OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Georgia Massage Therapy — Requirements & Free Practice

US-GA · License preparation

304 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Loading selected examination banks…

Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Massage Therapist License

License for the practice and compensated teaching of massage therapy. Renewal, inactive status, reactivation and reinstatement are routes or statuses of this license.

Licensing authority: Georgia Board of Massage Therapy · Application information

Biennial license renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit renewal and the biennial renewal fee by October 31 of each even-numbered year.
Ce period
Earn renewal CE during the two-year cycle from November 1 through October 31.
Ce waiver
The Board may consider a waiver or variance for verifiable illness, disability or hardship; submit a completed signed request before October 31 of the even-year expiration year.
Continuing education
Complete 24 hours per biennium, including 12 hours direct hands-on supervised instruction and 12 hours hands-on or other massage-related instruction, unless the rule exemption or Board waiver applies.
Continuing education provider
Use providers holding a current NCBTMB CE-provider number; keep and verify course information in CE Broker. Courses must concern massage therapy.
Current license
Hold a Georgia massage therapist license eligible for renewal.
Hands on definition
To qualify as hands-on instruction, a course must include at least 70 percent hands-on experience or demonstration.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by endorsement
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the Board application and required nonrefundable fee.
Background check
Provide classifiable fingerprints and satisfactory GCIC/FBI background-check results; consent to the check and pay associated fees.
Board score checklist
The Board How to Guide (https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-massage-therapist), Endorsement checklist, expressly lists "National Exam Scores". This lower-ranked implementation checklist request is retained as an applicant condition; O.C.G.A. 43-24A-13 and Rule 345-5-.01 define endorsement eligibility without identifying a required examination. The guide was independently read through server-side access after local retrieval failed.
Board supporting checklist
The same Endorsement checklist requests official transcript, school approval, employment verification, prior license/disciplinary documents, proof of military service where applicable, background consent and secure citizenship or immigration documents.
Citizenship
Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Existing license
Hold a current massage therapist license in good standing from a United States jurisdiction or territory, or a foreign country, whose standards the Board considers equivalent to or greater than Georgia requirements.
Liability insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
License verification
Provide official verification of current licensure in good standing and a copy of the licensing laws of the issuing jurisdiction.
Military processing
Rule 345-5-.02 provides expedited application processing for qualifying military spouses, service members and transitioning service members who pay the fee and meet the requirements for the license sought; submit proof of military eligibility.
Minimum age
Be at least 18 years old.
Moral character
Demonstrate professional integrity and no conviction involving moral turpitude whose underlying conduct relates to fitness to practice massage therapy.
Secondary education
Hold a high school diploma, GED or recognized equivalent.
Supplementary information
The Board may request additional verification and establish procedures to supplement qualifications that are below Georgia standards.
Translations
Provide every supporting document in English, with translations by a reputable source acceptable to the Board.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Transfer of an active massage therapist license to inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application fee
The rule imposes no fee for an inactive-status application.
Application timing
Apply before expiration; requests postmarked on or after November 1 of an even-numbered year will not be considered.
Disciplinary eligibility
The license must not be under investigation, in active disciplinary proceedings or subject to an effective sanction.
Existing license
Hold an active Georgia massage therapist license.
Practice restriction
An inactive license holder may not practice massage therapy in Georgia.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by examination, education outside the United States

At least one of the following alternatives:

Application
Submit the Board application and required nonrefundable fee.
Background check
Provide classifiable fingerprints and satisfactory GCIC/FBI background-check results; consent to the check and pay associated fees.
Citizenship
Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Credential evaluation
Submit an English credential evaluation from a verifiable entity approved by the Board, a certified translated transcript, and the evaluator/translator name and contact number.
Discontinued exam scores
The rule accepts prior passing NCETM or NCETMB results. These licensing examinations are no longer offered following the FSMTB/NCBTMB agreement effective February 1, 2015; their prior scores are applicant evidence, rather than current examination leaves.
Educational discretion
The Board may consider mitigating circumstances concerning provision of educational information and has sole discretion over recognition of foreign programs and evaluation services.
Implementation checklist
The Board How to Guide, Massage Therapist checklist (https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-massage-therapist), independently read through server-side access after all local backends failed, also requests school approval, all prior license verifications, employment verification, and applicable arrest/disciplinary explanation and certified records. Its exact score item is "National Exam Scores".
Liability insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
Massage education
The foreign program must be Board-recognized and substantially equal to or exceed the Rule 345-8-.01 curriculum of at least 500 hours.
Military processing
Rule 345-5-.02 provides expedited application processing for qualifying military spouses, service members and transitioning service members who pay the fee and meet the requirements for the license sought; submit proof of military eligibility.
Minimum age
Be at least 18 years old.
Moral character
Demonstrate professional integrity and no conviction involving moral turpitude whose underlying conduct relates to fitness to practice massage therapy.
Other approved exam
An equivalent examination approved by the Board is an open alternative; the sources identify no additional currently offered examination for this slot.
Other jurisdiction exam
O.C.G.A. 43-24A-8(b)(7) also accepts an examination administered by another state, territory or jurisdiction whose licensing requirements meet or exceed Georgia requirements; such an examination is applicant evidence, not a Georgia examination leaf.
School authorization
The evaluation must verify that the foreign educational entity was licensed, recognized or approved by its government or educational/regulatory authority.
Secondary education
Hold a high school diploma, GED or recognized equivalent.
Initial licensure by examination, United States education

