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United States Licensing Atlas

Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Alabama generally requires a massage therapist license. The current path requires 650 supervised education hours, an approved national examination, fingerprint-based criminal-history review, at least $1 million in liability insurance, and the state application.

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

Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)
AL · licensing record1 MI ≈ 1.2 PX
Albers equal-area · 86.7°W · SP 31.0/34.2°N · footprint 273 px · MASS-limitedFull Alabama plate on the state guide →

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-10-06

The reviewed state sources do not establish broad statewide preemption of generally applicable local business, zoning, or health requirements; verify the intended practice address separately.

Before you act

Details worth confirming

Requirements can change, and some official materials differ on narrow details. Use the current official instructions when applying or renewing.

Alabama's regulator is now ADPH

ADPH administers massage therapy licensing from October 1, 2026. Use its current application and renewal instructions, including CE documentation and proof of liability insurance. Linked rule documents and the existing application gateway may retain former agency names.

Regulatory authority

Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH)

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
Credential requirement
A state massage therapist license is generally required under Chapter 43A, subject to statutory exemptions; separate local operating requirements may apply.
Minimum education
650 hours
Approved education
The current rules require 650 supervised hours: 100 in anatomy and physiology, 250 in massage theory and practice including at least 50 supervised practical hours, 50 in business, hydrotherapy, first aid and CPR, ethics, and law, and 250 approved elective hours.
Examination
Applicants pass MBLEx or another ADPH-approved national examination. ADPH may consider state examinations case by case and does not currently accept the Texas examination.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is an accepted national examination option, not the only potentially approved examination.
Application
Submit the ADPH application, fee, education and examination evidence, proof of liability insurance, and required disclosures. File the application before arranging fingerprinting when required.
Application fees
The current ADPH fee schedule lists $150 for the initial two-year therapist license. The fingerprint/background vendor charge is separate and billed at actual cost.
Background check or fingerprinting
ADPH requires fingerprint-based criminal-history review for applicants who have not completed an application since June 1, 2024. Applicants who completed the check and maintained active licensure since that date do not need another; submit the ADPH application before fingerprinting.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Chapter 43A provides licensure by endorsement when another jurisdiction's standards are equal to or more stringent than Alabama's and ADPH's other conditions are met.
Additional requirements
A therapist must maintain professional and general liability insurance with at least $1 million in coverage from an insurer meeting ADPH rule.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
The current therapist license is issued and renewed on a two-year cycle tied to the licensee's renewal date.
Continuing education
16 hrs
Renewal fee
The current ADPH fee schedule lists $125 for timely therapist renewal and $175 for reinstatement, with the background-check cost separate.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Alabama Code Chapter 43A and the rules administered by ADPH define and regulate massage therapy practice.
Protected titles
A person may not practice or hold out as a licensed massage therapist without the required state credential, subject to statutory exemptions.
Restrictions
Licensees must comply with ADPH scope, conduct, sanitation, recordkeeping, insurance, and establishment rules.
Municipal or local requirements
The reviewed state sources do not establish broad preemption of generally applicable local business, zoning, or health requirements; verify the practice address.
Establishments and other regulated activities
Massage therapy establishments require a separate ADPH license; the current schedule lists distinct establishment fees.
Practitioner notes
ADPH is the regulator from October 1, 2026. Its official pages link the existing application gateway; older agency names on linked rule documents are historical labels.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

No revision to this record has been published yet. Its current review dates are in the overview above, and its official sources are listed below.