Massage Licensure in California: No Statewide License Required
Verified against CAMTC homepage · 2026-07-24
Compiled and verified against primary state-board sources by GetMassageLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
California has no statewide massage therapy license. Instead, the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) — a nonprofit public-benefit corporation created by state statute — offers a voluntary Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) credential that lets holders practice for compensation in any California city or county without obtaining separate local permits. CAMTC certification currently requires 500 hours of approved training but, notably, no exam and no continuing education.
No Massage License Required in California
California does not operate a statewide massage therapy licensing board, application, or renewal process. Practitioners may still pursue the voluntary CMT credential detailed below. Individual cities or counties may impose their own local requirements — see the note below.
CMT Requirements (Voluntary)
| Title | CMT |
| Training Hours | 500 hours — CAMTC-approved school (out-of-state/out-of-country education accepted if determined substantially equivalent) |
| Exam | No exam required |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Initial Certification Fee | $300 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $300 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Late fee — 1 to 10 days after expiration | $25 |
| Late fee — 11 to 29 days after expiration | $55 |
| Late fee — 30+ days after expiration | $95 |
Continuing Education
Not required.
CAMTC states explicitly: "There are no continuing education requirements for CAMTC Certificate Holders."
Local & City Requirements
CAMTC does not regulate massage establishments — that authority rests with individual California cities and counties, which may impose their own local business licensing/permit requirements. Business & Professions Code §460 prohibits municipalities from barring CAMTC-certified professionals from practicing within the professionally recognized scope of practice, and CAMTC certification is designed to let certified therapists work statewide without needing a separate local permit in every city/county. However, CAMTC's own FAQ states plainly that "some cities and counties do require CAMTC certification" — so while CAMTC certification is voluntary statewide, it can be a de facto local mandate depending on where a therapist practices.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: CAMTC homepage