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Massachusetts Massage Therapy — Requirements & Free Practice

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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

Licensing authority: Board of Registration of Massage Therapy · Application information

Reissuance after more than five years of expiration

At least one of the following alternatives:

Application
Completed attested Board application, fees, official transcript and clock-hour breakdown, passport-style photograph, CORI acknowledgment, insurance declaration and certificates of standing for licenses held elsewhere; incomplete applications are held open for 180 days.
Closed grandfather path
Applications under M.G.L. c.112 §231 were due on or before May 1, 2008 under St.2006 c.135 §4; this is not a current initial-issuance route.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent; Board-approved 650-hour course: 190 anatomy/physiology/pathology/kinesiology hours, 300 supervised massage theory/technique hours (including 150 statutory massage hours), 60 ethics/professionalism/business hours and 100 unpaid supervised clinical or externship hours.
Examination credit
MBLEx is conditional educational credit, not a universal examination prerequisite on the evaluation date. Passage on or after 2010 may credit 100 hours toward the 300-hour theory/technique requirement if the applicant otherwise completed a 650-hour Board-approved course.
Expiration
License expired for more than five years; apply for reissuance under all statutory/regulatory requirements then in effect and pay application fees.
Future examination requirement
269 CMR 3.01(2)(i) requires a passing Board-approved examination for applications submitted after January 1, 2027; the November 17, 2025 minutes approve MBLEx. The universal requirement is not yet applicable on September 22, 2026.
Historical score
The education page also accepts the score of the discontinued NCETMB on or after 2010. That historical examination is not a current leaf. The generic NCBTMB wording in the application refers applicants to that curriculum statement and does not establish adoption of the current BCETMB.
Insurance
Individual professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate.
Military benefits
Relevant military education, training and service may count toward qualifications; qualifying service members and military spouses receive expedited processing, and qualifying veterans/service members/spouses receive the Commonwealth initial-fee waiver after affidavit submission. Active-duty licenses remain valid until release and 90 days thereafter.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old.
Missed education
Complete continuing education for every renewal period between expiration and reapplication.
Moral character
Good moral character determined individually by the Board; no sexually related crime or crime involving moral turpitude during the ten years before application.
Out of state school
The school must be approved by the corresponding state entity or licensed by a recognized agency; the applicant must complete a Massachusetts law course or pass a Massachusetts jurisprudence examination as required by the Board. 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e)2 states: 2. the applicant completes a course in Massachusetts laws and regulations pertaining to massage therapy practice or passes a Massachusetts jurisprudence examination as required by the Board. November 17, 2025 minutes authorize development, rather than establish registration of an offered examination: Authorize Development of a Jurisprudence Course/Exam to Satisfy 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e)2 - Paul Andrews recommended that the Board coordinate with FSMTB to have the REACH program develop an exam that would satisfy this requirement. In addition, a subject matter expert should be appointed to work with FSMTB in that development and bring back to the Board for review. Motion was made to authorize the FSTMB’s REACH program to develop a jurisprudence exam, as referenced in 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e), and to name Paul Andrews, Board Chair, as the subject matter expert to work with FSMTB in that effort. So Moved by Alexei Levine; Seconded by Anthony Chui • Paul Andrews called for a roll call vote • Members in favor: Paul Andrews, Alexei Levine, Pallas Hutchison, Kimberlee Schuler, and Anthony Chui • Members opposed: None; Motion passed
Prior practice credit
Three years of licensed or state-certified practice without discipline, including satisfactory practical experience within seven years before application, may satisfy the 100-hour unpaid supervised clinical/externship requirement under Policy #15-001.
References
Two professional reference letters: one from a massage/medical employer, massage educator, massage therapist or health-care provider addressing competency and integrity; one from an unrelated individual addressing business or professional integrity.
Reinstatement of license expired for no more than five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Cori
Board reinstatement instructions require a CORI acknowledgment.
Fees
One renewal fee, current licensure-period fee and one late fee.
Missed education
Complete all continuing-education contact hours required since last issuance/renewal.
Renewal requirements
{"annual_renewal":"Renew annually by the 28th day of the birth month; initial license is valid at least 12 months. Submit completed renewal and fees, criminal-history declaration and required individual liability insurance.","ce_waivers":"The Board may grant a one-period waiver for health, disability, out-of-state military service or undue hardship, with application for one additional consecutive waiver; meet later requirements after waiver expiration.","continuing_education":"Three qualified hours in the preceding 12 months, exceeding basic knowledge of ethical obligations or human-trafficking issues specific to massage practice. For a new non-reciprocal licensee the obligation begins after the first renewal period. Board enforcement began June 1, 2026; attest and retain documentation for two prior periods.","military_extension":"Relevant military education, training and service may count toward qualifications; qualifying service members and military spouses receive expedited processing, and qualifying veterans/service members/spouses receive the Commonwealth initial-fee waiver after affidavit submission. Active-duty licenses remain valid until release and 90 days thereafter."}
Unlicensed practice
No practice or licensed title while expired; prior unlicensed practice may prompt discipline.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure with conditional national examination educational credit

