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New Hampshire massage licensing record

New Hampshire requires an OPLC massage therapist license for regulated practice and the licensed title.

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

New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification

State licensing guide

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-07-29 · next review 2026-10-29

The statewide license does not displace generally applicable local business, zoning, premises, health, or safety requirements.

Regulatory authority

New Hampshire Office of Professional Licensure and Certification

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
725 hours
Approved education
Current Plc 904.02-.03 recognizes specified accredited massage schools and, for a nonaccredited program, requires at least 725 hours over at least six and one-half months with 150 anatomy and physiology, 375 massage practice, 50 hygiene/CPR/first aid, 50 business/ethics, and 100 practical hours.
Examination
Current Plc 904.05 accepts MBLEx or another written certifying examination recognized for massage licensure in at least one-third of licensing states.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is expressly accepted under the current rule but does not replace qualifying education, application, fee, or the New Hampshire license.
Application
Apply through OPLC with qualifying education and examination evidence, identity and professional-history information, and the current application fee.
Application fees
Current Plc 1002.24 sets $121 for initial licensure, biennial renewal, or reinstatement.
Background check or fingerprinting
Current Plc 904.06 expressly states that a criminal background check is not required for massage therapist licensure.
Reciprocity or endorsement
RSA 328-B authorizes licensure by reciprocity or endorsement when the applicant's out-of-state qualifications are substantially equivalent and the credential is in good standing.
Additional requirements
No statewide practitioner professional-liability insurance mandate was identified in RSA 328-B or current Plc 900.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Licenses renew biennially and expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month in each even-numbered year.
Deadline model
Renew by the assigned last day of the birth month in the even-numbered renewal year.
Fees
Current Plc 1002.24 sets the biennial renewal fee at $121 and the reinstatement fee at $121.
Continuing education
Renewal requires 12 hours of qualifying continuing education during the preceding two-year licensing period.
Required subjects
CE must relate to massage practice. Business courses are limited to three hours and teaching credit to six hours; the rule identifies acceptable providers and subjects.
Documentation
Licensees retain completion evidence and supply documentation when audited or requested by OPLC.
Carryover
The current rule permits qualifying self-study but does not authorize carryover beyond the licensing period or state a separate recurring online-hour cap.
Late renewal
An expired license may be reinstated within one year under the current rule; after that interval the person applies as a new applicant and may not practice while expired.
Inactive license
No separate elective inactive massage therapist status was identified in RSA 328-B or current Plc 900.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
RSA 328-B defines massage therapy and establishes the licensed scope and exemptions.
Protected titles
A current OPLC license is required for the massage therapist title and regulated practice.
Restrictions
Licensees must meet current professional-conduct, disclosure, sanitation, consent, records, and scope requirements.
Municipal or local requirements
The state credential coexists with generally applicable local business, zoning, premises, health, and safety law.
Establishments and other regulated activities
The reviewed current chapter and Plc 900 rules do not establish a separate generally available massage-establishment credential.
Practitioner notes
Use OPLC's license search and complaint resources. Treat the October 2025 current rules as controlling; the removed profession page and legacy requirements PDF remain historical link-review evidence in the Batch D manifest.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

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