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United States Licensing Atlas

Maryland Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Maryland licenses massage therapists (LMT) on a 750-hour standard pathway with 24 hours of CE every two years. No new registered massage practitioner (RMP) registrations have been issued since October 1, 2024; Chapter 191 (effective July 1, 2026) lets existing RMPs keep practising beyond October 31, 2026 and revised the license qualifications.

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

Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners
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Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-10-06

Local business, zoning, facility, and county requirements were not researched and may apply separately.

Regulatory authority

Maryland State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners

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 (LMT); legacy Registered Massage Practitioner (RMP)
Credential requirement
Maryland requires the applicable state credential for regulated massage practice, subject to statutory exemptions and the legacy RMP transition.
Minimum education
750 hours
Approved education
The standard route is a massage program of at least 750 contact hours with a Board-approved curriculum, endorsed by COMTA or an equivalent entity, at an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Out-of-state applicants are reviewed case by case.
Examination
Applicants pass the MBLEx, an NCBTMB examination or an NCCAOM examination, then the Board's online jurisprudence examination (75 percent to pass; after two failures the re-take fee is $250, with a 30-day wait).
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is one of three accepted national examinations (with NCBTMB and NCCAOM examinations). It does not replace the Maryland jurisprudence examination or the license.
Application
Apply through the Board's Massage Portal with official transcripts, national examination results and disclosures; after approval, register for and pass the jurisprudence examination, then pay the license fee.
Application fees
COMAR 10.65.07.02 sets a $150 application fee, a $275 state examination fee and a $200 license fee. Since December 31, 2024 the Board accepts no checks or money orders; forms and payments go through its online portal. (The Board's fee page still describes payment by certified check.)
Background check or fingerprinting
Applicants submit to a criminal history records check under § 6-303 (§ 6-302(b)(6)).
Reciprocity or endorsement
Out-of-state applicants are reviewed case by case. An applicant with fewer than 750 contact hours may qualify with 10 years of continuous licensure or registration in good standing, 1,000 hours of hands-on experience within the past 2 years, or a combination of program hours, continuing education and licensed hands-on work totaling 750 hours. Section 6-302(d) also lets the Board waive requirements for an out-of-state licensee whose education and examination it finds equivalent.
Additional requirements
Applicants must be at least 18 and of good moral character (§ 6-302(b)). No practitioner insurance requirement appears in COMAR 10.65 or §§ 6-101, 6-301 and 6-302.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Licenses and registrations renew every two years; the current period ends October 31, 2026.
Continuing education
24 hrs
Renewal fee
COMAR 10.65.07.02 sets a $250 biennial renewal fee, plus the Maryland Health Care Commission assessment collected at renewal (10.65.07.03). Renewing within 30 days after expiration adds a $200 late fee; after 31 days reinstatement costs $475 including the renewal and late fees. Inactive renewal is $50 and reactivation $350.
Required topics
3 hours of ethics or jurisprudence, 3 of communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS, 2 of diversity, cultural competency or implicit bias, and 16 elective hours pertaining to human anatomy …

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Maryland's Health Occupations Article defines massage therapy and regulated practice; current law controls exact LMT and RMP boundaries.
Protected titles
LMT and legacy RMP titles and practice status are regulated under the Board statute; Chapter 191 preserves existing RMP credentials and ends new issuance.
Restrictions
The credential does not authorize diagnosis, prescription or acts reserved to another licensed health occupation. Since June 22, 2026, using handheld tools (muscle-scraping or mechanized vibration instruments) requires 8 hours of instruction beyond the 750-hour program, a demonstration and written informed consent from the client, and documentation (COMAR 10.65.12). Since October 1, 2026 (2026 Laws ch. 22, SB 492), an advertisement for massage services must carry the therapist's full licensed name and license or registration number (a business with several therapists is excepted); ads may not offer or imply sexual services or appear on sites known for them; and non-compliant physical signs must be removed before May 1, 2027.
Municipal or local requirements
No separate statewide massage-establishment license was established in this bounded Board review; local requirements were not researched.
Establishments and other regulated activities
No separate statewide massage-establishment credential was established in the reviewed Board sources.
Practitioner notes
Renew online by October 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM with 24 CE hours (including the implicit bias course) and current CPR. Registered massage practitioners may keep practising beyond October 31, 2026 under Chapter 191. Report address or name changes to the Board within 60 days.

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.