Massage License Requirements in Wisconsin
Verified against Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services — Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board · 2026-07-24
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Wisconsin requires a state license, issued jointly under the title 'Massage Therapist or Bodywork Therapist,' from the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and its affiliated Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Credentialing Board. Applicants complete 600 classroom hours at an approved school and pass both a national competency exam (MBLEx or NCBTMB) and a Wisconsin statutes-and-rules jurisprudence exam. Licenses renew every 2 years and require 24 hours of continuing education, including 2 hours of ethics.
Wisconsin Massage License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services — Massage Therapy and Bodywork Therapy Affiliated Credentialing Board (DSPS) |
| Titles | Massage Therapist, Bodywork Therapist |
| Training Hours | 600 hours — DSPS-approved massage therapy/bodywork therapy training program meeting Wis. Admin. Code ch. MTBT 3 curriculum requirements |
| Exam | Nationally administered entry-level competency exam (typically the MBLEx) plus the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Exam (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) for the MBLEx; DSPS for the state jurisprudence exam) Alternatives accepted: NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) certification examination; NCCAOM Asian Bodywork Therapy Exam |
| Renewal Period | 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $75 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Renewal with late fee | $100 |
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 2 ethics hours.
Wis. Admin. Code ch. MTBT 7 requires 24 hours of continuing education per biennial registration period (running 3/1 of odd years to 2/28 of odd years), with at least 2 hours addressing ethics topics. New licensees are exempt from the requirement for their first renewal. One CE hour equals 50 minutes of instruction.
Licensure by Endorsement
An applicant is eligible for reciprocal licensure if they hold a current, substantially equivalent license, registration, or certificate to practice massage therapy or bodywork therapy in another U.S. state/territory or another country — 'substantially equivalent' includes certification by the NCBTMB or another National Commission for Certifying Agencies-accredited organization. Applicants submit Form #2960 and pay the fee specified under Wis. Stat. §440.05(1).
Sources
- Wis. Admin. Code ch. MTBT 7 — Continuing Education
- DSPS — Massage Therapist/Bodywork Therapist Continuing Education
- DSPS — Massage Therapist or Bodywork Therapist Application Instructions (Form #2960)
- DSPS — Renewal Dates and Fees (Health, Business, and Unarmed Combat Sports)
- DSPS — Massage Therapist or Bodywork Therapist profession page
Data last verified: 2026-07-24 | Source: Wis. Admin. Code ch. MTBT 7 — Continuing Education