Massage License Requirements in Kentucky
Verified against Kentucky Board of Licensure for 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 →
Kentucky requires a state-issued massage therapist license from the Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy before anyone may practice massage therapy or use the title "massage therapist" or the abbreviation "L.M.T." Applicants must complete 600 classroom hours at a board-approved program and pass the MBLEx or one of several other board-approved exams, plus a fingerprint-based background check. Licenses renew on a 2-year cycle and require 12 hours of continuing education, including at least 3 hours of professional ethics.
Kentucky Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy |
| Title | LMT |
| Training Hours | 600 hours — Board-approved massage therapy program holding a certificate of good standing under KRS 309.363, 309.3631, and 201 KAR 42:080 |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)) Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB entry-level examination (NCE, NCETM, or NCETMB); Any examination of a certifying agency approved by the National Commission on Certifying Agencies (NCCA); National Board Certification Agency (NBCA) entry-level massage therapy examination; State of Ohio Massage Therapy Licensing Exam; State of New York Massage Therapy Licensing Exam |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Initial License Fee | $200 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $200 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Late renewal (up to 60 days after expiration) | $225 |
| Late renewal (61–90 days after expiration) | $250 |
| Inactive license issuance / annual renewal / restoration | $50 |
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 →
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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
12 hours every 2 years, including 3 ethics hours.
201 KAR 42:110, Section 2 requires a minimum of 12 CE hours (each defined as 50 minutes of organized learning) during each 2-year licensure period, beginning on the date of license issue. At least 3 of those 12 hours must be in professional ethics. All CE hours must be in or related to the practice of massage therapy; coursework on animal-focused techniques does not qualify. Up to 12 hours may be carried over to the next renewal period.
Licensure by Endorsement
Under KRS 309.359 and 201 KAR 42:070, a massage therapist licensed in another state may apply for licensure by endorsement by submitting a completed endorsement application, a fingerprint-supported KSP/FBI background check obtained within 90 days of filing, a passport-quality photo, a certified statement from the other jurisdiction's credentialing authority confirming at least 1 year of licensure and current good standing, the standard license fee under 201 KAR 42:020, and documentation of equivalency to Kentucky's requirements (e.g. passage of an approved exam such as an NCBTMB entry-level exam, certified school transcripts, CE certificates, health-care-related academic coursework, teaching experience, or other qualifying credentials). A simplified pathway is available for active-duty military spouses/dependents.
Sources
- 201 KAR 42:035 — Application Process, Exam, and Curriculum Requirements
- KRS 309.353 — License Required to Practice Massage Therapy or Use Titles/Abbreviations
- 201 KAR 42:020 — Fees
- 201 KAR 42:110 — Continuing Education Requirements
- 201 KAR 42:070 — Licensure by Endorsement
- Kentucky Board of Licensure for Massage Therapy — homepage
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: 201 KAR 42:035 — Application Process, Exam, and Curriculum Requirements