Massage Therapy Education & Exam Requirements

Colorado State Requirements

An applicant for registration must attain a degree, diploma, or otherwise successfully complete a massage therapy program that consists of at least five hundred (500) total hours of course work and clinical work from an approved massage therapy educational school that has a valid certificate of approval from the Division of Private and Occupational Schools in accordance with the provisions of Article 59 of Title 12, C.R.S.; or a massage therapy educational program certified by the Colorado Community College System; or a massage therapy educational entity or program that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; or has been certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).

An applicant for registration must pass one of the following examinations: The massage and bodywork licensing examination offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards; or a national certification examination offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.

Connecticut State Requirements

An applicant for licensure must meet the eligibility requirements outlined below:

Graduation from a school of massage therapy offering a course of study of not less than five hundred (500) classroom hours with the instructor present, and at the time of the applicant's graduation was (A) accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or by a state board of post-secondary technical trade and business schools; or (B) accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). Please note that on-line instruction is not acceptable towards meeting the 500 classroom hours.

Passage of the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

Delaware State Requirements

Applicants must have completed 500 hours of supervised in-class study as a student in a school which trains massage or bodywork therapists, or as a student in an approved program of massage or bodywork therapy. The school or program of training must include a curriculum of no less than:

100 hours of anatomy and physiology; 300 hours of technique and theory of massage or bodywork therapy; 100 hours of elective courses in the field of massage therapy.

An official score report to be sent directly from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

Florida State Requirements

Educational and Testing Requirements:

Must be at least 18 years of age or has received a high school diploma or graduate equivalency diploma.

Completed a course of study at a Board of Massage Therapy Approved School or completed a Board-approved apprenticeship program.

Must have completed a 2-hour course on the prevention of medical errors.

Must pass either The National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), the National Certification Examination in Therapeutic Massage (NCETM), the National Exam for State Licensure (NESL) as administered by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork; or The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.

Georgia State Requirements

The applicant has met at least one of the following requirements:

He or she has completed successfully a board recognized educational program with a minimum of 500 hours of course and clinical work.

Has passed satisfactorily the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, an equivalent test approved by the board, or an examination administered by another state or jurisdiction whose license requirements meet or exceed those of this state; or, meets the qualifications necessary to sit for the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or has substantially similar qualifications as determined by the board.

Hawaii State Requirements

Requirements for massage students:

The student program shall consist of not less then five hundred seventy hours. In addition, the student shall successfully complete a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training program.

The curriculum of the massage school shall contain the following:

Not less than fifty hours of anatomy, physiology, and structural kinesiology; not less than one hundred hours of theory and demonstration of massage which shall include: The proper procedure in massaging (concerning the protection of both client and massage therapist), Record keeping, Hygiene, Theory, Technique for specific conditions, contraindications of massage for specific techniques according to conditions, draping, and assessment of the client's condition and the general technique to the applied; not less than four hundred and twenty hours of practical massage training under the supervision of a teacher in a school setting.

Students who complete a course consisting of at least five hundred and seventy hours course from a curriculum approved school by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) or the Rolf Institute shall be eligible to sit for the written clinical competency examination.

Students who complete a course of study in a school approved by the State Department of Education shall be eligible to sit for the written clinical competency examination if the curriculum of the school meets the requirements of subsection (b).

Idaho State Requirements

Currently, the State of Idaho does not regulate Massage Therapy occupations. Please contact your local municipality for information regarding regulations.

Students shall have successfully completed the curriculum or curriculums of one or more massage therapy schools approved by the Department that require a minimum of 500 hours and has passed a competency examination approved by the Department.

Passed the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork's examination, or another massage therapist certifying examination approved by the Division.

Indiana State Requirements

An individual who applies for certification as a massage therapist must:

Is at least eighteen (18) years of age.

Has a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma.

Has successfully completed a massage therapy school or program that requires at least five hundred (500) hours of supervised classroom and hands on instruction on massage therapy; is in good standing with a state, regional, or national agency of government charged with regulating massage therapy schools or programs; and is accredited by the Indiana commission on proprietary education or accredited by another state where the standards for massage therapy education are substantially the same as the standards in Indiana, or is a program at an institution of higher learning that is approved by the board.

Has taken and passed a certification examination approved by the board.

