Massage License Requirements in West Virginia
Verified against West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board · 2026-07-24
Compiled and verified against primary state-board sources by GetMassageLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
West Virginia requires a state license from the Massage Therapy Licensure Board before anyone may practice massage therapy. Applicants complete 625 hours of supervised academic instruction (raised from 500 hours effective July 1, 2023) and pass the MBLEx or an equivalent board-approved exam. Licenses renew every 2 years and require 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of professional ethics. A separate Massage Establishment License requirement for business locations was added by 2023 legislation.
West Virginia Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | West Virginia Massage Therapy Licensure Board |
| Title | LMT |
| Training Hours | 625 hours — Program of massage education at a school approved by the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education, or an equivalent state-approved program |
| Exam | MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB)) Alternatives accepted: NCTMB (National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) — legacy NCBTMB credentialing exam; the Board's own site notes it is 'no longer offered'; Any other board-approved examination |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $50 |
| Initial License Fee | $300 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $200 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Duplicate or replacement license | $25 |
| Late fee (late renewals) | $50 |
| License verification fee | $30 |
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
24 hours every 2 years, including 3 ethics hours.
The Board's own Continuing Education page states a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education is required each 2-year licensure period, of which at least 3 hours must be in professional ethics; up to 6 CEU's may be carried over from the prior period. The underlying statute (W. Va. Code §30-37-8) delegates the specific hour count to board rule ('conforming to NCBTMB, FSMTB, or board approved guidelines') rather than fixing a number itself.
Licensure by Endorsement
W. Va. Code §30-37-7 allows reciprocal licensing for professionals already licensed in another state; reciprocal applicants may satisfy requirements via successful completion of the NCTMB examination, MBLEx, or any other board-approved examination.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: West Virginia Code §30-37-7 — Requirements for Licensure