Massage License Requirements in New Mexico
Verified against New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (Regulation and Licensing Department) · 2026-07-24
Compiled and verified against primary state-board sources by GetMassageLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
New Mexico requires state licensure to practice as a massage therapist, administered by the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board within the Regulation and Licensing Department. Licensure requires completion of a minimum 650-hour board-recognized training program and a passing score on a national exam (MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB). Licenses are renewed every two years, expiring October 31, and require 16 hours of continuing education, including at least 4 ethics hours and at least 8 live in-person hours.
New Mexico Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (Regulation and Licensing Department) |
| Title | Massage Therapist |
| Training Hours | 650 hours — Board-registered massage therapy school (schools pay a registration fee and are subject to board review; curriculum changes require separate board review) |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)) Alternatives accepted: NCETM — National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCBTMB); NCETMB — National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); or other examining/certification agency approved by the Board |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $125 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Initial licensure fee (pro-rated, per month) | $5 |
| Late renewal penalty | $75 |
| Temporary license | $25 |
| Verification of NM license | $15 |
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
16 hours every 2 years, including 4 ethics hours.
16 hours of continuing education are required per biennial renewal period (expiring October 31), of which a minimum of 4 hours must be professional ethics and a minimum of 8 hours must be live, in-person courses (hands-on/technique courses are only accepted if taught live, in-person); up to 8 hours may be completed online/home-study.
Licensure by Endorsement
Called 'Expedited Licensure by Credentials' (16.7.8.10 NMAC; Section 61-1-31.1 NMSA 1978): requires a completed application, proof of a current license in an eligible jurisdiction, a certificate of good standing, and the standard application fee. Several jurisdictions are explicitly listed as ineligible for this pathway: U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, American Samoa, California, Guam, Kansas, Minnesota, Northern Mariana Islands, and Wyoming. At renewal, expedited licensees must pass New Mexico's jurisprudence exam, and — if their original jurisdiction didn't require MBLEx/NCETM/NCETMB — must pass one of those three exams. A separate Military/Veteran Expedited Licensure path waives licensing fees for the first three years.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: NM Massage Therapy Board — Licensing, Registration, and Renewal