At least one of the following alternatives:

Application
Completed attested Board application, fees, official transcript and clock-hour breakdown, passport-style photograph, CORI acknowledgment, insurance declaration and certificates of standing for licenses held elsewhere; incomplete applications are held open for 180 days.
Closed grandfather path
Applications under M.G.L. c.112 §231 were due on or before May 1, 2008 under St.2006 c.135 §4; this is not a current initial-issuance route.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent; Board-approved 650-hour course: 190 anatomy/physiology/pathology/kinesiology hours, 300 supervised massage theory/technique hours (including 150 statutory massage hours), 60 ethics/professionalism/business hours and 100 unpaid supervised clinical or externship hours.
Examination credit
MBLEx is conditional educational credit, not a universal examination prerequisite on the evaluation date. Passage on or after 2010 may credit 100 hours toward the 300-hour theory/technique requirement if the applicant otherwise completed a 650-hour Board-approved course.
Future examination requirement
269 CMR 3.01(2)(i) requires a passing Board-approved examination for applications submitted after January 1, 2027; the November 17, 2025 minutes approve MBLEx. The universal requirement is not yet applicable on September 22, 2026.
Historical score
The education page also accepts the score of the discontinued NCETMB on or after 2010. That historical examination is not a current leaf. The generic NCBTMB wording in the application refers applicants to that curriculum statement and does not establish adoption of the current BCETMB.
Insurance
Individual professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate.
Military benefits
Relevant military education, training and service may count toward qualifications; qualifying service members and military spouses receive expedited processing, and qualifying veterans/service members/spouses receive the Commonwealth initial-fee waiver after affidavit submission. Active-duty licenses remain valid until release and 90 days thereafter.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old.
Moral character
Good moral character determined individually by the Board; no sexually related crime or crime involving moral turpitude during the ten years before application.
Out of state school
The school must be approved by the corresponding state entity or licensed by a recognized agency; the applicant must complete a Massachusetts law course or pass a Massachusetts jurisprudence examination as required by the Board. 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e)2 states: 2. the applicant completes a course in Massachusetts laws and regulations pertaining to massage therapy practice or passes a Massachusetts jurisprudence examination as required by the Board. November 17, 2025 minutes authorize development, rather than establish registration of an offered examination: Authorize Development of a Jurisprudence Course/Exam to Satisfy 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e)2 - Paul Andrews recommended that the Board coordinate with FSMTB to have the REACH program develop an exam that would satisfy this requirement. In addition, a subject matter expert should be appointed to work with FSMTB in that development and bring back to the Board for review. Motion was made to authorize the FSTMB’s REACH program to develop a jurisprudence exam, as referenced in 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e), and to name Paul Andrews, Board Chair, as the subject matter expert to work with FSMTB in that effort. So Moved by Alexei Levine; Seconded by Anthony Chui • Paul Andrews called for a roll call vote • Members in favor: Paul Andrews, Alexei Levine, Pallas Hutchison, Kimberlee Schuler, and Anthony Chui • Members opposed: None; Motion passed
Prior practice credit
Three years of licensed or state-certified practice without discipline, including satisfactory practical experience within seven years before application, may satisfy the 100-hour unpaid supervised clinical/externship requirement under Policy #15-001.
References
Two professional reference letters: one from a massage/medical employer, massage educator, massage therapist or health-care provider addressing competency and integrity; one from an unrelated individual addressing business or professional integrity.
Reciprocal licensure based on equivalent out of jurisdiction licensure

At least one of the following alternatives:

