.6
  4. Apply online in HELMS (or by paper packet DOH 676-094) and pay the $226 application fee (includes $16 HEAL-WA).6 doh.wa.gov6
  5. Have your school send the School Completion Form, and have every state where you hold or held a credential send a verification form directly to DOH.7
  6. Answer the personal data questions and complete a fingerprint check if DOH asks for one.6
Apply online
doh.wa.gov8
Application form
Form (PDF, doh.wa.gov)6
Processing time
Varies; DOH asks applicants not to call about status for six weeks after submission.8

Renewal and continuing education

How often
Every year2
When it expires
Expires on your birthday every year; renew up to 90 days before. The first license expires on your next birthday unless issued within 90 days of it.6
Renewal fee
$1502 (Active license, every year)
Continuing education
At least 24 hours each renewal period4
Required topics
At least 8 hours in person, directly supervised, hands-on massage.2
At least 4 hours in professional ethics, communication, roles and boundaries, or Washington massage laws and rules (up to 2 of them by attending board meetings in person, 1 hour per meeting).2
At least 2 hours of health equity training (first full reporting cycle after January 1, 2024).4
Maintain AHA CPR (or equivalent) certification; up to 4 hours count per period; a hybrid CPR course is acceptable for renewal (initial-license CPR must be in person).2
Approved courses
No board pre-approval of courses or providers; the instructor needs at least three years of experience in the subject and must give completion documentation.4
Exemptions
Extensions only for emergencies (WAC 246-12-210).4
CE applies to all active licensees, wherever they live or practice.2
Late renewal
Late renewal fee: $752
Renewal plus late fee: $502 (expired active license (in addition to renewal and late penalty per WAC 246-12 Part 2))
If it expires
No practice on an expired license; expired under 3 years follow WAC 246-12 Part 2; 3+ years also need 24 CE hours from the past two years.2
Late fee is waived only if the expiry falls on a day DOH is closed and payment arrives the next business day.8
Renew online
doh.wa.gov9

Renewal planner

Enter the expiration date printed on your Washington Massage Therapist (licensed massage therapist, L.M.T.) license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.

Moving to Washington with a license from another state

These are the routes the Washington State Board of Massage publishes for the Massage Therapist license.

Route
License by endorsement
What the board says
Holders of an active, good-standing license from a state or foreign jurisdiction with substantially equivalent education (625 hours over 24+ weeks, or 500 hours plus 2 years of experience and 24 CE hours in the prior 2 years) can be licensed by endorsement; they must have passed the MBLEx, NCBTMB or a board-approved exam and meet the standard application requirements.2
Conditions
If there is a practice gap of 3+ years, 24 hours of hands-on CE from the last two years is required.2
Must show a working knowledge of Washington massage law (jurisprudence exam).1
Applicants who fall short can complete the missing education through a board-approved transfer program.2
Fee
$2102
Route
Military service members and spouses
What the board says
Service members and spouses who hold an active, good-standing massage license in another state can use the SCRA license-portability application (Public Law 117-333 §19) with no application fee.5
Route
No reciprocity
What the board says
Chapter 18.108 RCW (full chapter, re-opened November 8, 2026) contains no Interstate Massage Compact provision, and the DOH massage pages offer no compact pathway; Washington's out-of-state route is licensure by endorsement (RCW 18.108.095, WAC 246-830-035).1

Check a license or report a problem

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

Look up a license
doh.wa.gov9
File a complaint
doh.wa.gov9

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

Rule changes since January 2024

  • January 1, 2024: Two hours of health equity CE per reporting period added (WSR 23-19-026).9

Common questions

How long does it take to get a Massage Therapist license in Washington?

The rules set at least 625 classroom hours2 before you can be licensed. On processing, the board says: Varies; DOH asks applicants not to call about status for six weeks after submission.8

Can I transfer my massage therapist license to Washington?

The Washington State Board of Massage publishes this route for the Massage Therapist license: license by endorsement2. Conditions and forms.

How often do you renew a Massage Therapist license in Washington?

Every year2. Continuing education: at least 24 hours4. The renewal fee is $1502.

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. Chapter 18.108 RCW Massage therapistsWashington State Legislature (Revised Code of Washington)Checked November 8, 2026
  2. Chapter 246-830 WAC Massage therapistsWashington State Legislature (Washington Administrative Code)Checked November 8, 2026
  3. Massage Therapist License Application PacketWashington State Department of HealthDated October 1, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
  4. Massage Therapist - continuing-educationWashington State Department of HealthChecked November 8, 2026
  5. Massage Therapist Portability of Professional Licenses of Members of the Uniformed Services and Their…Washington State Department of HealthDated March 1, 2026Checked November 8, 2026
  6. Massage Therapist - apply-licenseWashington State Department of HealthChecked November 8, 2026
  7. Massage Therapist - licensing-requirementsWashington State Department of HealthChecked November 8, 2026
  8. Massage Therapist - frequently-asked-questionsWashington State Department of HealthChecked November 8, 2026
  9. Massage TherapistWashington State Department of HealthChecked November 8, 2026