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Virginia massage licensing record

Virginia requires a massage therapist license for regulated practice. The standard path uses at least 500 hours, an FSMTB-approved examination, and fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background review.

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

Virginia Board of Nursing

US-VA · VERIFIED 2026-07-25

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-07-25 · next review 2026-10-25

This record does not determine city or county business, zoning, tax, or establishment requirements.

Regulatory authority

Virginia Board of Nursing

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 (LMT)
Minimum education
500 hours
Approved education
The standard pathway requires at least 500 hours in an approved massage-therapy program, documented by official transcript.
Examination
Applicants pass an examination approved by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards; the Board's current initial instructions identify direct MBLEx results from FSMTB.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is the current examination identified by the initial application instructions; endorsement instructions also retain certain historical NCETM or NCETMB examination evidence.
Application
Submit the Board application, official education and examination records, identity and disclosure material, fingerprints, and the required fee.
Application fees
The current Board schedule lists $140 for application and initial licensure.
Background check or fingerprinting
Initial applicants complete fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background checks.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Current rule allows endorsement when the other jurisdiction's requirements are substantially equivalent and the credential is in good standing or eligible for reinstatement. The current Board endorsement checklist also requires official examination history and accepts MBLEx or the retired NCETM/NCETMB examinations for this pathway.
Additional requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 and satisfy the Board's current disclosure and documentation requirements.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Licenses renew every two years.
Deadline model
Expiration is the last day of the birth month in the even- or odd-numbered year matching the licensee's birth-year parity.
Fees
The current schedule lists $95 biennial renewal and a $30 late fee.
Continuing education
Current NCBTMB certification or 24 hours of continuing competency during the biennium satisfies the current rule; the first renewal is exempt.
Required subjects
At least 1 hour addresses professional ethics; at least 12 hours come from listed formal providers, and no more than 12 hours come from listed alternative activities.
Documentation
Keep completion records for four years. The Board may audit randomly, and a selected licensee must respond within 30 days; an extension of up to one year may be granted for good cause.
Carryover
No carryover authorization was identified in the reviewed current rule.
Late renewal
Late renewal uses the $30 late fee. Reinstatement within one cycle requires renewal, late fee, and continuing competency; longer lapses require competency for the lapse capped at four years.
Inactive license
No general inactive status was identified. The fee schedule lists $150 reinstatement and $200 reinstatement after suspension or revocation.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Virginia defines massage therapy as treatment of soft tissues for therapeutic purposes through massage and related manual methods.
Protected titles
The massage therapist license and LMT title are governed by the Nurse Practice Act and Board rules.
Restrictions
The credential does not independently authorize diagnosis, prescription, or acts reserved to another licensed profession.
Municipal or local requirements
No statewide massage-establishment license was established in this review; local business and facility requirements were not researched.
Practitioner notes
Use current Board rules and forms before acting, particularly for endorsement, provisional practice, reinstatement, and background review.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

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