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Massage License Requirements in Nebraska

Verified against Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Massage Therapy) · 2026-07-24

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Nebraska requires a state license to practice massage therapy, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Licensure Unit under the Massage Therapy Practice Act, with oversight from the Board of Massage Therapy. Applicants must complete 1,000 hours at an approved massage therapy school and pass both a board-approved licensure exam (MBLEx or an NCBTMB exam) and a Nebraska-specific jurisprudence exam. Licenses run on a 2-year cycle expiring November 1 of odd-numbered years and require 16 hours of continuing education per renewal period, including a mandatory 3-hour ethics component.

Nebraska Massage License Requirements

Licensing AuthorityNebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Massage Therapy) (DHHS)
TitleMassage Therapist
Training Hours1,000 hours — Board-approved massage therapy school (term of not less than 9 months; requires a high-school diploma/equivalent for admission, a licensed physician on staff, and at least one licensed massage therapist instructor)
ExamMBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB))
Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB exams (NCETMB, NCETM, ACE) — accepted as an alternative board-approved licensure examination, per 172 NAC 81 §002.03
Renewal Period2 years

Fee Breakdown

Initial License Fee$110
Renewal Fee (every 2 years)$110

Related & additional fees

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

Temporary Massage Therapist license (no renewal)$25

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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Continuing Education

16 hours every 2 years, including 3 ethics hours.

172 NAC 81 §008 requires 16 hours of continuing education during the 24 months prior to renewal (up to 50% may be online/electronic), including at least 8 hands-on hours and, per §008.02, at least 3 hours specifically on massage therapy ethics.

Licensure by Endorsement

Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1712 allows DHHS, with Board recommendation, to license an applicant based on licensure in another jurisdiction who meets Nebraska's requirements or substantially equivalent requirements. Per 172 NAC 81 §004.02, an out-of-state applicant with fewer than 1,000 training hours may make up the difference via massage program hours, college credit, full-time practice hours, and/or up to 100 hours of NCBTMB/FSMTB-approved CE. Reciprocity applicants must also pass Nebraska's jurisprudence exam with a score of at least 75% (172 NAC 81 §05.01). A temporary license (up to 1 year) is also available for military spouses with an active out-of-state massage license under §38-1712 and §38-129.01.

Sources

Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: Nebraska Admin. Code, Title 172, Chapter 81 — Massage Therapists