Step 1: Complete the 10 Hour Law and Rules Course
There is a good reason for starting here. This course should be completed when you apply for your license. The certificate can be uploaded during the online application, or mailed with the paper application.
During the online application, you will need to enter our provider and course numbers, which are listed below.
| Description | Number |
|---|---|
| Provider Number | #50-16951 |
| Course Number | #20-314907 |
If You Have Already Applied
If you take this course after submitting your application, you will need to either email or post mail the completion certificate to the Board office. You can email the certificate directly to your processor or to this address: [email protected].
Read Through the 10-Hour Laws Course
I understand that going through a laws course is probably not your idea of fun reading, but knowledge of Florida massage law can prevent you from facing future disciplinary action, so I highly encourage you to review the course in its entirety.
Step 2: Fill out Application
The second step is to complete the application and pay the required fees. You can complete the application online or print and mail it.
Application Tips
One of the first things you need to do on your application is determine your route to licensure. This means you will need to apply either by endorsement or examination.
Endorsement
Broadly, you qualify for endorsement if:
- You hold a current, active license in another state, and
- That license was issued based on education standards equal to or more stringent than Florida’s, and
- You have taken and passed a national examination (MBLEx or NCETMB/NCETM) or the New York State Exam (either before or after the license was issued in another state)
Examination
You should likely apply by examination if you:
- Have not yet taken a Florida board-approved examination. Florida board-approved exams include:
- MBLEx
- NCETMB
- NCETM
- NESL
- NYS State Exam
- Or Florida State Exam prior to 1996
- Never held a massage license in any state
- Had a massage license in Florida or another state which has expired
Disclosure of Prior Legal Issues
Be sure to disclose all previous convictions, guilty pleas, and nolo contendere pleas, regardless of years past or anything else!
This includes misdemeanors, felonies, “driving while intoxicated (DWI)” and “driving under the influence (DUI).” Crimes must be reported even if they are a suspended imposition of sentence. All prior disciplinary action against any other professional licenses must be reported, whether it occurred in Florida or another state or territory.
This does not include minor traffic violations not related to the use of drugs or alcohol.
Failure to disclose is a leading reason for license denial. There is a very good chance that your conviction will have no impact on the licensing decision, so be sure to include everything.
Check out the FAQ section for more on this subject.
Before You Hit “Submit”
Do not submit an incomplete application. If you happen to do this by accident, contact the Board office.
Do not forget to pay the application fee. It is possible to submit the application without paying the fee, but the Board will not issue a license until the fee is paid in full.
Receiving a File Number
Once your application is processed, you will receive a file number. You have one year to complete the licensing process after you apply. If possible, include your file number on any subsequent correspondence with the Board staff or materials you need to submit.
Applying for a License in a Renewal Year (2019, 2021)?
See this FAQ about initial renewal requirements and grace periods.
Board of Massage Mailing Address
For Applications and Fees ONLY:
Department of Health
Board of Massage Therapy
P.O. Box 6330
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330
For Other Correspondence (transcripts, certificates):
Department of Health
Board of Massage Therapy
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin C-06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3257
Massage License Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | $50.00 |
| Licensure Fee | $100.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| Total Fees | $155.00 |
Step 3: Request State Verification (if previously or currently licensed)
You must request an official license verification(s) to be submitted to the Board, directly from all state licensing boards in which you currently hold, or have previously held any health-related professional license.
Here is the form you send to the state boards where you were licensed. That board office will send the verification directly to the Florida Board of Massage.
Make sure to include the fee required by the state from which you are requesting this information.
To request a verification, you will need to contact the state boards where you are/ were licensed. The board of massage websites are the best place to start. Most have a “request license verification” link. This is different than just verifying a license to see if it is valid.
If you cannot find the link, call or email your state board office and they should be able to provide the verification form for you.
A few state verification website examples:
State Licence Verification Tips
The official licensure verification must state the following:
- Current status
- Method of licensure (exam or endorsement)
- Date of original licensure
- Any discipline; if license has been disciplined you must submit a self-explanation and all relevant disciplinary documentation.