Kansas State Requirements

Currently, the State of Kansas does not regulate Massage Therapy occupations. Please contact your local municipality for information regarding regulations.

Kentucky State Requirements

To qualify for a massage therapy license in this state all applicants must:

Successfully complete a course of study consisting of a minimum of six hundred (600) hours of supervised instruction in a massage therapy training program approved by the board

Successfully passed an examination administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or a certifying agency that has been approved by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, or other examinations approved by the board.

Louisiana State Requirements

To be eligible to take the Board oral examination in the State of Louisiana, you must:

Have satisfactorily completed massage therapy studies in a minimum 500 hour supervised course of instruction. The course of instruction may be provided by a proprietary massage therapy school licensed by the State Department of Education. The minimum 500 hours shall consist of 325 hours dedicated to the study of basic massage therapy techniques and clinical practicum-related modalities, 125 hours dedicated to the study of anatomy and physiology, and an additional 50 hours of discretionary-related course work, including, but not limited to, hydrotherapy, business practices, and professional ethics, health and hygiene, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.

Show proof of having passed the National examination for massage therapy.

Maine State Requirements

The following requirements are considered minimum evidence satisfactory to the department that an applicant is qualified for licensure under this chapter.

An applicant must:

Pass the examination sponsored by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or their successor or other organizations approved by the department; or demonstrate completion of a course of training consisting of 500 or more hours approved by the department.

Maryland State Requirements

All applicants seeking licensure must:

Provide proof of completion of sixty (60) credit hours of college course work and 500 hours of massage therapy education at an approved or accredited school.

Provide proof of passing National Certification Board For Therapeutic Massage and Body Works exam offered by the NCBTMB or the NCCAOM -Asian Bodywork Therapy examination.

Pass the Maryland massage therapy jurisprudence examination.

All applicants seeking registration must:

Provide proof of completion of 500 hours of massage therapy education at an approved or accredited school.

Provide proof of passing an exam offered by the NCBTMB or the NCCAOM - Asian Bodywork Therapy examination

Pass the Maryland massage therapy jurisprudence examination.

Registered Massage Practitioners may practice in a business setting such as private businesses, health clubs and spas. Registered Massage Practitioners may not practice in any health care setting (including, but not limited to, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, doctors' offices).

Massachusetts State Requirements

In order to be licensed as a Massage Therapist, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Successfully complete a Board-approved course of study. The course of study shall include a minimum of 650 classroom hours or an equivalent number of credit hours of supervised instruction at a Licensed Massage School.

At a minimum, the 650 course of study shall include 550 hours of academic courses, including 100 hours in the Anatomy and Physiology of the Body; 45 hours in Pathology; 45 hours in Kinesiology; 300 hours in supervised in-classroom Massage Theory and Technique; and 60 hours in Ethics, Professionalism and Business Practices. Additionally, the 650 hour course of study shall include 100 hours of unpaid and supervised clinical or internship experience.

The applicant submits proof of the passage of either the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) or the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), both of which are administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).

Michigan State Requirements

The Governor has appointed a Board of Massage Therapy, which consists of seven massage therapists and four public members.

The Department of Community Health, in consultation with the Board, is in the process of developing administrative rules that establish the minimum standards for licensure. The development of administrative rules is a detailed and lengthy process. The rules must identify the standards by which all applications are evaluated. The proposed rules will be available at this website as soon as they become available for review by the administrative agencies prior to the required public hearing.

Applications for licensure and the actual issuance of licenses can not begin until the rules have been developed and formally approved. This process can take 12-18 months. At this point, we expect to begin the application and licensure of massage therapists no earlier than Summer 2011.

Minnesota State Requirements

Currently, the State of Minnesota does not regulate Massage Therapy occupations. Please contact your local municipality for information regarding regulations.

Missouri State Requirements

Applicants must be:

A person who has completed massage therapy studies consisting of at least five hundred (500) clock hours of supervised instruction in a Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE) certified school, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) approved vocational program, or school, college, university or other institution of higher learning in the United States accredited by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Department of Education or an equivalent approving body for out-of-state applicants.

