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United States Licensing Atlas

Michigan Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Michigan licenses massage therapists through LARA. Current guidance generally requires 625 education hours, an accepted national examination, criminal-background processing, human-trafficking and implicit-bias training, and the state application, with a historical education transition.

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

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Board of Massage Therapy
MI · licensing record1 MI ≈ 1.1 PX
Albers equal-area · 86.4°W · SP 42.8/47.1°N · footprint 260 px · FIT-limitedFull Michigan plate on the state guide →

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-10-05

Local zoning, occupancy, building, and general business rules may apply. The reviewed LARA materials did not establish a separate statewide massage-establishment license.

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.

Confirm implicit-bias proration

The current guide states an annualized implicit-bias requirement. Confirm the hours applicable to the exact license cycle when renewing.

Proposed amendments are not final

LARA noticed proposed massage-therapy rule amendments, including CE wording, for a June 3, 2026 hearing. The proposal is not treated as current law.

Regulatory authority

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Board of Massage Therapy

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 Michigan massage therapist license is generally required unless a statutory exemption applies; local business controls may also apply.
Minimum education
625 hours
Approved education
Current applicants generally document 625 hours, including prescribed clinical, theory, science, pathology, business, and ethics content. Education predating August 1, 2017 may qualify under the guide's 500-hour transition.
Examination
Michigan accepts MBLEx and a qualifying legacy NCETMB examination under the current guide.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is an accepted current route; qualifying legacy NCETMB history may also satisfy the examination requirement.
Application
Apply through Michigan's licensing system with education, accepted examination, criminal-background processing, human-trafficking and implicit-bias evidence, identity details, fees, and verifications where applicable.
Application fees
The January 2026 guide lists $270.10 for examination or endorsement licensure for a three-year term.
Background check or fingerprinting
The current licensing guide requires criminal-background processing.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Michigan distinguishes applicants licensed fewer than three years from those licensed at least three years and applies different examination, education, verification, and experience review.
Additional requirements
Applicants satisfy one-time human-trafficking training, initial implicit-bias training, identity, English-language, Social Security number or affidavit, and all current disclosure requirements.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Michigan massage therapist licenses renew every three years.
Continuing education
18 hrs
Renewal fee
The current LARA fee page lists $248.10 for the three-year massage therapist renewal.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
The Michigan Public Health Code and profession rules define massage therapy and covered professional conduct.
Protected titles
Michigan protects licensed massage therapist status under the Public Health Code.
Restrictions
Diagnosis and services reserved to another licensed profession remain outside the massage license.
Municipal or local requirements
Local zoning, occupancy, building, and general business requirements may apply.
Establishments and other regulated activities
Massage education programs also interact with applicable Michigan postsecondary authorization and curriculum rules.
Practitioner notes
Recheck whether the 2026 proposed rule amendments have been adopted, and confirm implicit-bias proration for a shortened first cycle, before applying or renewing.

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.