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Massage License Requirements in Illinois

Verified against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation · 2026-07-24

Compiled and verified against primary state-board sources by GetMassageLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →

Illinois requires a Massage Therapist license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) under the Massage Therapy Practice Act (225 ILCS 57) before anyone may practice or hold out as a massage therapist. Applicants must complete a 600-clock-hour approved training program and pass the MBLEx (or, for endorsement applicants already licensed elsewhere, the NCBTMB exam), along with a fingerprint-based background check. Licenses run on a 2-year cycle tied to a fixed December 31 even-year expiration and require continuing education, including a specific ethics-hour minimum, to renew.

Illinois Massage License Requirements

Licensing AuthorityIllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
TitleLMT
Training Hours600 hours — IDFPR-approved massage therapy program in accordance with Section 1284.20 of the Administrative Code, or a substantially similar program from another jurisdiction
ExamMBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB))
Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) examination — per IDFPR's licensure-qualifications document, this is accepted only under the Endorsement Method (applicants currently licensed and practicing in another jurisdiction); the direct 'Acceptance of Examination' pathway for applicants with no license elsewhere lists the MBLEx only.
Renewal Period2 years

Fee Breakdown

Initial License Fee$175

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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MBLEx Secrets Study GuideMometrix · SponsoredMBLEx Secrets Study GuideFull-length practice tests and step-by-step review for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination.See the study guide →MBLEx FlashcardsMometrix · 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 →MBLEx Online Prep CourseMometrix · 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

25 hours every 2 years, including 2 ethics hours.

Per 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1284.90, licensees must complete 24 hours of continuing education, including at least 2 hours of ethics, during the 24-month prerenewal period preceding December 31 of each even-numbered year. IDFPR's massage therapy page states that, per 225 ILCS 57/67, an additional 1 hour of CE on domestic violence and sexual assault has been added — raising the total to 25 hours — with the Department noting this additional hour applies beginning with the 2026 renewal cycle. IDFPR's 227 licensure-qualifications document confirms 25 hours are required for all renewals 'with the exception of the first renewal of this license.'

Licensure by Endorsement

Under the Endorsement Method, an applicant currently licensed and practicing massage therapy in another jurisdiction may apply by submitting proof of the same 600-hour (or substantially similar) education, an official certification of licensure/good standing from the original state, and passage of either the NCBTMB examination or the MBLEx, plus fingerprinting.

Sources

Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: IDFPR — Qualifications for Licensure: Massage Therapist (227)