Massage therapy license by state: requirements, fees and renewals.

Most US states require a massage therapy license, set and checked by a state board, and some also license the massage business itself. This guide explains which states regulate massage, what boards typically ask for, and the requirements and fees published by Florida, Texas, California and New York.

Updated November 9, 2026By Damian Maćkowski, founder of Rytuo

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Massage therapy licensing is set by each state, and cities and counties can add their own permits and zoning rules. Requirements and fees change; always confirm with the official board and your local licensing office before you hire, open or renew.

Which states regulate massage therapy

Massage therapy is regulated state by state, not federally. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), 46 states and the District of Columbia have a massage practice law; the states not on AMTA's list are Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont and Wyoming. Even there, cities and counties can require a local license or permit, so check locally too. AMTA is a professional association; the state board is always the authority.

What state boards usually require

Training hours at an approved massage school: 500 hours in Florida and Texas and for CAMTC certification in California, 1,000 hours in New York.
An exam. Florida and Texas accept the MBLEx from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (Texas also has its own state exam); New York uses the New York State Massage Therapy Examination.
A background check, usually with fingerprints (Florida, Texas and California all require them).
Fees and renewal. An application or license fee, then renewal, often every two years.
A license for the business in some states: Florida and Texas license massage establishments separately from therapists.

Requirements and fees in four states

State and board	Therapist requirements	Therapist fee	Business (establishment)	Renewal
Florida Florida Board of Massage Therapy	500+ clock hours at a board-approved school, a board-approved exam (MBLEx listed), a 10-hour Florida laws and rules course, electronic fingerprinting	$155 ($50 application + $100 initial license + $5 unlicensed activity fee)	Massage establishment license, inspection before opening: $255 total	Every two years (biennially)
Texas Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)	At least 500 hours of coursework, the FSMTB exam or the State of Texas exam, fingerprinting for a national criminal history review	$100 application fee	Massage establishment license, $200 application fee; establishments inspected once every two years	Therapist and establishment licenses valid for two years
California California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC)	Voluntary state certification: 500+ hours at a CAMTC-approved school, Live Scan fingerprints and a background check. Some cities and counties require it; otherwise local permits may be needed	$300 for two-year certification	Not regulated by CAMTC: massage establishments are under the jurisdiction of cities and counties	Recertification every two years; no continuing education requirement
New York NYS Education Department, Office of the Professions	Age 18+, good moral character, at least 1,000 hours at a registered program, the New York State Massage Therapy Examination, CPR within three years before licensure	$108 for licensure and first registration	Not covered on the license requirements page; check with the state and your city	Not stated on the license requirements page

As published on each board's site, checked November 9, 2026. Fees shown exclude fingerprinting and exam fees, which are paid separately. For other states, see your state board.

Before you hire a therapist

Verify the license with the state board (Texas, CAMTC and New York offer online verification on their sites).
Keep a copy of the license with its number and expiry date.
Check the business side: an establishment license where the state requires one, plus your city or county permits.
Use an intake form for every new client, with health questions and consent. Download our free massage intake form.
Set renewal reminders for every therapist's license and your establishment license.

How Rytuo helps you stay on top of licenses

Rytuo stores each therapist's documents, such as a massage therapy license, with its expiry date and reminds you before it expires, so a lapsed license does not surprise you on a busy Saturday. The same system runs your schedule by room and therapist, therapist pay from completed visits, and client records. See massage therapist software or spa software.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a massage therapy license in every state?

No, but in most. AMTA's state regulations page (checked November 9, 2026) lists massage practice laws in 46 states and the District of Columbia; Kansas, Minnesota, Vermont and Wyoming are not on that list, though cities and counties there can have their own rules. Always check the state board and your city before you hire or open.

What are the usual requirements for a massage therapy license?

In the states we checked: a minimum number of training hours at an approved school (500 hours in Florida, Texas and for CAMTC certification in California; 1,000 hours in New York), a licensing exam (the MBLEx in several states, New York's own exam in New York), a criminal background check or fingerprints, and an application fee. Licenses are usually renewed every two years.

Is a massage license required in California?

California's state certification through CAMTC is voluntary under state law, but some cities and counties require it, and without it you may need a local permit in each city or county where you work. CAMTC does not regulate massage establishments: that is up to cities and counties.

Does my massage business need its own license?

In some states, yes. Florida requires a massage establishment license and an inspection before you may operate; Texas requires a massage establishment license and inspects establishments every two years. In California, establishments are regulated by cities and counties. Check your state board and your local licensing office.

How can I keep track of my therapists' license expiry dates?

Keep a copy of each therapist's license with its expiry date in one place and set a reminder well before renewal. In Rytuo you store staff documents with their expiry dates, and Rytuo reminds you before they expire.

Sources

AMTA: State Regulations (states with massage practice laws and year enacted), checked November 9, 2026
Florida Board of Massage Therapy: Licensed Massage Therapist, checked November 9, 2026
Florida Board of Massage Therapy: Licensed Massage Establishment, checked November 9, 2026
Florida Board of Massage Therapy: Renewals, checked November 9, 2026
TDLR: Massage Therapy, checked November 9, 2026
TDLR: Apply for a Massage Therapist License, checked November 9, 2026
TDLR: Apply for a Massage Establishment License, checked November 9, 2026
TDLR: Massage Therapy FAQs (exams), checked November 9, 2026
CAMTC: Requirements to Certify, checked November 9, 2026
CAMTC: Fee Schedule, checked November 9, 2026
NYSED Office of the Professions: License Requirements for Massage Therapy, checked November 9, 2026

Information checked on November 9, 2026. Rules and figures change; if something here is out of date, email [email protected] and we will correct it within 7 days.

Free trial

Try Rytuo free for 7 days

Create your account and test everything on your own studio: rooms, therapists, online booking and the Rytuo Assistant. 7-day free trial, no card required. Choose a plan when it ends.

No card required to start
No commission on bookings, one flat price per location
We can move your services, team and client list for you

Start free trial Book a demo

Questions or a chain with 3+ locations: [email protected]

How the trial works

1Create your accountA few details about your studio and you are in. It takes a couple of minutes.
2Set up or let us do itAdd services, rooms and therapists yourself, or book a demo and we set it up with you.
3Test it for 7 daysThe full package from day one, with your own team.
4Choose a plan when it endsOnly then do you pay. Without a choice, nothing is charged.

7-day free trial, no card required. Choose a plan when it ends.