You can skip this step if you have never held a massage, or health-related, license in any state.
Step 4: Fingerprinting and Background Screening
Applicants for initial licensure must use a Livescan service provider to have their fingerprints submitted electronically to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for conducting a search for any Florida and national criminal history records that may pertain to the applicant.
Fingerprinting and Background Screening Tips
You will need to have the Florida Board of Massage Massage ORI number. That number is: EDOH4600Z
Make sure you take the Massage Therapy Electronic Fingerprint Form with you to the Livescan provider.
Please check the Livescan service provider’s requirements to see if you need to bring any additional items, like additional forms of identification.
If you are looking for a Florida Livescan provider, I recommend Fieldprint Florida. They not only have locations in Florida, but throughout the country. Simply put in your zip code to find the location nearest you.
Previous fingerprints used in other states for other licenses cannot be reused. I have not seen fingerprints from the sheriff station work, either.
Step 5: Additional Steps (if needed)
For endorsement candidates, your school hours and proof of examination completion may be included on your state verification. Still, it may be necessary to contact your school for a transcript, or request exam scores from the appropriate organization. The Board office will contact you if they need these additional documents after receiving your state verification.
Examination candidates that have been previously licensed in another state, but do not hold a current or active license will still need to obtain a state verification. Therefore, you may not need to obtain these additional documents if your state includes the necessary information on their state verification.
Examination candidates that have never been licensed in another state likely will be required to submit both their school transcripts and exam scores. However, because there is typically a fee associated with these requests, I would recommend waiting to pursue these steps until the Board specifically asks you for this information.
School Transcript
Contact the school you attended and request a transcript be sent directly to the Florida Board of Massage.
There may be a small fee associated with this request.
If your school has closed, here are my tips for obtaining your transcript.
Request Exam Scores
All applicants must show completion of a Florida board-approved exam. Again, many endorsement candidates will have this information included in their state verification. Endorsement candidates that took an exam after getting their license in another state may need to complete this request.
These are Florida Board-Approved Exams according to Rule 64B7-25.001 Examination Requirements:
- MBLEx
- NCETMB, NCETM, or NESL
- Florida exam prior to 1996
- NYS Exam (not listed in the Rule, but determinted to be equivilant to the above exam)
How to Request Exam Scores
If You Took the Mblex
Request scores from the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). Use this score transfer form.
There is a $20 fee.
If You Took the NCETMB, NCETM, or NESL
Request scores from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB).
Contact customer care center:
Phone: 1-800-296-0664
Email: [email protected]
There is a $20 fee.
If You Took the New York State Exam
Your exam score is included with state verification. Here is the link to obtain a State Verification/Certification.
There is a $20 fee.
If You Need to Take an Exam
The NCBTMB no longer offers the NCETMB or NCETM. The MBLEx is the only Florida board-approved national exam that you can sit for if you have not yet taken an exam. Exams are given daily around the country at Pearson centers. If you fail the exam, you must wait 30 days to retest.
Exam Fee: $195 per attempt
Exam Application: Application Link
Need a study aid to prepare for the MBLEx? Visit our sister site, MassageExamAcademy.com.
Other Permits and Licenses
Massage Establishment License
Massage therapy must take place in a licensed massage establishment (with the exception of mobile massage).
If you plan to rent or own your own business, verify the location has an establishment license before you begin to work. If it does not, make sure you or the owner obtain a massage establishment license. If you are an employee, make sure the business owner obtains an establishment license for the location.
There is one exception, licensed massage therapists employed by chiropractors will not need a massage establishment license. Independent contractors or renters (this indicates you are not an employee) still need a massage establishment license.
If a massage therapist is found working at a location without a massage establishment license, it is the therapist who is often reprimanded as they should know this requirement from taking their 10-Hour Florida Laws and Rules course.
Here is a little more information on massage establishments, including a few exemptions and additional Rules.
Massage Establishment Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | $150.00 |
| Licensure Fee | $100.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| Total Fees | $255.00 |
Massage Establishments Require Specific Insurance
The owner(s) or corporation(s) is/ are required to maintain property damage and bodily injury liability insurance coverage on the massage establishment. Inspectors will ask for insurance during the inspection.