The massage therapy program consisted of at least five hundred (500) clock hours of supervised instruction which consisted of:

At least three hundred (300) clock hours dedicated to massage theory and practice techniques. Fifty (50) clock hours dedicated to business practice, professional ethics, hygiene and massage law in the state of Missouri. Fifty (50) clock hours dedicated to ancillary therapies. The fifty (50) clock hours shall include but not be limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.

Evidence of passing one of the following:

National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETBM) as administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or its successor organization; National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) as administered by the National certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or its successor organization; Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) Examination as administered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM); The American Medical Massage Association National Board Certification Examination (AMMA NBCE) administered as of 2006; Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) as administered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards or its successor organization; or an examination deemed appropriate by the board.

Nebraska State Requirements

Course of Study and Training in Massage Therapy of not less than 1,000 hours, distributed over a term of not less than 9 months. All hours must be gained in a class setting.

Such study and training must consist of: 700 hours of the course of study must consist of at least 100 hours in each of the following areas: Anatomy, Health Service Management, Hydrotherapy, Hygiene and Practical Demonstration, Massage, Pathology, Physiology.

The remaining 300 hours must be obtained in subject areas related to the clinical practice of massage therapy which may include, but is not limited to, reflexology, deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, sports massage, pregnancy and infant massage, physiology and psychology of exercise, acupressure therapy, management techniques, stress and practices, hands-on-training, review of health histories and documentation.

National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), National Certification Examination.

Nevada State Requirements

To Apply for a License, you must have:

Completed a Massage Therapy Program with a minimum of 500 hours of education.

Passed a written exam that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), or its successor. This is also known as the National Exam, NCETMB, NCETM or the NESL.

New Hampshire State Requirements

Applicants must have completed:

150 classroom hours of Anatomy & Physiology

375 classroom hours of history, theory, practice, benefits and contraindications of massage therapy related modalities and adjunct therapies, including Swedish massage and hydrotherapy.

50 classroom hours of training in hygiene/sanitary practices to include blood-borne pathogen standards.

Adult CPR and first aid, documented by current certification in each area.

50 classroom hours of health service management, business practices and ethics of massage.

125 verifiably documented practical hours.

Each applicant applying for an initial license as a massage therapist shall pass:

The National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork; or any other nationally recognized certifying examination.

New Jersey State Requirements

To be eligible for certification as a massage, bodywork and somatic therapist, an applicant shall submit to the committee satisfactory evidence of successful completion of a minimum of 500 hours in class study in the field of massage, bodywork and somatic therapies approved by the committee.

Successfully passing either the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, or the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine examination.

New Mexico State Requirements

The applicant for licensure as a massage therapist must have graduated from a massage therapy school approved to operate as a private post-secondary educational institution or its equivalent, and have completed at least six hundred fifty (650) hour program in massage therapy training.

The massage therapy training must meet the following minimum curriculum requirements:

165 hours minimum of anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and 40 hours minimum of pathology.

150 hours minimum of training in massage therapy, including contraindications of massage therapy.

100 hours minimum of hands on training must be completed before the student is allowed to begin a clinical practicum.

75 hours minimum of general instruction to include: business; hydrotherapy.

30 hours minimum of professional ethics.

4 hours of first aid; and 4 hours of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Electives may include: additional massage therapy; related hands-on modalities; additional anatomy and physiology; clinical practicum (not to exceed 150 hours); counseling; herbology; homeopathy; nutrition; breathing and stretching techniques; theory; and other courses with prior board approval.

The applicant for permanent licensure must successfully pass the board's jurisprudence examination as set forth in 16.7.10.8 NMAC.

The applicant must successfully pass the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB), or the National Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM) as provided in 16.7.10.9 NMAC, and must make arrangements for the national examining agency to send official examination results, as defined in 16.7.4.7 NMAC, directly to the board, or MBLEx. The applicant must successfully pass the massage and bodywork licensing examination, and must make arrangements for the examining agency to send official examination results directly to the board.

New York State Requirements

To meet the professional education requirement for licensure, you must:

Graduate from a school or institute of massage therapy with a program registered by the New York State Education Department as licensure qualifying, or its substantial equivalent in both subject matter or extent of training, provided that the program in such school or institute shall consist of classroom instruction with a total of not less than 1000 hours in specific subjects satisfactory to the Department.

