Massage License Requirements in Mississippi
Verified against Mississippi State 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 →
Mississippi requires a license from the Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy (MSBMT) before anyone may practice massage therapy for compensation. Applicants must complete 700 hours of Board-approved education, pass a Board-approved comprehensive national exam such as the MBLEx, and additionally pass Mississippi's own Mississippi State Law Examination (MSLE) covering the state's massage therapy act and MSBMT rules. Licenses run on a 2-year cycle and require 12 continuing education hours per calendar year, including specific hours in Mississippi law and in ethics.
Mississippi Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy (MSBMT) |
| Title | LMT |
| Training Hours | 700 hours — Board-approved massage therapy school program (MSBMT Rules and Regulations, Part 2501, Chapter 4) |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination), plus the mandatory Mississippi State Law Examination (MSLE) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB); MSLE administered by MSBMT (70% minimum passing score)) Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), with automatic score reporting to MSBMT |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Initial License Fee | $200 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $200 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Application Packet Fee, if mailed | $15 |
| Mississippi State Law Examination (MSLE) | $100 |
| Mississippi Professional Examination (MPE) fee | $125 |
| Paper Application Fee for LMT renewals by paper | $35 |
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
24 hours every 2 years, including 3 ethics hours.
MSBMT Rule 10.1 requires a minimum of 12 CEU hours per calendar year (24 across the 2-year renewal cycle). Within each renewal period, 3 hours must be in Mississippi Law, Rules and Regulations, 3 hours in Ethics, and 3 hours in CPR/First Aid (current CPR/First Aid certification also earns 3 CEU hours at renewal). CE hours do not expire.
Licensure by Endorsement
MSBMT Rule 4.5 provides reciprocity for applicants licensed in another state with substantially similar education requirements and no non-compliance rulings from the NCBTMB or FSMTB. Applicants from a 'regulated state' must show at least 3 years of work experience as a massage therapist, proof of passing a Board Comprehensive Examination, must still pass the Mississippi State Law Examination (MSLE), and must submit certified school transcripts. A Provisional Permit (up to two 90-day periods) may be issued while documentation is finalized, but only after the MSLE has been passed.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: MSBMT Rules and Regulations (adopted 12/22/2023)