Proof of insurance must list the exact business name, address and owner(s) of the establishment as listed on the application.
Only the licensed massage therapist who is the owner of the establishment may use insurance from a professional association to satisfy this requirement for massage establishment licensure.
This means AMTA, ABMP, or FSMTA insurance policies can be used if they include both property damage and bodily injury insurance.
Massage Establishment Inspection
All licensed establishments are required to be inspected by the Department of Health prior to opening. After your first inspection, inspections will be on an annual basis.
Here is a sample inspection form.
Establishment License Renewal
Establishment licenses expire odd years (2019, 2021) on August 31st.
There are no educational requirements to renew an establishment license other than the renewal fee.
Establishment License Renewal Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Licensure Fee | $100.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| Total Fees | $105.00 |
Local Licenses and Permits
You may require other local business permits and licenses depending on the area where you establish your massage practice. This includes filing a fictitious name or DBA (Doing Business As) paperwork.
Here is some further reading on other costs and license/ permits.
Massage License Renewal Information
ALL licenses expire August 31st of odd years (2019, 2021, 2023). The next renewal deadline is August 31st, 2019.
For Your First Massage Therapist License Renewal
Continuing Education Requirement
Continuing education hours are prorated for the first renewal. You are required to complete one (1) hour of continuing education for every month you have been licensed. For example, if you get your license in January of 2019, you will need to complete eight (8) hours of continuing education because you will have been licensed eight (8) months at the time of the August 31, 2019 renewal.
All hours can be completed online by a board-approved provider for the first renewal only. There is not a live/ hands-on requirement for the first renewal period.
A 2-hour Prevention of Medical Errors course is required and counts towards your CE hours requirement.
Florida board-approved providers must submit your completed hours to CE Broker within 30 days of completion.
Hours taken from NCBTMB providers that are not Florida board-approved are accepted for credit. However, they (the NCBTMB only providers) are not required to submit hours to CE Broker and you will need to complete that task. Your license cannot be renewed until all hours are reported to CE Broker.
Massage License Renewal Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Licensure Fee | $100.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| Total Fees | $105.00 |
You can learn more about first-time renewal, including what grace periods may be available, by clicking here.
After Your First Renewal
Continuing Education Requirement
You must complete 24 Hours of Continuing Education from a Florida board-approved provider every renewal cycle.
Florida board-approved providers must submit your completed hours to CE Broker within 30 days of completion.
Hours taken from NCBTMB providers that are not Florida board-approved are accepted for credit. However, they (the NCBTMB only providers) are not required to submit hours to CE Broker and you will need to complete that task. Your license cannot be renewed until all hours are reported to CE Broker.
You must complete at least twelve (12) hours in massage therapy techniques.
These must be hands-on or include demonstration, pertain to massage, and be in the presence of an instructor.
Up to twelve (12) hours can be in a home study/online format.
The following ethics courses must be completed each renewal and count toward the 24 continuing education hours:
- Two (2) Hours of Professional Ethics
- Two (2) Hours of Florida Massage Law and Rules
- Two (2) Hours of Prevention of Medical Errors
These courses may be completed in a classroom setting or in a home study/ online format.
Click here to view our license renewal packages.
Massage License Renewal Fees
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Licensure Fee | $100.00 |
| Unlicensed Activity Fee | $5.00 |
| Total Fees | $105.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions
I was grandfathered into licensure in my state or I practice in a state that does not require a licensing exam?
Unfortunately, completion of the NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, New York State Exam, or MBLEx is mandatory for licensure in Florida. I have contacted the Florida Board of Massage on several occasions regarding special situations for therapists who haven’t taken a licensing exam. I have yet to learn of an exception to this requirement.
While is not fun for me to tell you this, I would rather you be informed and prepared upfront than to receive an unpleasant surprise in the middle of the process.
I am sure you think you have forgotten everything you learned in school, but you haven’t. No one likes exams. You can do this. I built a separate website for helping therapists prepare for the MBLEx, which you can review here.
