State chapter of a national professional association
American Massage Therapy Association — Massachusetts Chapter
The official AMTA page identifies the Massachusetts chapter as a professional-association connection for the state's massage community.
Massachusetts State Guide
Massachusetts massage therapy guide
Explore Massachusetts massage licensing requirements, professional organizations, insurance considerations, continuing education, workforce data, and official resources, with dated official sources and scheduled review.
Statewide requirements and local rules are identified separately. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Massachusetts licensing
State massage therapist license required
Massachusetts licenses massage therapists and many massage facilities. The statute supplies a 500-hour floor, while the current Board standard curriculum is 650 hours. Annual renewal includes a 3-hour CE requirement after the first renewal, and professional liability insurance is required.
Massachusetts requires the state license for regulated massage practice, subject to statutory and facility exemptions; local bodywork rules may apply separately.
View the full Massachusetts licensing record →- Regulator
- Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy
- Credential
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- Education
- 650 hours
- Renewal
- Licenses renew annually.
Professional support
Professional organizations
The linked AMTA state chapter is a first-party professional-organization starting point, not a regulatory authority.
Practice risk
Insurance considerations
Massachusetts law and current application and renewal guidance require professional liability insurance, but the reviewed authority did not establish a minimum coverage amount. This does not resolve employers, establishments, leases, schools, events, contracts, or local requirements.
General information only—not legal, financial, or coverage advice.
Questions for an insurer
- Which modalities, populations, and locations are covered?
- Are defense costs inside or outside policy limits?
- What incident-reporting deadlines and exclusions apply?
License renewal
Continuing education
Current 269 CMR 4.00 requires 3 hours during the 12 months immediately preceding annual renewal; the first renewal is exempt.
Attest at renewal and retain proof; the Board may audit the current and two prior renewal periods.
See detailed Massachusetts renewal and CE requirements →Official CE starting points
Massachusetts official CE authorityOpen official resource ↗Employment and wages
Massachusetts workforce outlook
BLS May 2023 OEWS estimated 2,430 wage-and-salary massage therapist jobs in Massachusetts, with a median hourly wage of $29.46. These are estimates, not license or practitioner counts.
Estimated wage-and-salary jobs
Median hourly wage
OEWS measures wage-and-salary jobs by occupation through an employer survey.
OEWS excludes self-employed workers, which is material in massage therapy; national self-employment context must not be presented as a state-specific percentage.
Workforce sources and regional projections
Massachusetts agencies and data
Official resources
Start with the Massachusetts massage Board and private occupational massage-school oversight guidance.
licensingMassachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy
Official Massachusetts entry point for massage therapist and facility licensing, applications, renewal, statutes, regulations, and Board notices.
educationMassachusetts Private Occupational Massage School OversightOfficial Massachusetts explanation of private occupational massage-school oversight. School authorization and compliance with the massage Board's curriculum rules are separate checks.
Sources and updates
Reviewed July 25, 2026
Information was reviewed against the linked official and first-party sources. Next scheduled review: August 25, 2026.
Official authority and source list
- Massachusetts Board of Registration of Massage Therapy
- Massachusetts — Statutes and Regulations: Massage Therapy
- 269 CMR 3.00 — Procedure for Registration
- 269 CMR 4.00 — Continuing Education
- 269 CMR 6.00 — Facility Licensure
- Massachusetts — Apply for a Massage Therapy License
- Massachusetts — Massage Therapy Licensing
- Massachusetts — Renew Your Massage Therapy License
- Massachusetts — How Can I Become a Massage Therapist?
- Massachusetts Board — Curriculum Guidelines for Applications
- Massachusetts General Laws c. 112, § 229
- Massachusetts General Laws c. 112, § 230
- Massachusetts Law About Massage Therapy
Local business, zoning, facility, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.