Application
Completed attested Board application, fees, official transcript and clock-hour breakdown, passport-style photograph, CORI acknowledgment, insurance declaration and certificates of standing for licenses held elsewhere; incomplete applications are held open for 180 days.
Board application instruction
The Board licensing page states: The State of Massachusetts does not currently have a process in place for reciprocity (transfer) of out-of-state massage licenses. A new massage therapy license application must be submitted.
Closed grandfather path
Applications under M.G.L. c.112 §231 were due on or before May 1, 2008 under St.2006 c.135 §4; this is not a current initial-issuance route.
Education
High school diploma or equivalent; Board-approved 650-hour course: 190 anatomy/physiology/pathology/kinesiology hours, 300 supervised massage theory/technique hours (including 150 statutory massage hours), 60 ethics/professionalism/business hours and 100 unpaid supervised clinical or externship hours.
Examination credit
MBLEx is conditional educational credit, not a universal examination prerequisite on the evaluation date. Passage on or after 2010 may credit 100 hours toward the 300-hour theory/technique requirement if the applicant otherwise completed a 650-hour Board-approved course.
Future examination requirement
269 CMR 3.01(2)(i) requires a passing Board-approved examination for applications submitted after January 1, 2027; the November 17, 2025 minutes approve MBLEx. The universal requirement is not yet applicable on September 22, 2026.
Historical score
The education page also accepts the score of the discontinued NCETMB on or after 2010. That historical examination is not a current leaf. The generic NCBTMB wording in the application refers applicants to that curriculum statement and does not establish adoption of the current BCETMB.
Insurance
Individual professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate.
License held elsewhere
Registered, certified or licensed massage therapist in another jurisdiction with reasonably equivalent or higher standards; no suspended or revoked license. Board determines equivalency and may credit documented post-licensure massage experience or passing a Board-approved examination for missing education/experience. Reciprocal issuance may be without examination.
Military benefits
Relevant military education, training and service may count toward qualifications; qualifying service members and military spouses receive expedited processing, and qualifying veterans/service members/spouses receive the Commonwealth initial-fee waiver after affidavit submission. Active-duty licenses remain valid until release and 90 days thereafter.
Minimum age
At least 18 years old.
Moral character
Good moral character determined individually by the Board; no sexually related crime or crime involving moral turpitude during the ten years before application.
Out of state school
The school must be approved by the corresponding state entity or licensed by a recognized agency; the applicant must complete a Massachusetts law course or pass a Massachusetts jurisprudence examination as required by the Board. 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e)2 states: 2. the applicant completes a course in Massachusetts laws and regulations pertaining to massage therapy practice or passes a Massachusetts jurisprudence examination as required by the Board. November 17, 2025 minutes authorize development, rather than establish registration of an offered examination: Authorize Development of a Jurisprudence Course/Exam to Satisfy 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e)2 - Paul Andrews recommended that the Board coordinate with FSMTB to have the REACH program develop an exam that would satisfy this requirement. In addition, a subject matter expert should be appointed to work with FSMTB in that development and bring back to the Board for review. Motion was made to authorize the FSTMB’s REACH program to develop a jurisprudence exam, as referenced in 269 CMR 3.01(2)(e), and to name Paul Andrews, Board Chair, as the subject matter expert to work with FSMTB in that effort. So Moved by Alexei Levine; Seconded by Anthony Chui • Paul Andrews called for a roll call vote • Members in favor: Paul Andrews, Alexei Levine, Pallas Hutchison, Kimberlee Schuler, and Anthony Chui • Members opposed: None; Motion passed
Prior practice credit
Three years of licensed or state-certified practice without discipline, including satisfactory practical experience within seven years before application, may satisfy the 100-hour unpaid supervised clinical/externship requirement under Policy #15-001.
References
Two professional reference letters: one from a massage/medical employer, massage educator, massage therapist or health-care provider addressing competency and integrity; one from an unrelated individual addressing business or professional integrity.
Annual license renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Annual renewal
Renew annually by the 28th day of the birth month; initial license is valid at least 12 months. Submit completed renewal and fees, criminal-history declaration and required individual liability insurance.
Ce waivers
The Board may grant a one-period waiver for health, disability, out-of-state military service or undue hardship, with application for one additional consecutive waiver; meet later requirements after waiver expiration.
Continuing education
Three qualified hours in the preceding 12 months, exceeding basic knowledge of ethical obligations or human-trafficking issues specific to massage practice. For a new non-reciprocal licensee the obligation begins after the first renewal period. Board enforcement began June 1, 2026; attest and retain documentation for two prior periods.
Military extension
Relevant military education, training and service may count toward qualifications; qualifying service members and military spouses receive expedited processing, and qualifying veterans/service members/spouses receive the Commonwealth initial-fee waiver after affidavit submission. Active-duty licenses remain valid until release and 90 days thereafter.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Restoration after payment of an unpaid uncontested citation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Citation
License suspended after failure to pay or request hearing within the citation timeframe and failure to respond to prosecutor follow-up; full payment lifts suspension without a petition to the Board.

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