Can I have more than one massage therapy license?
Luckily, massage licenses are not like citizenship; you do not have to relinquish one for another. You can hold a license in all fifty states if you want to.
Getting a license in Florida does not negate the current massage license you hold. If you keep both licenses current, you will just be dually licensed.
I hold both Iowa and Florida massage licenses. I just follow the laws in the state that I am practicing.
I was told I need 3 hours of HIV/AIDS and Prevention of Medical Errors in addition to the 10 hour Law and Rules course. Do you offer those courses?
3-Hour HIV/AIDS and 2-Hour Prevention of Medical Errors are no longer required for those with out-of-state education. As such, the only CE course you need is 10-Hour Florida Law and Rules.
Do I need to obtain a massage establishment license?
Massage (excluding mobile-only business) must be conducted in a licensed massage establishment. Please see the section on Massage Establishment licensing for further details.
All establishments must be insured and require an inspection from the Department of Health.
I had a run-in with the law many years ago, do I need to disclose it?
I have sat in on, and listened to my fair share of Florida board of massage meetings. Here are a few of the reasons I’ve heard for non-disclosure:
- I forgot about it.
- It was so many years ago, I didn’t think it mattered.
- It didn’t come up on a background check at previous employment, so I didn’t think I needed to include it.
- I was told by a licensed therapist friend that I didn’t need to put it down.
None of these are reasons are acceptable to the Board. The Board has a pretty strict policy – “If you lie, we deny.” Meaning, if you lie your application, they will deny your license application. They value honesty and disclosure.
And the application says “ever.” No matter if it has be 3 months or 30 years, mark it down.
From the Board website:
“Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of, or pleaded guilty or no contest/nolo contendre to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must respond accurately to the criminal history questions on the application. Failure to respond correctly to the criminal history questions on the application may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merit.”
For further reading, check out the Florida Board FAQ, which has several entries on criminal record and reporting.
My school closed and I need a transcript. How do I find a copy for the Board?
This can sometimes take a little bit of legwork, but it’s almost always possible. Here are my tips to help you obtain a copy of your transcript.
I took the NCETMB or NCETM, but am not “nationally certified” anymore. Do I have to take the exam again?
It does not matter that your NCTMB credential has expired; it just matters that you took and passed the NCETMB exam at some point. There is no need to retake the exam. Your exam scores never expire!
Should I start this process before I move?
I highly suggest you start the process before you move. This will help minimize the gaps in income (so you can start working sooner) when you do move. It is the same cost to apply for a license now as it will be anytime before the next August 31st every odd year renewal deadline.
I would suggest starting the process a few months before you plan to move.
One, because it takes time to get all of your information to the Florida board (transcripts, test scores, proof of current license, course transcripts).
Second, if you are going to open a business where your clients come to you, you will most likely need to get a massage establishment license and inspection. This takes a couple weeks to complete.
I was able to get my license by endorsement in about six (6) weeks. That included sending a second school transcript because my first one never arrived at the Board office.
It is great you are planning ahead, many do not. Those people are in Florida unable to work as a massage therapist as they wait for their massage/establishment licenses.
I see that Florida massage licenses expire August 31st every odd year. When is the best time to apply for a license?
Every massage therapist needs 24 hours of CE’s at the biennial renewal, except new licensees or transfer licensees. New Florida massage therapists are required to complete one (1) CE Hour for every month or partial month from their date of licensure until the renewal date (August 31st, 2019).
Grace Period: Massage therapists licensed between June – August of the current renewal year (2019) fall into a grace period that allows them to wait until the next renewal period (2021) to renew their license for the first time. These therapists will need to complete 24 CE Hours for their 2021 license renewal.
Learn more about first-time Florida license renewal here.
I don’t see my question here.
Have a question that I haven’t answered in this guide? Let me know! You can contact me in the following ways:
Email: [email protected]
Call or Text: (319) 560-4143
If I don’t answer your call, leave a short message and I will call you back as soon as possible. Thanks!
Board Contact Information
Phone: (850) 245-4161
Email: [email protected]
Fax: (850) 921-6184