Massage License Requirements in Michigan
Verified against Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), 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 →
Michigan requires a massage therapist license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) before anyone may practice massage therapy for compensation. Applicants must complete a Board-approved supervised curriculum of at least 625 hours (500 hours for those who enrolled before August 1, 2017), pass the MBLEx, and complete a criminal background check and human trafficking-awareness training. Licenses run on a 3-year cycle and require 18 hours of continuing education to renew, including a minimum of 2 hours in professional ethics and boundaries.
Michigan Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Board of Massage Therapy (LARA) |
| Title | LMT |
| Training Hours | 625 hours — Board-approved massage therapy supervised curriculum (Mich. Admin. Code R 338.722 / R 338.722a); school must be an NCBTMB-assigned school or accredited by CHEA |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)) Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB) — only accepted if taken prior to November 1, 2014; not available to current applicants |
| Renewal Period | 3 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Initial License Fee | $270.10 |
| Renewal Fee (every 3 years) | $248.10 |
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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18 hours every 3 years, including 2 ethics hours.
18 hours of board-approved continuing education are required during the 3 years preceding renewal (Mich. Admin. Code R 338.739), including at least 1 hour in pain and symptom management and at least 2 hours in professional ethics and boundaries. Licensees must also certify completion of a one-time human trafficking-identification training and complete implicit bias training (1 hour per year of the license cycle) at each renewal.
Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants licensed in another state, country, jurisdiction, territory, or province for less than 3 years before applying must meet the same education/exam requirements as a first-time Michigan applicant. Applicants licensed elsewhere for 3 years or more may qualify under MCL 333.19759(2) by having their license, certification, or registration verified as being in good standing by every jurisdiction where they have ever held one, without needing to separately document Michigan's specific curriculum hours.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: LARA — Michigan Massage Therapy Licensing Guide (rev. 1/26/2026)