Ohio Massage Therapy Continuing Education & Renewal Requirements
CE hours: CE requirement unresolved. The massage therapist license renews every two years.
Statewide requirements and local rules are identified separately. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Overview
CE and renewal at a glance
Licensing information reviewed 2026-08-02
- CE hours
- CE requirement unresolved
- License renewal
- The massage therapist license renews every two years.
- CE reporting period
- Current massage-specific CE reporting details remain unresolved. Effective October 6, 2026, Section 4731.191 ties CE completion to the current licensing period; the Board must establish the implementing standards by rule. Historical 24- or 12-hour proposals are not current requirements.
Not confirmed. The current CE requirement could not be confirmed in the official sources reviewed. This is not a finding that no CE is required; confirm with the authority before you renew.
Before you rely on these answers
- Not confirmed: CE requirement and exceptions, Hour total, Required categories, Renewal documentation, Online and course format, Practical / hands-on
Each item explains the issue and links its official sources. Everything else on this page is sourced as stated.
Responsible authority
State Medical Board of Ohio
- AuthorityVisit the official authority
- RenewalOfficial renewal information
- StatutesOfficial statutes or rules
The authority’s current rules govern your renewal. Confirm requirements with it before you rely on a course or a date.
CE hours
- CE requirement and exceptionsNot confirmed
As of October 1, 2026, Section 4731.155 permits the Medical Board to adopt CE rules; a current massage-specific hour total remains unresolved. The current Chapter 4731-1 index omits former Rule 4731-1-24, and the public eLicense renewal instructions reviewed do not establish CE hours. Enacted Section 4731.191 takes effect October 6, 2026: renewal requires proof of CE completed during the licensing period in the number of hours and approved activities set by Board rules, subject to Board-approved exceptions. The statute sets no hour total; implementing requirements require Board confirmation.
No current massage-specific CE mandate was confirmed in the reviewed rule chapter. Former requirements are not presented as current; obtain direct Board confirmation before relying on a CE claim.
- Hour totalNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
Renewal timing and fees
- Renewal cycle
The massage therapist license renews every two years.
- Renewal deadline
Renew through the State Medical Board by the license expiration; nonrenewal results in suspension and later reinstatement or restoration requirements.
- Renewal fees
The current statutory renewal fee is $100. Reinstatement within two years is $125 and restoration after two years is $150, plus applicable record-check requirements.
Reporting period, first renewal and carryover
- CE reporting periodNot confirmed
Current massage-specific CE reporting details remain unresolved. Effective October 6, 2026, Section 4731.191 ties CE completion to the current licensing period; the Board must establish the implementing standards by rule. Historical 24- or 12-hour proposals are not current requirements.
- CarryoverNot confirmed
Carryover could not be assessed because the current massage-specific CE requirement remains unresolved. This information does not infer that carryover is applicable or prohibited.
- First renewal / prorationNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
Required topics
- Required categoriesNot confirmed
No current massage-specific subject allocation was confirmed in the reviewed sources. Effective October 6, 2026, Section 4731.191 requires Board-approved CE activities under implementing rules; it supplies no numeric hours or subject allocation.
- State-specific topicsNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- CPR / first aidNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
Online and course format
- Online and course formatNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- Practical / hands-onNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
Proof of CE, audits and record keeping
- Renewal documentationNot confirmed
Through October 5, 2026, Section 4731.155 conditionally authorizes certification and documentation sampling if CE rules are adopted; current massage-specific details remain unresolved. Effective October 6, Section 4731.191 requires satisfactory evidence of CE completed during the licensing period before renewal, subject to Board-approved exceptions. Confirm the Board's rules and submission process; the statute alone does not specify certificate format, retention, or hours.
- Reporting and proof of CENot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- Certificate requirementsNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- Record retentionNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- AuditsNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- Renewal attestationNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
Approved providers and courses
- How CE is approvedNot confirmed
As of October 1, Section 4731.155 permits Board CE rulemaking; current massage-specific CE hours and acceptance standards remain unresolved. Effective October 6, 2026, enacted Section 4731.191 requires CE for renewal under standards the Board must establish by rule.
- Provider & course recognitionNot confirmed
The applicable requirement or implementation remains unresolved; confirm with the responsible authority.
- Official CE resourceConfirm details
Current Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4731-1
Open official resource →Use the authority's current provider and course acceptance rules.
- Official CE resourceConfirm details
Enacted Ohio CE renewal statute — effective October 6, 2026
Open official resource →Use the authority's current provider and course acceptance rules.
- Professional organizations' role in CENot confirmed
The official sources for this item are missing or incomplete, so no answer is shown.
Late renewal, reinstatement and inactive status
- Late renewal / reinstatement
A nonrenewed license is suspended. Ohio publishes $125 reinstatement within two years and $150 restoration after two years, with required record checks.
- Inactive status / reactivationConfirm details
The reviewed statute addresses suspension, reinstatement, and restoration; confirm any inactive status directly with the Board.
Who these requirements apply to
- Credential and statewide scope
A State Medical Board license is generally required statewide, while local massage-establishment permits may also apply.
- Local requirements
Townships may require massage-establishment permits, fees, inspections, and background-related controls. Chapter 503 publishes a $250 application and $125 annual permit framework.
Changes in the law
- Enacted changes / implementation
Section 4731.191, enacted by Senate Bill 276, takes effect October 6, 2026 and replaces the permissive authority in Section 4731.155, which is repealed that day. It requires CE proof before renewal, subject to Board-approved exceptions, with hours and approved activities set by Board rules. Noncompliance triggers statutory forfeiture and reinstatement provisions. No numeric total or implementing massage CE standard was confirmed in the current rule index and public renewal instructions checked October 1; obtain Board confirmation before asserting hours or a first affected renewal.
- Enacted future change: Enacted massage CE renewal requirement — October 6, 2026Confirm details
Section 4731.191, enacted by Senate Bill 276, takes effect October 6, 2026 and replaces the permissive authority in Section 4731.155, which is repealed that day. It requires CE proof before renewal, subject to Board-approved exceptions, with hours and approved activities set by Board rules. Noncompliance triggers statutory forfeiture and reinstatement provisions. No numeric total or implementing massage CE standard was confirmed in the current rule index and public renewal instructions checked October 1; obtain Board confirmation before asserting hours or a first affected renewal.
Use the stated effective date and confirm implementation with the authority.
Authoritative sources
Sources for Ohio
Each answer shows the date it was reviewed and numbers the official sources behind it. An access date records when a source was last opened; it does not change a review date.
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.155 — Rules regarding continuing educationaccessed
- Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4731-1accessed
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.191 — Massage therapy CE (effective October 6, 2026)accessed
- eLicense Ohio — Medical Board massage therapist public renewal instructionsaccessed
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.19accessed
- Ohio Revised Code Chapter 503accessed
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.15accessed
- Ohio Legislative Service Commission 2026 State Medical Board Feesaccessed
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.155 — Rules regarding continuing educationaccessed
- Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4731-1accessed
- Ohio Revised Code Section 4731.191 — Massage therapy CE (effective October 6, 2026)accessed