Massage License Requirements in Texas
Verified against Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation · 2026-07-24 · verified by agent
Texas's 500-hour training requirement is sourced from TDLR Massage Therapy homepage, 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 →
Texas requires a state-issued massage therapist license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) before anyone may practice or advertise massage therapy. Applicants complete a 500-hour approved training program and pass either TDLR's own state exam or the MBLEx (plus a separate Texas jurisprudence exam if the MBLEx route is chosen), along with a criminal background check. Licenses run on a 2-year cycle and require 12 hours of continuing education to renew.
Texas Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) |
| Title | LMT |
| Training Hours | 500 hours — TDLR-approved massage therapy program, or an equivalent college/out-of-state program accepted by TDLR |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB); Texas state exam administered by PSI) Alternatives accepted: Texas Massage Therapist State Exam (PSI) — includes Texas jurisprudence content, so no separate jurisprudence exam is needed if this option is chosen |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $75 |
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
12 hours every 2 years, confirmed with no dedicated ethics-hour carve-out.
12 hours of TDLR-approved or TDLR-recognized continuing education are required each 2-year renewal cycle. Acceptable curriculum includes professional ethics as a topic area, but no minimum number of hours is specifically mandated for ethics.
Starting your own practice in Texas?
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 Texas — 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
Massage therapists licensed in another state may apply through TDLR's out-of-state applicant pathway: submit transcripts/course descriptions proving the 500-hour minimum education, obtain a letter of good standing from the original state licensing board, and pass both the Texas Jurisprudence Exam and the MBLEx (the state PSI exam already covers jurisprudence, but out-of-state applicants using MBLEx must sit for jurisprudence separately). Fingerprinting/background check and the $100 application fee are also required.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 (verified by: agent) | Source: TDLR Massage Therapy homepage