Massage Therapy Licensure

Professional Licensure Disclosure

COCC prepares students for jobs that require a license to practice in Oregon. If you plan to work in another state, please check with that state's licensing board. Remember that licensure can help you find a job, even in states that don’t require a license.  

Beyond training or licensure, states may have additional requirements including but not limited to: living in the state for a certain amount of time; taking state-approved tests; registering with the state; previous work experience; proof of Oregon state licensure.

COCC provides the information below at the direction of the U.S. Department of Education and National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Since rules can change, be sure to check the state you want to move to and ask about current guidelines. 

STATE/TERRITORY COCC SATISFIES REQUIREMENTS? PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OR LICENSE AUTHORITY NOTES
Alabama Yes

Alabama Board of Massage Therapy

Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Alaska Yes

Alaska Board of Massage Therapists

 

If not licensed, requires verification of hours sent directly from the massage therapy school; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Arizona Yes Arizona State Board of Massage Therapy Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Arkansas Yes, with additional requirements. Arkansas Department of Health Massage Therapy Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam and Arkansas Massage Therapy Law Exam.
California Yes California Massage Therapy Council State certification is voluntary. However, some cities and counties locally require CAMTC Certification for massage professionals. To find out if your city or county requires CAMTC Certification, please contact the city or county in which you wish to practice.
Colorado Yes Colorado Office of Massage Therapy Licensure Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Connecticut Yes, with additional requirements Connecticut Department of Public Health
Massage Therapist License
Additional verification forms required; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Delaware Yes Delaware Board of Massage and Bodywork Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
District of Columbia Yes DC Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript or licensure verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Florida YES, with additional requirements Florida Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam; Complete a 10 hour Florida Laws and Rules course.
Georgia Yes Georgia Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Hawaii Yes, with additional requirements Hawaii Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript, course descriptions and school catalog from training institution; Requires Hawaii Massage Licensing Exam.
Idaho Yes Idaho Board of Massage Therapy Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Illinois Yes Illinois Massage Licensing Board via IDFPR Official transcript or licensure verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Indiana Yes Indiana Professional Licensing Agency Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX, NCETM, NCETMB or NBCA NCE exam.
Iowa Yes Iowa Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Kansas N/A   Kansas is one of a few states in the country that does not license or regulate the profession of massage therapy. However, some cities might have their own requirements.
Kentucky Yes Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX, NCCA, NCETMB or NBCA NCE exam.
Louisiana Yes Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCCA exam.
Maine Yes, with additional requirements Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation Massage Therapy Licensure

Additional verification forms required. 

Maryland Yes Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners
Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam; Out-of-state applicants are approved on a case-by-base basis.
Massachusetts Yes Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy MBLEX or NCETMB exam can count as 100 hours toward required training hours.
Michigan Yes, with additional requirements Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Submit transcript and certification form; Pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Minnesota N/A   Minnesota is one of a few states in the country that does not license or regulate the profession of massage therapy. However, some cities might have their own requirements.
Mississippi YES, with additional requirements Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam; Pass Mississippi State Law Examination.
Missouri Yes Missouri Board of Therapeutic Massage Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX, NCETM, NCETMB or AMMA NBCE exam.
Montana Yes Montana Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX, NCETM, NCETMB or NESL exam.
Nebraska Yes, with additional requirements Nebraska Dept of Health and Human Services -  Licensure Unit Additional training hours may be required if only certificate program completed; Official transcript required; Must pass NCETMB or MBLEX.
Nevada Yes Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript; Must pass a national exam.
New Hampshire Yes Advisory Board of Massage Therapists Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
New Jersey Yes New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
New Mexico Yes, with additional requirements New Mexico Board of Massage Therapy Requires form sent directly from the massage therapy school and official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
New York Yes, with additional requirements New York State Board for Massage Therapy Additional training hours may be required if only certificate program completed; Official transcript required; Must pass NCETMB or MBLEX.
North Carolina Yes, with additional requirements North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy Official transcript, course descriptions and school catalog from training institution; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
North Dakota Yes, with additional requirements ND Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript and Affidavit from School of Massage; Pass MBLEX or NCETMB. Must complete jurisprudence exam.
Ohio Yes, with additional requirements State Medical Board of Ohio Must submit Certificate of Education to be completed by the LMT program at COCC; Must pass MBLEX.
Oklahoma Yes Oklahoma State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering Advisory Board on Massage Therapy Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Oregon Yes Oregon State Board of Massage Therapists  
Pennsylvania Yes Pennsylvania State Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Rhode Island Yes Rhode Island Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
South Carolina Yes, with additional requirements South Carolina Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript; Pass MBLEX or NCETMB.
South Dakota Yes South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy Official transcript and verification form from school of massage; Must pass MBLEX, NCETM, NCETMB or NBCA NCE exam.
Tennessee Yes Tennessee Board of Massage Licensure Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Texas Yes, with additional requirements Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation - Massage Therapy Submit official transcript with at least 500 hours; submit school catalog for each course listed on transcript; Complete the Texas Massage Therapist Jurisprudence Exam; Complete the MBLEX exam.
Utah Yes, with additional requirements Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Official transcript and verification form from school; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Vermont N/A OPR: Massage Therapists, Body Workers, and Touch Professionals Must register with the state. However, applicants do not need to provide documentation of qualifications, examination(s), or education. No exam scores are needed to obtain a registration. You do not need to have scores sent to OPR.
Virginia Yes Virginia Board of Nursing
Attn: Massage Therapy Licensure
Official transcript verification; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Washington Yes, with additional requirements Washington State Board of Massage Official transcript and verification form from school: Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
West Virginia Yes West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board Official transcript; Must pass MBLEX or NCETMB exam.
Wisconsin Yes, with additional requirements Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services - Massage Therapist Requires 6 classroom hours in the laws of this state and rules of the board relating to the practice of massage therapy.
Wyoming N/A  

No state licensing board.