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United States Licensing Atlas

Arkansas Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Arkansas requires a current massage therapist license for compensated practice and separately regulates schools and massage establishments.

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

Arkansas Department of Health, Massage Therapy Section
AR · licensing record1 MI ≈ 1.2 PX
Albers equal-area · 92.1°W · SP 33.6/35.9°N · footprint 273 px · MASS-limitedFull Arkansas plate on the state guide →

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-10-05

State licensure and establishment registration do not displace generally applicable local zoning, business, health, or safety requirements.

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.

Arkansas application forms show different fee components

A current lapsed-license form itemizes application, license, law-exam, and background charges, while an older training-certificate form shows only the license and law-exam amount. Confirm the current first-time total with the Arkansas Department of Health before applying.

Regulatory authority

Arkansas Department of Health, Massage Therapy Section

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
Arkansas requires a current massage therapist license for compensated practice and separately regulates schools and massage establishments.
Minimum education
500 hours
Approved education
Applicants ordinarily complete at least 500 in-classroom hours with the curriculum required by Arkansas Code section 17-86-306; a federally or state-approved registered apprenticeship may satisfy the educational pathway while all noneducational requirements remain.
Examination
The Department accepts MBLEx, NCETM, or NCETMB in lieu of a state licensing examination and also requires the Arkansas Massage Therapy Law examination; it may approve an equivalent examination or require a practical examination.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is an accepted national examination but does not replace the Arkansas law examination, application, background screening, or state license.
Application
Submit the Department application, identity and education evidence, school transcript and diploma, approved examination score, state law examination, required fees, and state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check.
Application fees
The Department's September 2026 lapsed-license application itemizes a $75 application fee, $80 license fee, $25 law exam fee and $38 background fee, $218 in total. Its FAQ gives $180 for licensure before the background fee, and the August 2024 certificate-of-training form lists $105 for the license and law exam. Confirm the Department's current itemization before applying.
Background check or fingerprinting
New licensees, school or apprenticeship enrollees, new school owners, and specified upgrade applicants undergo state and federal criminal-history checks that include fingerprints.
Reciprocity or endorsement
An applicant holding a substantially similar out-of-state license in good standing may seek reciprocity; the rule compares education and examination and requires the Arkansas law exam and supporting evidence.
Additional requirements
The reviewed sources impose no statewide practitioner liability-insurance mandate. Student clinical practice requires student liability insurance, and massage establishments now require state registration under Act 629 of 2025.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Active and inactive licenses renew every two years and expire on the licensee's birthday.
Continuing education
18 hrs
Renewal fee
The current renewal form lists an $80 renewal fee and a $25 late fee between the ordinary deadline and the birthday.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Arkansas law and 17 CAR part 52 define regulated massage therapy and exclude named invasive, depilatory, and other procedures.
Protected titles
A current state license is required for compensated massage practice and protected massage-therapy credentials.
Restrictions
Licensees must follow sanitation, identification, posting, client-rights, and professional-conduct requirements; breast massage carries additional written directive and consent conditions.
Municipal or local requirements
Massage establishments must satisfy state registration and inspection rules while remaining subject to applicable local business, zoning, health, and safety law.
Establishments and other regulated activities
Act 629 of 2025 establishes state registration for massage therapy establishments; schools and postsecondary schools also require Department licensure and inspection.
Practitioner notes
Use the Department's license verification and complaint resources. Rule amendments under Ark. R. 2026-93 took effect August 14, 2026, covering consumer notices, establishment registration and the Interstate Massage Compact section, which applies only once the Compact takes effect.

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.