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Massage License Requirements in Maryland

Verified against Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners · 2026-07-24

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

Maryland requires a license from the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners, within the Maryland Department of Health, before anyone may practice massage therapy for compensation. Applicants must graduate from a 750-hour Board-approved, COMTA-endorsed program, pass a Board-approved national exam such as the MBLEx, and separately pass the Board's own Jurisprudence Examination with a score of at least 75%. Licenses run on a 2-year cycle and require 24 hours of continuing education to renew, including 3 hours in professional ethics or jurisprudence.

Maryland Massage License Requirements

Licensing AuthorityMaryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners
TitlesLMT, RMP
Training Hours750 hours — Board-approved program endorsed by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) or an equivalent programmatic accreditor, and accredited by a USDOE-recognized institutional accreditation agency (COMAR 10.65.01.06(8))
ExamMBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination), plus the Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners Jurisprudence Examination (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB); jurisprudence exam administered directly by the Board (75% minimum passing score))
Renewal Period2 years

Fee Breakdown

Application Fee$150
Initial License Fee$200
Renewal Fee (every 2 years)$250

Related & additional fees

Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.

State Jurisprudence Examination fee$275
Reexamination fee$300

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).

Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

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

24 hours every 24 months, including 3 ethics hours.

COMAR 10.65.05.01 requires 24 continuing education hours within the previous 24 months by October 31 of each renewal year, including 3 hours in professional ethics or jurisprudence and 3 hours in communicable disease education. Individuals issued an initial license within 12 months of the renewal date are exempt from CE for their first renewal cycle. Current CPR certification (at least Basic Life Support level) is also required at renewal.

Licensure by Endorsement

Maryland does not offer a general reduced-requirement endorsement pathway for the public — applicants already licensed in another state still submit a standard application (COMAR 10.65.01.06) that includes the same 750-hour education, the Board's own Jurisprudence Examination, and a Board-approved national exam; a verification of status from the other state's licensing authority is just one additional required document, not a bypass of Maryland's own requirements. A distinct, faster 'Access Application' pathway is available specifically for servicemembers and military spouses under the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022.

Sources

Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: COMAR 10.65.01 — Board of Massage Therapy Examiners: General Regulations (definitions, application, education, licensure)