Nevada massage licensing record
Nevada licenses massage therapists through a 625-hour standard path, accepted examination, criminal-history review, and a biennial 24-hour CE framework. Massage establishments are separately certified.
Statewide requirements and local regulation are identified separately. This record is general information, not legal advice.
US-NV · VERIFIED 2026-07-25
Overview
State massage therapist license required
Last verified 2026-07-25 · next review 2026-08-25
Local governments may require general business licenses and may impose facility requirements within the statutory framework.
Regulatory authority
Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy
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
- The standard path requires at least 625 hours in qualifying massage-therapy education under Chapter 640C and current NAC.
- Examination
- The Board application page identifies NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, and MBLEx as accepted examinations.
- MBLEx relationship
- MBLEx is one accepted examination option; the Board also lists specified historical examinations.
- Application
- Submit the application, qualifying education and examination evidence, identification, criminal-history materials, disclosures, and fees.
- Application fees
- The Board lists a $480 online total: $295 license, $100 application, and $85 background investigation. A paper application adds a $30 processing fee for a $510 total.
- Background check or fingerprinting
- Criminal-history processing is required; the current fee schedule includes an $85 background-investigation charge.
- Reciprocity or endorsement
- Nevada law provides an out-of-state license path and specified experience alternatives; current statute, NAC, and Board instructions control the individual review.
- Additional requirements
- Applicants satisfy current identity, education, examination, criminal-history, disclosure, and Board documentation conditions.
Renewal
Renewal and continuing education
- Cycle
- Licenses renew every two years.
- Deadline model
- The license expires two years after the first day of the first calendar month following issuance.
- Fees
- The Board lists $295 for online renewal and $325 for paper renewal, including the $30 paper-processing fee.
- Continuing education
- Complete 24 hours per renewal. The first renewal includes 2 hours on human trafficking; later renewal periods include 2 hours of ethics covering Board-specified subjects.
- Required subjects
- The first renewal includes 2 hours on human trafficking. Later periods include 2 ethics hours covering reporting, privacy, standards, human trafficking, and other Board-specified content.
- Documentation
- Retain and provide qualifying completion evidence under Board rules and renewal procedures.
- Carryover
- Excess hours may be carried up to 72 hours for the three succeeding years within a six-year period; the Board FAQ says no more than 96 hours may be submitted.
- Late renewal
- NAC lists restoration at $25 per month expired, capped at $500, when restoration remains available.
- Inactive license
- An expired license may be restored within two years under current law and rules; after that period the current application framework controls.
Practice information
Scope, titles, and local requirements
- Scope of practice
- NRS 640C.060 defines massage therapy as pressure or manipulation of muscular and soft-tissue systems for therapeutic purposes using listed methods.
- Protected titles
- A current Board license is required for regulated practice and protected massage-therapist representations, subject to statutory exemptions.
- Restrictions
- The statutory definition excludes diagnosis and adjustment, mobilization, or manipulation of a joint or spine and limits product-demonstration massage.
- Municipal or local requirements
- Local governments may require general business licenses and may impose facility requirements within Chapter 640C's allocation of authority.
- Practitioner notes
- Confirm the consolidated effect of filed R028-25, the final disposition of proposed R137-26, and current Compact implementation before relying on rule or multistate-practice summaries.
Authoritative sources
Official record evidence
- Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Board — How to Apply for a License · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 640C · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Administrative Code Chapter 640C · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Board — Licensee Frequently Asked Questions · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Board — Massage Establishments · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Board — Regulations and R028-25 Notice · accessed 2026-07-25
- Nevada Register — R137-26 Revised Proposed Regulation · accessed 2026-07-25
Change history
Public record revisions
Future verified changes will be listed from this Git-backed record.