Massage License Requirements in Florida
Verified against Florida Board of Massage Therapy · 2026-07-24
Compiled and verified against primary state-board sources by GetMassageLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
Florida requires a state-issued Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) credential from the Florida Board of Massage Therapy, within the Florida Department of Health, before anyone may practice or advertise massage therapy. Applicants complete 500+ clock hours at a board-approved massage school, plus one-time 10-hour Florida Laws and Rules, 3-hour HIV/AIDS, and 2-hour prevention-of-medical-errors coursework, and pass the MBLEx. Licenses renew biennially and require 24 hours of continuing education, including several mandated subtopics (ethics, medical errors, human trafficking awareness, and laws and rules).
Florida Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Florida Board of Massage Therapy |
| Title | LMT |
| Training Hours | 500 hours — Board-approved massage school (Florida Statutes Chapter 480; Fla. Admin. Code 64B7) |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)) Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB legacy exams — National Certification Exam in Therapeutic Massage (NCETM), National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), and National Exam for State Licensure (NESL) — described by the Board as retired exams, i.e. accepted from applicants who already hold a passing score rather than as a currently-offered new-applicant option |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Initial License Fee | $100 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $105 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Unlicensed Activity Fee (initial application) | $5 |
| Renewal after expiration (Active-to-Active, late) | $205 |
Recommended MBLEx exam prep
Formal prep pays for itself against a $265 retake. These are the resources we point candidates to for the MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination).
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Mometrix · SponsoredMBLEx Secrets Study GuideFull-length practice tests and step-by-step review for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination.See the study guide →
Mometrix · SponsoredMBLEx FlashcardsPortable flashcards covering the MBLEx's high-frequency topics — a cheaper add-on for drilling terms and definitions on the go.See the flashcards →
Mometrix · SponsoredMBLEx Online Prep CourseA guided video course with instructor-led lessons, quizzes, and a study plan for the MBLEx — a subscription option for a more structured review.See the course →Continuing Education
24 hours every 2 years, including 2 ethics hours.
24 hours of continuing education are required each biennial renewal: 12 hours general techniques/skills/protocols, 2 hours prevention of medical errors, 1 hour human trafficking awareness, 2 hours Florida Laws and Rules (Chapters 456 and 480, F.S.), 2 hours professional ethics, and 5 hours general/elective coursework. This is separate from the one-time 10-hour Laws and Rules and 3-hour HIV/AIDS courses required only at initial licensure.
Licensure by Endorsement
Therapists licensed in another state that required 500+ clock hours of massage education may apply by endorsement (application X-1022), submitting proof of current out-of-state licensure, 500+ hours of massage education from a state-approved school, and a passing score on a board-accepted exam (MBLEx, or the legacy NCBTMB/NCETM/NESL exams); an approved exam must be passed if the original state did not require one. Endorsement applicants must also complete the 10-hour Florida Laws and Rules course and a Livescan background screening. Florida's MOBILE Act also provides a pathway for therapists relocating to Florida with an active, similar-scope license and at least two years of active practice in the preceding four years.
Local & City Requirements
Florida Statute 480.052 allows a county or municipality to regulate persons and establishments already licensed under Chapter 480, but such local regulation 'shall not exceed the powers of the state under this act or be inconsistent with this act.' The statute also does not prohibit counties/municipalities from separately regulating persons or establishments NOT licensed under Chapter 480. So state law constrains (rather than fully preempts) local massage regulation for licensees.
Sources
- Florida Board of Massage Therapy — Licensed Massage Therapist (requirements)
- Florida Statutes Chapter 480 — Massage Practice Act (480.052, local regulation)
- Florida Board of Massage Therapy — Licensing & Renewals
- Florida Board of Massage Therapy — homepage
- Florida Board of Massage Therapy — FAQs
- Florida Board of Massage Therapy — Continuing Education
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: Florida Board of Massage Therapy — Licensed Massage Therapist (requirements)