Tennessee State Guide
Explore Tennessee massage licensing requirements, education starting points, 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.
Tennessee licensing
Tennessee requires a state massage therapist license. The current standard path uses at least 650 hours, an accepted national examination, and TBI/FBI criminal background review; massage establishments are separately licensed.
Tennessee requires a Board license to practice or hold out as a massage therapist, subject to statutory exemptions.
View the full Tennessee licensing record →Education
One verified first-party program starting point is linked; it is not a directory, ranking, endorsement, or guarantee of licensure. This is a selected starting set, not a complete directory.
The school describes a two-semester program, and a current TCAT Fall schedule was available on the access date.
Visit official program →Verified 2026-07-25
School approval is not the same as massage licensure, accreditation, or a guarantee of outcomes. Confirm current approval, cost, schedule, and admissions directly before enrolling.
Professional support
The linked AMTA state chapter is a first-party professional-organization starting point, not a regulatory authority.
The official AMTA page identifies the Tennessee chapter as a professional-association connection for the state's massage community.
Practice risk
The reviewed Tennessee application and current Board rules did not identify a general statewide professional-liability insurance minimum for every massage therapist. This does not resolve employers, establishments, leases, schools, events, contracts, or local requirements.
General information only—not legal, financial, or coverage advice.
License renewal
Tennessee requires 24 hours per two-calendar-year cycle, subject to current proration and delivery rules.
Retain completion evidence for four years and provide it on Board request.
See detailed Tennessee renewal and CE requirements →Employment and wages
BLS May 2023 OEWS estimated 1,190 wage-and-salary massage therapist jobs in Tennessee, with a median hourly wage of $23.79. 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.
Tennessee agencies and data
Start with Tennessee Massage Licensure Board.
Sources and updates
Information was reviewed against the linked official and first-party sources. Next scheduled review: August 25, 2026.
Local business, zoning, facility, and professional rules may apply in addition to statewide requirements. Confirm current requirements with the responsible authority before acting.