At least one of the following alternatives:

Application
Submit the Board application and required nonrefundable fee.
Background check
Provide classifiable fingerprints and satisfactory GCIC/FBI background-check results; consent to the check and pay associated fees.
Citizenship
Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Discontinued exam scores
The rule accepts prior passing NCETM or NCETMB results. These licensing examinations are no longer offered following the FSMTB/NCBTMB agreement effective February 1, 2015; their prior scores are applicant evidence, rather than current examination leaves.
Implementation checklist
The Board How to Guide, Massage Therapist checklist (https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-guide-massage-therapist), independently read through server-side access after all local backends failed, also requests school approval, all prior license verifications, employment verification, and applicable arrest/disciplinary explanation and certified records. Its exact score item is "National Exam Scores".
Liability insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
Massage education
Graduate from a Board-recognized massage therapy program with at least 500 hours of course and clinical work meeting Rule 345-8; have the school submit an official certified transcript in an original sealed envelope.
Military processing
Rule 345-5-.02 provides expedited application processing for qualifying military spouses, service members and transitioning service members who pay the fee and meet the requirements for the license sought; submit proof of military eligibility.
Minimum age
Be at least 18 years old.
Moral character
Demonstrate professional integrity and no conviction involving moral turpitude whose underlying conduct relates to fitness to practice massage therapy.
Other approved exam
An equivalent examination approved by the Board is an open alternative; the sources identify no additional currently offered examination for this slot.
Other jurisdiction exam
O.C.G.A. 43-24A-8(b)(7) also accepts an examination administered by another state, territory or jurisdiction whose licensing requirements meet or exceed Georgia requirements; such an examination is applicant evidence, not a Georgia examination leaf.
Secondary education
Hold a high school diploma, GED or recognized equivalent.
Late license renewal during the thirty day penalty period
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
File the renewal form and pay the renewal fee and late-renewal penalty.
Continuing education
Rule 345-4-.01(2) asks for proof of the required 24 CE hours; Rule 345-4-.02 contains the initial-renewal exemptions and waiver provisions.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
License expiration
The license was not renewed by October 31 of an even-numbered year; apply within the following 30-day late-renewal period.
Practice restriction
Do not practice during the late-renewal period until the Board grants renewal.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal of a license that expired during active military duty outside Georgia
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
Military documents
Provide official military orders or verification signed by the commanding officer to waive charges.
Military service
The massage therapy license expired while the service member was serving on active duty outside Georgia.
Renewal qualifications
Comply with the renewal requirements and applicable CE or waiver provisions; the rule waives the late penalty.
Return window
Renew without penalty within six months after discharge from active duty or reassignment to Georgia; the rule allows practice on the expired license during that period.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Expedited endorsement for a military spouse stationed in Georgia
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit information and documents establishing the exclusive criteria of O.C.G.A. 43-1-34.1(b); a complete application must be processed within 90 days.
Existing license
Hold a current license from another United States state or covered territory, with training, experience and testing substantially similar in qualifications and scope to Georgia requirements.
Good standing
Be in good standing in the issuing state.
Military implementation
The Board current rule describes expedited processing subject to the underlying license requirements; the later statute limits this spouse route application to its subsection (b) criteria.
Military relationship
Be the spouse of a service member or transitioning service member stationed within Georgia. Service member includes an active or reserve member of the armed forces, including the National Guard; transitioning service member includes an active-duty or separation-leave member within 24 months of retirement or 12 months of separation.
Ongoing liability insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
State law exam slot
O.C.G.A. 43-1-34.1(b)(4) permits only a required Georgia laws/rules examination. The Board FAQ (https://sos.ga.gov/page/faq-georgia-board-massage-therapy), independently read by server-side access after all local backends failed, expressly states: "No, there is no requirement to pass a Georgia Law Exam." The profession has no such examination to carry this conditional slot.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivation after more than two years on inactive status
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination
Application
Request reactivation in writing and meet the reinstatement application, fee and qualification requirements referenced by Rule 345-4-.04(4)(b).
Background check
Provide classifiable fingerprints and satisfactory GCIC/FBI background-check results; consent to the check and pay associated fees.
Board discretion
Reinstatement is discretionary; the Board may impose limits, sanctions, restrictions or other discipline and request additional verification.