Complete coursework in anatomy, physiology, neurology, myology or kinesiology, pathology, hygiene, first aid, CPR, infection control procedures, the chemical ingredients of products that are used and their effects, as well as the theory, technique and practice of both oriental and western massage/bodywork therapy. Within the 1000 hours of education, you will have had to complete a minimum of 150 hours of practice on a person.

To meet the examination requirement for licensure, you must pass the New York State Massage Therapy Examination (see New York State Massage Therapy Examination Blueprint). Before being admitted to the examination, you must have met all requirements for licensure except citizenship.

North Carolina State Requirements

You are eligible to apply for a regular license to practice massage and bodywork therapy if you have completed and can document all of the following requirements:

You have successfully completed a course of study from a board approved school in the field of massage and bodywork therapy consisting of a minimum of 500 in-class hours of supervised instruction at a Board-approved school or an exempted North Carolina Community College program which has attested to the board their massage therapy program meets or exceeds the minimum requirements.

You have passed one of the following examinations:

The National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCETMB) or The National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM), both offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). The Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB), The Oriental Bodywork Therapy Examination (OBTE) offered by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM).

North Dakota State Requirements

To be eligible for a license as a massage therapist, an applicant must present a diploma or credentials issued by one or more schools of massage which indicate a cumulative total of 750 hours of supervised instruction from a school of massage that meets the standards set by the board.

The supervised required hours of classroom instruction received must satisfy the following curriculum requirements:

At least 150 hours of anatomy and physiology, at least 45 hours of pathology, at least 90 hours of kinesiology, including origin, insertion, action, and innervation, at least, but not more than, 10 hours of first aid, hygiene, and CPR, at least 30 hours business practices and 30 hours of professional ethics.

Pass an examination conducted or approved by the board.

Ohio State Requirements

Ohio was the first state to license the practice of massage, and the first applicant was licensed in 1916. Ohio is unique in that it defines massage therapy as a "limited branch of the practice of medicine."

In order to take the Ohio examination, the student must graduate from an approved school with a curriculum consisting of:

Practical and theoretical instruction covering a period of not less than nine months and a minimum of 750 clock hours, and consist of:

Anatomy, physiology and pathology: 325 clock hours; massage theory and practical, including hygiene: 325 clock hours; ethics: 25 clock hours, at least 10 of which shall be in a class dedicated exclusively to ethics; business and law: 25 clock hours; and, such other subjects as the board deems necessary and appropriate to massage therapy: 50 clock hours.

Require that each student, prior to completing the course of instruction, perform, on a licensed massage therapist, at least one therapeutic massage. The school shall ensure that the student massage is evaluated as to whether the student demonstrates at least minimally acceptable competency.

Applicant's seeking registration as a practitioner of a limited branch of medicine shall have passed the basic science portion of the examination authorized and administered by the board by an appropriate score as determined by the board. Test subjects include anatomy, physiology, chemistry, bacteriology, pathology, hygiene, treatment, ethics and law, as appropriate to the limited branch of medicine. Such person shall also have passed the specific limited branch portion of such examination by an appropriate score as determined by the board.

Oklahoma State Requirements

Currently, the State of Oklahoma does not regulate Massage Therapy occupations. Please contact your local municipality for information regarding regulations.

Oregon State Requirements

Applicants must:

Complete a minimum of 500 contact hours of certified classes including the following subjects: Anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, pathology, hydrotherapy, theory and hands-on practice of massage and bodywork techniques and professional practices, including client communication and boundaries, professional and business ethics and sanitation. The board by rule may set the minimum number of required hours for each subject.

Pass an examination prepared and conducted by the board or its authorized representative establishing competency and ability to engage in the practice of massage. The board may accept passage of a board-approved national standardized examination as meeting the written examination requirement.

Pennsylvania State Requirements

Massage therapy programs must provide at least 600 hours of in-class, postsecondary education instruction, including:

At least 175 contact hours of instruction in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology and pathology, including training in the human immunodeficiency virus and related risks.

At least 250 contact hours in massage therapy and bodywork assessment, theory and practice including sanitation, safety and hygiene.

At least 25 contact hours in professional ethics, and business and law related to a massage therapy business.

At least 150 contact hours in related courses appropriate to a massage therapy curriculum (related to required knowledge base), including cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Externship hours may not be included in the 600-hour minimum education instruction.

