Massage License Requirements in Nevada
Verified against Nevada 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 →
Nevada requires a state-issued license to practice massage therapy, administered by the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy under NRS Chapter 640C and NAC Chapter 640C. As of 2024 rule amendments, applicants must complete 625 hours of Board-recognized training and pass one of four approved national exams (three NCBTMB exams or the FSMTB's MBLEx), then renew every 2 years with 24 hours of continuing education including a mandatory ethics component. State law explicitly preempts county or city massage-specific licensing, so no local overlay exists on top of the state credential.
Nevada Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy |
| Title | Massage Therapist |
| Training Hours | 625 hours — Approved by the Nevada Commission on Postsecondary Education, or offered by a public college in Nevada or another state (NRS 640C.580(3)); the Board may additionally recognize other programs via a review process requiring submission of a detailed training outline (NAC 640C.060) |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)) Alternatives accepted: NCE — National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCBTMB); NCETMB — National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); National Examination for State Licensing (NCBTMB) |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $130 |
| Initial License Fee | $295 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $325 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Application fee (online, discounted) | $100 |
| Renewal fee (online, discounted) | $295 |
| Background check fee | $85 |
| Temporary license fee | $250 |
| Replacement license fee | $50 |
| Reinstatement of suspended/revoked license | $500 |
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.
Mometrix · SponsoredMBLEx Secrets Study GuideFull-length practice tests and step-by-step review for the Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination.See the study guide →
Mometrix · 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 →
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 2 ethics hours.
NAC 640C.100(1) requires 24 hours of CE per 2-year licensing period for massage therapists (up to 72 hours of excess credit may roll over, usable across up to 6 years). Per Adopted Regulation R017-24, at least 2 hours per licensing period must be on ethics (covering NRS 432B.220 child-abuse reporting, HIPAA, standards of conduct, or human trafficking); additionally, during the applicant's FIRST licensing period only, at least 2 hours must specifically address human trafficking (which may also satisfy the ethics requirement).
Licensure by Endorsement
NRS 640C.420 allows the Board to issue a license by endorsement to an applicant holding a current license from another state/territory/possession whose requirements are substantially equivalent to Nevada's; endorsement applicants pay no more than one-half of the standard initial issuance fee (NRS 640C.520(2)). NRS 640C.426 provides an expedited endorsement pathway (decision within 45 days, or 10 days after background check) for active-duty military members, their spouses, and veterans. NRS 640C.640(2)(a) also permits licensure for applicants who have legally practiced massage therapy in another state for at least 3 years.
Local & City Requirements
NRS 640C.100(2) explicitly preempts licensure and regulation of a massage therapist by any county, city, or town. NRS 640C.100(3) carves out only a narrow exception: local jurisdictions may still require a general business license/permit, but only if it applies to persons 'regardless of occupation' (i.e., not massage-specific). No county-specific massage overlay (e.g. Clark County) is referenced in the statute, current NAC text, or the 2024 rule amendments.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: NRS Chapter 640C — Massage Therapists, Reflexologists and Structural Integration Practitioners