Massage License Requirements in New Mexico
Verified against New Mexico Massage Therapy Board (Regulation and Licensing Department) · 2026-07-24 · verified by agent
New Mexico's 650-hour training requirement is sourced from NM Massage Therapy Board — Licensing, Registration, and Renewal, verified 2026-07-24. Its required exam — MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) — comes from the same source.
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). Read the full MBLEx exam-prep guide for what the exam covers, what it costs, and how to schedule it.
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
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.
Starting your own practice in New Mexico?
Working for yourself usually means a business entity. An LLC keeps your personal assets separate from the practice and is the name your business bank account, lease and liability policy go under. Northwest forms it and acts as your registered agent in New Mexico — a flat fee, no upsell funnel.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Form an LLC with Northwest →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 (verified by: agent) | Source: NM Massage Therapy Board — Licensing, Registration, and Renewal