Hours for practicing assigned techniques under indirect supervision may not be included in the 600-hour minimum education instruction.

Licensure examinations:

The Board adopts the NCETM (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage) and NCETMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork) , including the NESL (National Examination for State Licensing) option, and MBLEx (Massage & Bodywork Licensing Examination) as approved examinations for initial licensure.

South Carolina State Requirements

The following are requirements for licensure application:

Complete a massage therapy program of five hundred hours of supervised study at a massage/bodywork school approved by the Department to have met the minimum qualifications as set forth by the Commission on Higher Education for such programs.

Pass a national examination approved by the Department. The Department, in conjunction with the Advisory Panel, approves the national examination known as the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork as the national examination required for licensure.

South Dakota State Requirements

Educational and Exam Requirements:

500 hours of specific in-class, instructor supervised coursework is required, consisting of:

Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology (to include all 11 systems of the human body): Minimum of 125 hours required.

Clinical Pathology and recognition of various conditions: Minimum of 40 hours required.

Massage / Bodywork Theory, Assessment and Application: Minimum of 200 hours required.

Adjunct techniques & methods that theoretically complete a massage program: Minimum of 125 hours required.

Business Practices and Professionalism: Minimum of 10 hours total (to include 6 clock hours of ethics) required.

A passing score on a national exam is required for licensing. An acceptable exam may be one of the following: NESL (National Examination for State Licensing); NCETM (National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage; NCETMB (National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork; NBCA Massage Therapy Certification Exam; FBLEx (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards).

Tennessee State Requirements

Massage Therapist Education and Exam requirements:

Completed a massage therapy program from one or more post secondary academic institution(s) approved by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission or its equivalent in another state(s), or approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents.

Applicant has successfully completed a massage, bodywork, and/or somatic therapy curriculum(s) consisting of no less than five hundred (500) classroom hours, consisting of:

200 classroom hours of sciences including, but not limited to, anatomy, physiology-Western and/or Eastern, kinesiology, pathology, HIV/AIDS, and blood-borne pathogens, and hygiene (including standard precautions). Other sciences related to the human body may be included with Board approval.

200 classroom hours of basic massage theory and practice including, but not limited to, history, benefits, indications, contraindications, demonstration and supervised practice, client assessment/evaluation, soft tissue manipulations including: gliding, kneading, friction, compression, vibration, percussion, stretching, joint movements, draping, positioning, turning, feedback, charting/documentation, proper body mechanics, and self-care.

85 classroom hours of related subjects including, but not limited to, business standards of practice, communication skills, CPR/First Aid, the Americans with Disabilities Act, referral methods, specialized populations, and specialized and adjunct therapies/modalities (including hydrotherapy).

10 classroom hours of ethics instruction.

5 classroom hours of instruction regarding Tennessee massage statutes and regulations.

Verification of having successfully completed the National Certification Examination or verification of having successfully completed a Board-approved examination, as provided in Rule 0870-01-.08.

Texas State Requirements

Educational Qualifications for Licensure as a Massage Therapist:

Each applicant for licensure as a massage therapist must present evidence satisfactory to the department that the person:

Has successfully completed a minimum of a 500-hour supervised course of instruction in massage studies provided by a licensed massage school, a massage therapy instructor at a massage school, a state approved educational institution, or a combination of any of these.

The 500-hour supervised course of instruction must include:

200 hours of massage therapy techniques and theory and the practice of manipulation of soft tissue, with at least 125 hours of Swedish massage therapy techniques; 50 hours of anatomy; 25 hours of physiology; 50 hours of kinesiology; 40 hours of pathology; 20 hours of hydrotherapy; 45 hours of massage therapy laws and rules, business practices and professional ethics; 20 hours of health, hygiene, first aid, universal precautions, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); 50 hour internship.

Examinations Required for Licensure as a Massage Therapist:

All applicants must pass a massage therapy examination approved by the department prior to submitting an application for licensure. Approved examinations must be broadly recognized for licensure purposes by other states that regulate massage therapists.

