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United States Licensing Atlas

North Carolina Massage Therapy Licensing Requirements

North Carolina licenses massage and bodywork therapists and covered establishments under Chapter 90, Article 36. The current path uses age and general-education qualifications, 500 in-class hours, an accepted national competency examination, fingerprints, and the Board application.

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

North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy

State licensing guide

Overview

State practitioner and covered establishment licenses required

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

State licensure does not resolve local zoning, occupancy, building, or general business rules. Establishment exemptions and requirements must be applied to the actual setting.

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.

Establishment licensing is separate

Covered establishments have Board licensing, inspection, and insurance requirements unless an exemption applies. These requirements are distinct from the individual license.

Regulatory authority

North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork 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 and Bodywork Therapist
Credential requirement
A North Carolina LMBT license is generally required unless a statutory exemption applies; covered establishments require separate Board licensing.
Minimum education
500 hours
Approved education
Applicants complete at least 500 in-class hours in a massage and bodywork program meeting Board school and licensure rules.
Examination
Applicants submit official scores for a Board-accepted national competency examination. The exact currently accepted exam list must be confirmed in the live application materials.
MBLEx relationship
The exact current Board statement naming MBLEx was not reconfirmed in this pass; do not publish MBLEx as the sole accepted exam without checking the current application.
Application
Submit the Board application request and license fees, education record, accepted examination scores, fingerprint criminal-history report, and required disclosures.
Application fees
The published fee schedule lists a $20 application-request fee, $150 initial license fee, and $40 SBI criminal-history report fee.
Background check or fingerprinting
The application includes fingerprint-based criminal-history review.
Reciprocity or endorsement
The Board offers endorsement requiring application, fees, age and education qualifications, fingerprints, license verification, and examination records.
Additional requirements
Applicants must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and satisfy current identity, education, examination, background, and disclosure requirements.

Renewal

Renewal and continuing education

Cycle
North Carolina LMBT licenses renew biennially.
Deadline model
Renew through the Board's online process by the credential deadline; late fees apply after expiration.
Fees
The published LMBT renewal fee is $100, with a $75 late-renewal fee.
Continuing education
A licensee who has held the license for at least two years completes 24 CE hours for renewal. A licensee held for more than one year but less than two years completes 12 hours; the reviewed sources did not resolve a license held for one year or less.
Required subjects
The standard 24-hour cohort includes 3 ethics hours, at least 12 classroom hours, no more than 12 distance-learning hours, and no more than 8 business-management hours. The shortened 12-hour cohort may use no more than 6 distance-learning hours.
Documentation
Renewal applicants upload CE certificates and remain subject to random Board audit. The reviewed current sources did not establish a numeric licensee CE-record retention period, so no duration is inferred.
Carryover
No carryover authorization was identified in reviewed Board guidance.
Late renewal
The published fee schedule lists a $75 late-renewal fee in addition to the regular renewal fee.
Inactive license
An expired license may use the Board reinstatement path within 24 months after expiration. After more than 24 months, the person applies under the then-current new-license process rather than treating the credential as a routine late renewal.

Practice information

Scope, titles, and local requirements

Scope of practice
Article 36 and Board rules define massage and bodywork therapy, standards, title use, and establishments.
Protected titles
North Carolina protects licensed massage and bodywork therapist and LMBT title use.
Restrictions
Diagnosis and services reserved to another licensed profession remain outside the LMBT license.
Municipal or local requirements
Local zoning, occupancy, building, and general business requirements may apply.
Establishments and other regulated activities
Covered establishments require Board licensing, inspection, and applicable property-damage and bodily-injury insurance unless a statutory exemption applies.
Practitioner notes
Confirm the current accepted examination list and classify the exact practice setting under establishment exemptions before acting.

Authoritative sources

Official record evidence

Change history

Public record revisions

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