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Michigan massage licensing record

Michigan licenses massage therapists through LARA. Current guidance generally requires 625 education hours, an accepted national examination, criminal-background processing, human-trafficking and implicit-bias training, and the state application, with a historical education transition.

Statewide requirements and local regulation are identified separately. This record is general information, not legal advice.

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Board of Massage Therapy

US-MI · VERIFIED 2026-07-25

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-07-25 · next review 2026-08-25

Local zoning, occupancy, building, and general business rules may apply. The reviewed LARA materials did not establish a separate statewide massage-establishment license.

Claim-level cautions

Bounded details to confirm

These cautions apply only to the named fields; the rest of the jurisdiction record remains independently supported.

renewal.requiredSubjects

Confirm implicit-bias proration

The current guide states an annualized implicit-bias requirement. Confirm the hours applicable to the exact license cycle when renewing.

evidence.changeWatch

Proposed amendments are not final

LARA noticed proposed massage-therapy rule amendments, including CE wording, for a June 3, 2026 hearing. The proposal is not treated as current law.

Regulatory authority

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Board of Massage Therapy

Visit the official authority

Local business, facility, zoning, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.

Entry requirements

Education, examination, and application

Credential
Licensed Massage Therapist
Minimum education
625 hours
Approved education
Current applicants generally document 625 hours, including prescribed clinical, theory, science, pathology, business, and ethics content. Education predating August 1, 2017 may qualify under the guide's 500-hour transition.
Examination
Michigan accepts MBLEx and a qualifying legacy NCETMB examination under the current guide.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is an accepted current route; qualifying legacy NCETMB history may also satisfy the examination requirement.
Application
Apply through Michigan's licensing system with education, accepted examination, criminal-background processing, human-trafficking and implicit-bias evidence, identity details, fees, and verifications where applicable.
Application fees
The January 2026 guide lists $270.10 for examination or endorsement licensure for a three-year term.
Background check or fingerprinting
The current licensing guide requires criminal-background processing.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Michigan distinguishes applicants licensed fewer than three years from those licensed at least three years and applies different examination, education, verification, and experience review.
Additional requirements
Applicants satisfy one-time human-trafficking training, initial implicit-bias training, identity, English-language, Social Security number or affidavit, and all current disclosure requirements.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Michigan massage therapist licenses renew every three years.
Deadline model
Renew through the Michigan licensing system by the credential expiration date.
Fees
The current LARA fee page lists $248.10 for the three-year massage therapist renewal.
Continuing education
Massage therapists complete 18 hours during the three-year license cycle under current guidance.
Required subjects
The current guide includes 1 hour of pain and symptom management, 2 hours of professional ethics and boundaries, and implicit-bias training at the current annualized rate.
Documentation
Retain CE records for five years and provide them if audited.
Carryover
No carryover authorization was identified in the reviewed current guide.
Late renewal
Late renewal, relicensure, and reinstatement requirements must be confirmed through the current Michigan licensing system and guide.
Inactive license
Inactive and reactivation requirements must be confirmed through current LARA guidance.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
The Michigan Public Health Code and profession rules define massage therapy and covered professional conduct.
Protected titles
Michigan protects licensed massage therapist status under the Public Health Code.
Restrictions
Diagnosis and services reserved to another licensed profession remain outside the massage license.
Municipal or local requirements
Local zoning, occupancy, building, and general business requirements may apply.
Practitioner notes
Recheck the status of 2026 proposed rule amendments and confirm implicit-bias proration before applying or renewing.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

Future verified changes will be listed from this Git-backed record.