Ce reuse
Hours used for reinstatement cannot also satisfy the biennium in which reinstatement occurs.
Citizenship
Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Continuing education
Provide 24 hours of Board-approved CE earned within one year of the return application.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
License history
The Georgia license has been on inactive status for more than two years.
Score recency
Provide verification of passing MBLEx within six months of the application under the reinstatement requirements incorporated by Rule 345-4-.04(4)(b).
Reactivation after two years or less on inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Request reactivation in writing; Board approval is discretionary.
Continuing education
Obtain all required renewal CE within one year before receipt of the reactivation application.
Inactive period
The Georgia license has been on inactive status for two years or less.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
Renewal requirements
Meet Rule 345-4-.01 renewal requirements, excluding the late-renewal penalty fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial biennium renewal with the recent graduate CE exemption
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit renewal and the biennial renewal fee by October 31 of each even-numbered year.
Ce period
Earn renewal CE during the two-year cycle from November 1 through October 31.
Ce waiver
The Board may consider a waiver or variance for verifiable illness, disability or hardship; submit a completed signed request before October 31 of the even-year expiration year.
Continuing education
The CE requirement is waived for the initial biennium renewal only.
Continuing education provider
Use providers holding a current NCBTMB CE-provider number; keep and verify course information in CE Broker. Courses must concern massage therapy.
Current license
Hold a Georgia massage therapist license eligible for renewal.
Graduation timing
Graduate from a Board-recognized approved massage therapy program within one year before the initial license application.
Hands on definition
To qualify as hands-on instruction, a course must include at least 70 percent hands-on experience or demonstration.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement of a revoked or lapsed license, more than two years
Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination
Application
Submit the completed Board application and required fee.
Background check
Provide classifiable fingerprints and satisfactory GCIC/FBI background-check results; consent to the check and pay associated fees.
Board discretion
Reinstatement is discretionary; the Board may impose limits, sanctions, restrictions or other discipline and request additional verification.
Ce reuse
Hours used for reinstatement cannot also satisfy the biennium in which reinstatement occurs.
Citizenship
Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Continuing education
Provide 24 hours of Board-approved CE earned within one year of the return application.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
License history
The Georgia license has been revoked or lapsed for more than two years.
Score recency
Provide verification of passing MBLEx within six months of the reinstatement application.
Reinstatement of a revoked or lapsed license, two years or less
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit the completed Board application and required fee.
Background check
Provide classifiable fingerprints and satisfactory GCIC/FBI background-check results; consent to the check and pay associated fees.
Board discretion
Reinstatement is discretionary; the Board may impose limits, sanctions, restrictions or other discipline and request additional verification.
Board score checklist
The Board guide Reactivation checklist for an expired license of less than two years lists "National Exam Scores"; this documentation demand is an applicant condition. Rule 345-4-.05(2)(c)(i) governs reinstatement of a lapsed or revoked license within two years and requires CE, rather than a named examination.
Ce reuse
Hours used for reinstatement cannot also satisfy the biennium in which reinstatement occurs.
Citizenship
Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
Continuing education
Provide 24 hours of Board-approved CE earned within one year of the return application.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.
License history
The Georgia license has been revoked or lapsed for two years or less.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial renewal after licensure in the second year of the biennium
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit renewal and the biennial renewal fee by October 31 of each even-numbered year.
Ce period
Earn renewal CE during the two-year cycle from November 1 through October 31.
Ce waiver
The Board may consider a waiver or variance for verifiable illness, disability or hardship; submit a completed signed request before October 31 of the even-year expiration year.
Continuing education
For that renewal period provide 12 hours, including 6 hours hands-on and 6 hours hands-on or other massage-related CE.
Continuing education provider
Use providers holding a current NCBTMB CE-provider number; keep and verify course information in CE Broker. Courses must concern massage therapy.
Current license
Hold a Georgia massage therapist license eligible for renewal.
Hands on definition
To qualify as hands-on instruction, a course must include at least 70 percent hands-on experience or demonstration.
Initial license timing
Be initially licensed during the second year of the renewal biennium and not within the separate recent-graduate CE exemption.
Insurance
Maintain bodily injury, property damage and professional liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million annual aggregate; provide evidence at the Board request.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination

Provider
Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards; administered at Pearson VUE (Pearson Professional Centers) test centers
Format
Computer-based, fixed-length computer-adaptive test (CAT) of multiple-choice questions, each with one correct answer; offered in English and Spanish and administered year-round; results reported as PASS or FAIL, with a diagnostic report by content area for failing candidates
Exam questions
100 multiple-choice questions
Time limit
110 minutes for 100 questions within a two-hour (120-minute) appointment
Passing score
Criterion-referenced passing standard adopted by the FSMTB Board of Directors; results reported as PASS or FAIL
Exam fee
$265 MBLEx application fee
Examination outline
  • Anatomy & Physiology (11%)
    • A. System structure — Cardiovascular
    • A. System structure — Digestive
    • A. System structure — Endocrine
    • A. System structure — Integumentary
    • A. System structure — Lymphatic & Immune
    • A. System structure — Musculoskeletal
    • A. System structure — Nervous
    • A. System structure — Reproduction
    • A. System structure — Respiratory
    • A. System structure — Sensory
    • A. System structure — Urinary
    • B. System function — Cardiovascular
    • B. System function — Digestion
    • B. System function — Endocrine
    • B. System function — Integumentary
    • B. System function — Lymphatic & Immune
    • B. System function — Musculoskeletal
    • B. System function — Nervous
    • B. System function — Reproduction
    • B. System function — Respiratory
    • B. System function — Sensory
    • B. System function — Urinary
    • C. Tissue injury and repair
    • D. Concepts of energetic anatomy
  • Kinesiology (12%)
    • A. Skeletal muscle components & characteristics
    • B. Concepts of skeletal muscle contractions
    • C. Proprioceptors
    • D. Skeletal muscle locations, attachments (origins, insertions), & actions
    • E. Joint structure and function
    • F. Range of motion — Active
    • F. Range of motion — Passive
    • F. Range of motion — Resisted
  • Pathology, Contraindications, Areas of Caution, Special Populations (14%)
    • A. Overview of Pathologies
    • B. Contraindications — Site specific
    • B. Contraindications — Pathology related
    • B. Contraindications — Special populations
    • B. Contraindications — Tools
    • B. Contraindications — Special applications
    • C. Areas of caution
    • D. Special populations
    • E. Classes of medications
  • Benefits and Effects of Soft Tissue Manipulation (15%)
    • A. Physiological effects of soft tissue manipulation
    • B. Psychological effects of soft tissue manipulation
    • C. Effects of soft tissue manipulation for specific client populations
    • D. Soft tissue techniques — Types of strokes
    • D. Soft tissue techniques — Sequence of application
    • E. Hot/cold applications
    • F. Overview of massage/bodywork modalities
  • Client Assessment, Reassessment & Treatment Planning (17%)
    • A. Organization of a massage/bodywork session
    • B. Client consultation and evaluation — Verbal intake
    • B. Client consultation and evaluation — Health history form
    • C. Written data collection
    • D. Visual assessment — General
    • D. Visual assessment — Postural
    • D. Visual assessment — Gait
    • E. Palpation assessment
    • F. Range of motion assessment
    • G. Clinical reasoning — Ability to rule out contraindications
    • G. Clinical reasoning — Client treatment goal setting
    • G. Clinical reasoning — Evaluation of response to previous treatment
    • G. Clinical reasoning — Formulation of treatment strategy
  • Ethics, Boundaries, Laws, Regulations (16%)
    • A. Ethical behavior
    • B. Professional boundaries
    • C. Code of ethics violations
    • D. The therapeutic relationship
    • E. Dual relationships
    • F. Sexual misconduct
    • G. Massage/bodywork-related laws and regulations
    • H. Scope of practice
    • I. Professional communication
    • J. Confidentiality
    • K. Principles
  • Guidelines for Professional Practice (15%)
    • A. Proper and safe use of equipment and supplies
    • B. Practitioner hygiene
    • C. Sanitation and cleanliness
    • D. Safety practices — Facilities
    • D. Safety practices — Practitioner safety
    • D. Safety practices — Client safety
    • E. Practitioner care — Body mechanics
    • E. Practitioner care — Personal protective equipment (PPE)
    • E. Practitioner care — Self-care
    • E. Practitioner care — Injury prevention
    • F. Draping — Safe and appropriate
    • F. Draping — Communication
    • G. Business Practices — Business planning
    • G. Business Practices — Strategic planning
    • G. Business Practices — Office management
    • G. Business Practices — Marketing
    • G. Business Practices — Hiring/Interviewing
    • G. Business Practices — Documentation & Records — Client records
    • G. Business Practices — Documentation & Records — Business records
    • H. Healthcare and business terminology
Examination sources