Utah State Requirements

An applicant must graduate from a school of massage with a curriculum, which at the time of graduation, meets the following standards:

Curricula must be registered with the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Consumer Protection or an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

Curricula shall be a minimum of 600 hours and shall include the following:

Anatomy, physiology and kinesiology - 125 hours; pathology - 40 hours; massage theory including the five basic Swedish massage strokes - 285 hours; professional standards, ethics and business practices - 35 hours; sanitation and universal precautions including CPR and first aid - 15 hours; clinic - 100 hours; and other related massage subjects as approved by the Division in collaboration with the Board.

Applicants for licensure as a massage therapist shall:

Pass the Utah Massage Law and Rule Examination; and pass one of the following examinations: the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCETMB; the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage (NCETM); the National Examination for State Licensure (NESL); or the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx).

Virginia State Requirements

Educational and Exam Requirements to be a certified Massage Therapist:

Has successfully completed a minimum of 500 hours of training from a massage therapy program, certified or approved by the State Council of Higher Education; or an agency in another state, the District of Columbia or a United States territory that approves educational programs, notwithstanding the provisions of §22.1-320 of the Code of Virginia.

Has passed the National Certification Exam for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork or an exam deemed acceptable to the Board of Nursing leading to national certification.

Washington State Requirements

In order to qualify for a massage practitioners license in this state all applicants must show completion of a state approved massage school or apprenticeship program before qualifying for a license, with a minimum of 504 hours.

Minimum program requirements:

130 hours of anatomy and physiology, at least 40 of these to be kinesiology.

50 hours of pathology, including indications and contraindications.

265 hours of theory and practice of massage, to include techniques, remedial movements, body mechanics of the practitioner, and the impact of techniques on pathologies. A maximum of 50 of these hours may include time spent in a student clinic. Hydrotherapy is to be included when consistent with the particular area of practice.

55 hours of clinical/business practices, minimally to include hygiene, record keeping, medical terminology, professional ethics, business management, human behavior, client interaction and state and local laws.

Certification in American Red Cross first aid and American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

4 contact hours of training in HIV-AIDS in the following six topics: Etiology and epidemiology; Transmission and infection control; Testing and counseling; Clinical manifestations and treatment; Legal and technical issues; and Psychosocial issues. Training can be obtained from local community hospitals and colleges.

Scope of Examination:

(1) The examination for a massage practitioner's license shall, except as noted in subsection (2) of this section, consist of written questions as well as a practical demonstration of massage therapy.

(2) An applicant handicapped by blindness will not be subject to a written examination. A blind applicant will be asked questions orally to appropriately test the range and depth of his/her knowledge of the subjects shown in subsection (3) of this section.

(3) Questions will be sufficient in number to satisfy the board of massage that the applicant has been given an adequate opportunity to express his or her knowledge relating to subjects as stated in RCW 18.108.073(2).

(4) The practical demonstration of massage will be conducted before the examiner(s) and the applicant will be required to perform massage therapy. The following will be evaluated:

(a) Professional manner, (b) Lubrication, (c) Overall demonstration of work: Pressure, rhythm, smoothness, organization, (d) Interaction with client, (e) Effleurage, (f) Petrissage, (g) Friction, (h) Vibration, (i) Tapotement, (j) Joint demonstration and Swedish gymnastics, (k) Specific muscle demonstration, (l) Client endangerment, (m) Draping and turning, (n) Treatment of various conditions.

West Virginia State Requirements

License requirements include the following:

Completion of a program of massage education at a school approved by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission or by a state agency in another state, the District of Columbia or a United States territory which approves educational programs and which meets qualifications for the National Certification Exam administered through the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. This school shall require a diploma from an accredited high school, or the equivalent, and require completion of at least five hundred hours of supervised academic instruction.

Successful completion of the National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCTMB) examination, or other board approved examination.

Wisconsin State Requirements

Rules for licensure require the massage therapy training program to meet the requirements under s.460.095 and to consist of at least 600 classroom hours.

A requirement that an applicant for a license under this chapter submit evidence satisfactory to the affiliated credentialing board that the applicant has current proficiency in the use of an automated external defibrillator achieved through instruction provided by an individual, organization, or institution of higher education approved under s.46.03 (38) to provide such instruction.

A requirement that an applicant for a license under this chapter pass an examination on state laws and administrative rules governing massage therapy and bodywork therapy.

Wyoming State Requirements

Currently, the State of Wyoming does not regulate Massage Therapy occupations. Please contact your local municipality for information regarding regulations.