Skip to content
MDMassageData
United States Licensing Atlas

Louisiana Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Louisiana generally requires a massage therapist license. The Board currently presents a 625-hour education framework, an approved national examination, fingerprint-based background review, and the state application. Section 37:3556 retains a federal-triggered 500-versus-625-hour transition, so applicants should confirm which current Board pathway applies.

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

Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy

State licensing guide

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-07-29 · next review 2026-08-01

State law supersedes local licensing and regulation of massage therapists and establishments while preserving zoning, local health, occupational-tax, and generally applicable authority.

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.

Louisiana's Board and statute describe the education transition differently

The Board currently presents 625 hours operationally, while section 37:3556 retains a federal-triggered transition between 500- and 625-hour structures. Follow the Board's current applicant instructions and confirm which statutory path applies to your application.

Louisiana's graduate provisional path begins August 1, 2026

Act 452 creates a nonrenewable three-month graduate provisional license effective August 1, 2026. It was not yet available on this guide's July 29 review date; confirm Board implementation before relying on it.

Regulatory authority

Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy

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
Credential requirement
A Louisiana license is generally required to practice massage therapy, subject to statutory exemptions and the state-law limits on local licensing.
Minimum education
625 hours
Approved education
The Board's current laws-and-rules guidance presents a 625-hour framework. Section 37:3556 preserves a federal-triggered transition between a 500-hour supervised program and a 625-hour program with specified in-person, synchronous, technique, clinical, anatomy, physiology, and Louisiana-law components. Follow the Board's current 625-hour applicant instructions and confirm which statutory path applies.
Examination
The rules accept MBLEx or another board-approved national examination accredited through the recognized national accreditation framework; the examination generally must have been passed within two years.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is an accepted national examination, but the rule permits another qualifying board-approved national examination.
Application
Submit the board application, statutory fees, education and examination evidence, fingerprint-based criminal-history review, license verifications where applicable, and required disclosures.
Application fees
Section 37:3562 lists a $75 application fee and a separate $125 original massage therapist license fee. Fingerprint-vendor charges are separate.
Background check or fingerprinting
The board requires fingerprint-based criminal-history review for initial licensure and reinstatement through the current IdentoGO process.
Reciprocity or endorsement
A currently licensed out-of-state applicant may receive credit when the originating jurisdiction substantially conforms to Louisiana requirements. The Welcome Home Act supplies an additional residency-based route for qualifying applicants.
Additional requirements
Applicants must satisfy current education, examination, background, identity, and disclosure requirements. The forthcoming provisional pathway has separate establishment and disclosure conditions.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Louisiana massage therapist licenses renew annually.
Deadline model
The current renewal form uses an April 1 through March 31 license year with expiration on March 31.
Fees
Section 37:3562 lists a $125 annual therapist renewal fee and a $100 late-renewal fee.
Continuing education
A therapist completes 12 hours of qualifying continuing education for annual renewal; the first 12 months after initial licensure are exempt under the reviewed rule.
Required subjects
Qualifying CE must meet board content and provider rules. Verified online or home-study education may qualify under the current guidance.
Documentation
Licensees retain and submit qualifying CE documentation as required by the board renewal and audit process.
Carryover
Section 37:3561 permits excess CE to carry forward after the licensee has satisfied the current renewal-year requirement, subject to board rules.
Late renewal
Reinstatement is available under the statute for a lapse under 24 months with required fees and CE; after more than 24 months, a new application and 24 CE hours are required.
Inactive license
Section 37:3561 authorizes inactive status subject to the board's process and conditions.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 37, Chapter 57 and the board rules define and regulate massage therapy practice.
Protected titles
A person generally must hold the state credential to practice or represent themselves as a licensed massage therapist, subject to statutory exemptions.
Restrictions
Licensees must comply with scope, conduct, sanitation, identification, establishment, and renewal rules.
Municipal or local requirements
Chapter 57 supersedes local therapist and establishment licensing and regulation while preserving zoning, local health, occupational taxes, and generally applicable rules.
Establishments and other regulated activities
Massage establishments must register or obtain the separate state credential and comply with LMT identification and operating requirements.
Practitioner notes
Confirm the Board's operative education-hour interpretation and the August 1, 2026 provisional-license implementation before relying on either pathway.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

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