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United States Licensing Atlas

Nevada Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

Nevada licenses massage therapists through a 625-hour standard path, accepted examination, criminal-history review, and a biennial 24-hour CE framework. Massage establishments are separately certified.

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

Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy

State licensing guide

Overview

State massage therapist license required

Last verified 2026-08-02 · next review 2026-09-02

Local governments may require general business licenses and may impose facility requirements within the statutory framework.

Regulatory authority

Nevada State 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
Nevada requires the state massage therapist license for regulated practice, while state establishment certification and limited local requirements may apply separately.
Minimum education
625 hours
Approved education
The standard path requires at least 625 hours in qualifying massage-therapy education under Chapter 640C and current NAC.
Examination
The Board application page identifies NCETMB, NCETM, NESL, and MBLEx as accepted examinations.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is one accepted examination option; the Board also lists specified historical examinations.
Application
Submit the application, qualifying education and examination evidence, identification, criminal-history materials, disclosures, and fees.
Application fees
The Board lists a $480 online total: $295 license, $100 application, and $85 background investigation. A paper application adds a $30 processing fee for a $510 total.
Background check or fingerprinting
Criminal-history processing is required; the current fee schedule includes an $85 background-investigation charge.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Nevada law provides an out-of-state license path and specified experience alternatives; current statute, NAC, and Board instructions control the individual review.
Additional requirements
Applicants satisfy current identity, education, examination, criminal-history, disclosure, and Board documentation conditions.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
Licenses renew every two years.
Deadline model
The license expires two years after the first day of the first calendar month following issuance.
Fees
The Board lists $295 for online renewal and $325 for paper renewal, including the $30 paper-processing fee.
Continuing education
Complete 24 hours per renewal. The first renewal includes 2 hours on human trafficking; later renewal periods include 2 hours of ethics covering Board-specified subjects. Current NAC and Board guidance recognize specified accredited or approved providers and organizations, Board-recognized schools and institutions, qualified previously approved instructors, and case-specific Board approval routes.
Required subjects
The first renewal includes 2 hours on human trafficking. Later periods include 2 ethics hours covering reporting, privacy, standards, human trafficking, and other Board-specified content.
Documentation
Proof of qualifying CE is submitted with renewal under NAC 640C.100. Depending on the activity, documentation includes program and sponsor, instructor information, dates and location, hours, an original or certified signed certificate, and a practice-use summary; online courses require transcript and completion proof with provider contact information. No numeric licensee retention period was identified in the reviewed sources.
Carryover
NAC 640C.100 permits a request to carry over up to 72 excess hours for up to three succeeding years. The Board FAQ says no more than 96 hours may be submitted in one renewal and up to 72 may roll through a six-year period. The figures may reflect 24 current hours plus 72 excess and three biennial cycles, but the rule and FAQ use different time wording; the exact horizon and submission treatment require human review and are not silently harmonized.
Late renewal
NAC lists restoration at $25 per month expired, capped at $500, when restoration remains available.
Inactive license
An expired license may be restored within two years under current law and rules; after that period the current application framework controls.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
NRS 640C.060 defines massage therapy as pressure or manipulation of muscular and soft-tissue systems for therapeutic purposes using listed methods.
Protected titles
A current Board license is required for regulated practice and protected massage-therapist representations, subject to statutory exemptions.
Restrictions
The statutory definition excludes diagnosis and adjustment, mobilization, or manipulation of a joint or spine and limits product-demonstration massage.
Municipal or local requirements
Local governments may require general business licenses and may impose facility requirements within Chapter 640C's allocation of authority.
Establishments and other regulated activities
Nevada separately certifies massage establishments through the Board.
Practitioner notes
Confirm the consolidated effect of filed R028-25, the final disposition of proposed R137-26, and current Compact implementation before relying on rule or multistate-practice summaries.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

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