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United States Licensing Atlas

New Jersey Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

New Jersey licenses massage and bodywork therapists. Applicants need a qualifying education program — 600 hours under P.L. 2024, c. 46, or 500 hours if completed or enrolled before the Board's implementing regulations take effect completed within the last five years — the MBLEx or an NCBTMB examination, fingerprints, professional-liability insurance and the state application.

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

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy
NJ · licensing record1 MI ≈ 2.6 PX
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Overview

State massage and bodywork therapist license required

Last verified 2026-10-06

Local land-use, occupancy, building, and business rules may apply. A state massage business registration is required in defined employer models and must be analyzed against the actual business structure.

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.

Education transition cohorts require date-specific review

The current general pathway uses 600 hours. Applicants relying on an earlier transition pathway should confirm the applicable cohort and cutoff with the Board.

Employer registration is separate

A massage and bodywork business employing another therapist registers separately with the Board; do not read this as an individual-license fee.

Regulatory authority

New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, Board of Massage and Bodywork 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 and Bodywork Therapist
Credential requirement
A New Jersey license is generally required unless a statutory exemption applies; defined businesses employing another massage and bodywork therapist also register with the Board.
Minimum education
600 hours
Approved education
P.L. 2024, c. 46 raised the education minimum to 600 hours. Until the Board's implementing regulations take effect, the Board licenses applicants who completed or enrolled in a program of at least 500 hours before that date, provided the program meets N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.1(d) and the other requirements are met. As of October 6, 2026 those regulations have not been proposed. The Board's FAQ describes the 600-hour course, including at least 100 hours of clinical practice. The course of study must have been completed within the five years before applying; an older course does not qualify (N.J.A.C. 13:37A-2.1(b)).
Examination
The Board FAQ identifies MBLEx or an NCBTMB examination recognized by the Board.
MBLEx relationship
MBLEx is an accepted route; qualifying Board-recognized NCBTMB examination history may also satisfy the examination requirement.
Application
Submit the Board application, official transcript, accepted examination result, fingerprint background processing, professional-liability insurance evidence, current CPR, First Aid and AED certification, fees, and required disclosures.
Application fees
Current official application guidance lists a $75 application fee and an initial license charge of $120 in the first year of the biennial cycle or $60 in the second year.
Background check or fingerprinting
The Board application timeline includes fingerprint-based criminal-history review after the initial phase.
Reciprocity or endorsement
Out-of-state applicants use the Board application and verification process and the same education rule: 600 hours, or 500 hours completed or enrolled before the Board's implementing regulations take effect.
Additional requirements
Applicants document professional-liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate and satisfy all current identity and legal disclosures.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
New Jersey massage and bodywork licenses renew biennially.
Continuing education
20 hrs
Renewal fee
The current Board FAQ lists a $120 biennial renewal fee.
Required topics
The current FAQ requires 2 ethics hours and 1 hour in New Jersey laws and rules; no more than 6 hours may be completed online.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
The Massage and Bodywork Therapist Licensing Act and N.J.A.C. 13:37A define massage and bodywork therapy and professional conduct.
Protected titles
New Jersey protects licensed massage and bodywork therapist status under the Act.
Restrictions
Diagnosis and services reserved to another licensed profession remain outside the massage and bodywork license.
Municipal or local requirements
Local land-use, occupancy, building, and general business requirements may apply.
Establishments and other regulated activities
A massage and bodywork business employing another massage and bodywork therapist registers with the Board for two years at a time; the FAQ lists a $150 registration fee, and the registration requires proof of professional-liability insurance (N.J.A.C. 13:37A-6.1(c)(5)).
Practitioner notes
Licenses expire November 30, 2026. Applicants should confirm which education rule applies to them — 600 hours, or 500 hours completed or enrolled before the Board's implementing regulations take effect — and, for businesses employing a therapist, the $150 employer registration, which also requires professional-liability insurance.

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.